Bittymacbeth inspired by American Idol REVIEW / COMEDY-DRAMA T2 TRAINSPOTTING (R21) 117 minutes/Now showing/ The story: Two decades after the events of the first movie, the gang is reunited under desperate circumstances. The previously missing Renton (Ewan McGregor) shows up in the Edinburgh neighbourhood that is still home to Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller) and Spud (Ewen Bremner). Heroin still casts a shadow over the group. The vicious Begbie (Robert Carlyle) shows up to repay the injury done to him in the first movie. John Lui Was there another Danny Boyle movie as Boyle-ish as Trainspotting (1996)? With that work, the British director captured magic. With its se- quel T2, he is out to prove that he can out-Boyle his 1990s self. And the first 30 minutes are a to- tal, exhilarating recall – the rock soundtrack married to fast-cutting images is Boyle at his kinetic best. Blasts of visual joy come back in spurts over the film’s 117 minutes. The thrill is not just in the chase scenes. Boyle is the master of the music montage, a master deejay in matching rock beats to dialogue and action. When Begbie (Carlyle), who be- longs in the pantheon of all-time great movie villains, goes berserk, there is a jolt to the senses. When heroin hits the vein, Boyle shows how Brian Eno’s sound- scapes matched to time-and- space-melting set design might be the only way to describe the opiate experience. There is delicious Scottish-fla- voured swearing in this R21 picture. Boyle and the original movie’s screenwriter John Hodge, loosely adapting Irvine Welsh’s Porno, his follow-up 2002 novel to his 1993 work Trainspotting, offer casual nods to how 20 years of gentrifica- tion and Eastern European immi- gration have changed Scotland. There is nothing of the savage bleakness of the original, however. The story, once it gets the gang to- gether, runs out of ideas. The remainder blends a caper film, “remember this?” flashbacks and gentle whining about getting older. Quite entertaining, but as Renton observes at one point: “It’s just nos- talgia! You’re a tourist in your own youth.” [email protected] Eddino Abdul Hadi Music Correspondent Home-grown singer-songwriter Beth Yap, better known by her nom de plume Bittymacbeth, comes from a musical family and has been playing the piano since she was six. But it was only after watching TV singing competition American Idol that she started harbouring dreams of becoming a singer. The 22-year-old features in the seventh episode of the third season of ST Sessions, The Straits Times’ online video series which features rising talents in the home-grown music scene performing stripped- down live sets. Currently a student at Berklee Col- lege of Music in Boston, Yap says in the video: “I grew up in a musical family, but it was only when I was 12, I was watching American Idol, seeing all these people live out their dreams of being singers, that I thought that, hey, I kind of want to do it too.” Her father was a guitar teacher and her older brother plays music as well. Her songs espouse positivity. An original tune that she performs in the episode, Haters Gon’ Hate, is about “taking time to understand and listen to people instead of judg- ing them on preconceived notions”. The song is from her debut al- bum, Beauty For Ashes, which she launched with a concert at the Es- planade Recital Studio last year. The release went to No. 1 on the lo- cal iTunes and Apple Music’s R&B/Soul charts. Yap, whose music encompasses genres such as soul, jazz, pop and funk, says in the ST Sessions video that she wants to put her music edu- cation to good use and give back to the creative scene here. “I just hope that with everything that I learn and all the opportunities (that I get), and all the people out there (that I meet), that I’ll be able to grow so much more and not only make my own music better, but real- ly contribute more to Singapore’s music and arts scene.” ST Sessions’ third season is part of a series of digital video pro- grammes produced in a partner- ship between the Info-communica- tions Media Development Authori- ty of Singapore and Singapore Press Holdings. The new season features eight acts, including singer-songwriter Tim De Cotta and indie duo Tom- girl. A new episode is launched eve- ry other Friday. • View the video at http://str.sg/st-sessions REVIEW / CONCERT THE JOURNEY CONTINUES re:Sound Victoria Concert Hall/Wednesday Chang Tou Liang The day re:Sound, Singapore’s first professional chamber orchestra, gave its inaugural concert will be re- membered with fondness. Its sec- ond concert, conducted by Singa- pore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) as- sociate conductor Jason Lai on Wednesday, showed that all the critical acclaim and good notices were fully justified. The essence of chamber music lies in diminutive forces, with a small number of individuals listening and responding to one another in a show of intimate cooperation. This was well-illustrated in avant- garde Hun- garian composer Gyorgy Ligeti’s Ramifications, scored for 12 string players, each with a different part. With six players tuned a quarter- tone sharper than the others, the ef- fect was one of deliberate aural dis- orientation through constantly wa- vering pitches. Like a floor that shifts under one’s feet, the sound evolved from an incessant buzzing, through high-pitched tinnitus to subterranean growls, all achieved with utmost control at low vol- umes. This “music” then evaporated, leaving the conductor beating time in thin air and ambient silence. These startling plays on sonics will explain why film director Stanley Kubrick so effectively used Ligeti’s music for his iconic movies 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and The Shin- ing (1980). Altogether more traditional was Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concer- to In G Major with veteran Pen- ang-born pianist Dennis Lee as so- loist. His delivery of its opening chords was pivotal, a secure state- ment borne from a wealth of experi- ence, which defined the tenor of this reading. His was a more classi- cal-attuned view, of transparent textures, measured gestures and no little nimbleness, as opposed to the boisterously Romantic version offered by Nicholas Angelich re- cently with the SSO. Both Lee and Angelich had much to offer in this masterpiece, but one factor that tipped in Lee’s favour was the smaller ensemble, which re- vealed often glossed-over details be- sides providing sensitive accompani- ment. The rapt conversation of Or- pheus and the Furies in the slow movement was a lovely interlude be- fore the unbridled jollity of the finale. The programming of Mendel- ssohn’s Third Symphony (also known as the “Scottish”) seemed like straying into SSO territory, but this was an enthralling account that revelled in the chamber forces uti- lised. Instead of falling victim to the concert hall’s sometimes feared re- verberance, the strings sang with- out inhibition, while woodwinds and brass rang with bell-like clarity. Conductor Lai’s tempos were ex- cellently judged and the solemnity of the opening movement (evoking the ruins of Edinburgh’s Holyrood cas- tle) contrasted well with the vigor- ous Allegro that followed. Storm clouds hovered menacingly, but sun- shine prevailed in this luminous ac- count, which also gloried in the snap- py and mercurial Scherzo, and nostal- gia of the song-like slow movement. The martial finale did not strike a warlike posture for long, instead de- lighting in the ending chorale cast in the major key. (From left) Ewen Bremner, Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle star in T2 Trainspotting. PHOTO: SONY PICTURES Singer-songwriter Beth Yap comes from a musical family. PHOTO: ST VIDEO Trainspotting sequel reunites the gang in Edinburgh with a rock soundtrack, fast-cutting images and flashbacks Nostalgia spotting All forms of investments carry risks, including the risk of losing all of the invested amount. Such activities may not be suitable for everyone. Organised By 2017 FREE ADMISSION 10 - 12 Mar 2017, 10am-9pm Suntec City, West Atrium @ Level 1 (Near H&M) INVEST Carnival is back! INVEST Carnival is a casual and fun event to promote financial literacy. Come join us this March to engage yourself with the array of investment instruments and opportunities! Attend succinct and quality talks by investment speakers and embark on your investing journey today! For more enquiries, please contact [email protected] (65) 6517 8777 Register now at www.investcarnival.com Have a story to share? SMS/MMS: 9477 8899 E-mail: [email protected] Call: 1800 733 44 55 Call, text or e-mail us. If your story is published, you get a... $100 TEXAS CHICKEN VOUCHER TE CHIC VOUC Advantage ensemble D10 life | THE STRAITS TIMES | FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017 |
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![Page 1: [LIFE - 10] ST/LIFE/PAGE<LIF-010> 03/03/17](https://reader042.cupdf.com/reader042/viewer/2022032823/6214b6a7371e00463522bd20/html5/page/1.jpg)
Bittymacbeth inspiredby American Idol
REVIEW/ COMEDY-DRAMA
T2TRAINSPOTTING (R21)117minutes/Now showing/
Thestory: Twodecades after the events ofthe first movie, the gang is reunited underdesperate circumstances. The previouslymissing Renton (Ewan McGregor) shows upin the Edinburgh neighbourhood that is stillhome to Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller) andSpud (Ewen Bremner). Heroin still casts ashadowover the group. The viciousBegbie(RobertCarlyle) shows up to repay the injurydoneto him in the first movie.
John Lui
Was there another Danny Boylemovie as Boyle-ish as Trainspotting(1996)? With that work, the Britishdirector captured magic. With its se-quel T2, he is out to prove that hecan out-Boyle his 1990s self.
And the first 30 minutes are a to-tal, exhilarating recall – the rocksoundtrack married to fast-cuttingimages is Boyle at his kinetic best.Blasts of visual joy come back inspurts over the film’s 117 minutes.
The thrill is not just in the chasescenes. Boyle is the master of themusic montage, a master deejay in
matching rock beats to dialogueand action.
When Begbie (Carlyle), who be-longs in the pantheon of all-timegreat movie villains, goes berserk,there is a jolt to the senses.
When heroin hits the vein, Boyleshows how Brian Eno’s sound-scapes matched to time-and-space-melting set design might bethe only way to describe the opiateexperience.
There is delicious Scottish-fla-voured swearing in this R21 picture.Boyle and the original movie’sscreenwriter John Hodge, looselyadapting Irvine Welsh’s Porno, hisfollow-up 2002 novel to his 1993
work Trainspotting, offer casualnods to how 20 years of gentrifica-tion and Eastern European immi-gration have changed Scotland.
There is nothing of the savagebleakness of the original, however.The story, once it gets the gang to-gether, runs out of ideas.
The remainder blends a caperfilm, “remember this?” flashbacksand gentle whining about gettingolder.
Quite entertaining, but as Rentonobserves at one point: “It’s just nos-talgia! You’re a tourist in your ownyouth.”
Eddino Abdul HadiMusic Correspondent
Home-grown singer-songwriterBeth Yap, better known by her nomde plume Bittymacbeth, comesfrom a musical family and has beenplaying the piano since she was six.
But it was only after watching TVsinging competition American Idolthat she started harbouring dreamsof becoming a singer.
The 22-year-old features in theseventh episode of the third seasonof ST Sessions, The Straits Times’online video series which featuresrising talents in the home-grown
music scene performing stripped-down live sets.
Currently a student at Berklee Col-lege of Music in Boston, Yap says inthe video: “I grew up in a musicalfamily, but it was only when I was12, I was watching American Idol,seeing all these people live out theirdreams of being singers, that Ithought that, hey, I kind of want todo it too.”
Her father was a guitar teacherand her older brother plays musicas well.
Her songs espouse positivity. Anoriginal tune that she performs inthe episode, Haters Gon’ Hate, isabout “taking time to understandand listen to people instead of judg-
ing them on preconceived notions”.The song is from her debut al-
bum, Beauty For Ashes, which shelaunched with a concert at the Es-planade Recital Studio last year.The release went to No. 1 on the lo-cal iTunes and Apple Music’sR&B/Soul charts.
Yap, whose music encompassesgenres such as soul, jazz, pop and
funk, says in the ST Sessions videothat she wants to put her music edu-cation to good use and give back tothe creative scene here.
“I just hope that with everythingthat I learn and all the opportunities(that I get), and all the people outthere (that I meet), that I’ll be ableto grow so much more and not onlymake my own music better, but real-ly contribute more to Singapore’smusic and arts scene.”
ST Sessions’ third season is partof a series of digital video pro-grammes produced in a partner-ship between the Info-communica-tions Media Development Authori-ty of Singapore and Singapore PressHoldings.
The new season features eightacts, including singer-songwriterTim De Cotta and indie duo Tom-girl. A new episode is launched eve-ry other Friday.
• View the video athttp://str.sg/st-sessions
REVIEW/ CONCERTTHE JOURNEY CONTINUES
re:SoundVictoria Concert Hall/Wednesday
Chang Tou Liang
The day re:Sound, Singapore’s firstprofessional chamber orchestra,gave its inaugural concert will be re-membered with fondness. Its sec-ond concert, conducted by Singa-pore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) as-sociate conductor Jason Lai onWednesday, showed that all thecritical acclaim and good noticeswere fully justified.
The essence of chamber music liesin diminutive forces, with a smallnumber of individuals listening andresponding to one another in a showof intimate cooperation. This waswell-illustrated in avant- garde Hun-garian composer Gyorgy Ligeti’sRamifications, scored for 12 stringplayers, each with a different part.
With six players tuned a quarter-tone sharper than the others, the ef-fect was one of deliberate aural dis-orientation through constantly wa-vering pitches. Like a floor thatshifts under one’s feet, the soundevolved from an incessant buzzing,through high-pitched tinnitus tosubterranean growls, all achievedwith utmost control at low vol-umes.
This “music” then evaporated,leaving the conductor beating timein thin air and ambient silence.These startling plays on sonics willexplain why film director StanleyKubrick so effectively used Ligeti’smusic for his iconic movies 2001: ASpace Odyssey (1968) and The Shin-ing (1980).
Altogether more traditional wasBeethoven’s Fourth Piano Concer-to In G Major with veteran Pen-ang-born pianist Dennis Lee as so-loist. His delivery of its openingchords was pivotal, a secure state-ment borne from a wealth of experi-ence, which defined the tenor ofthis reading. His was a more classi-cal-attuned view, of transparenttextures, measured gestures andno little nimbleness, as opposed tothe boisterously Romantic versionoffered by Nicholas Angelich re-cently with the SSO.
Both Lee and Angelich had muchto offer in this masterpiece, but onefactor that tipped in Lee’s favour wasthe smaller ensemble, which re-vealed often glossed-over details be-sidesprovidingsensitive accompani-ment. The rapt conversation of Or-pheus and the Furies in the slowmovement was a lovely interlude be-forethe unbridledjollity ofthe finale.
The programming of Mendel-ssohn’s Third Symphony (alsoknown as the “Scottish”) seemedlike straying into SSO territory, butthis was an enthralling account thatrevelled in the chamber forces uti-lised. Instead of falling victim to theconcert hall’s sometimes feared re-verberance, the strings sang with-out inhibition, while woodwindsand brass rang with bell-like clarity.
Conductor Lai’s tempos were ex-cellently judged and the solemnity ofthe opening movement (evoking theruins of Edinburgh’s Holyrood cas-tle) contrasted well with the vigor-ous Allegro that followed. Stormcloudshovered menacingly, butsun-shine prevailed in this luminous ac-count, which also gloriedin the snap-pyandmercurialScherzo,andnostal-giaof the song-like slow movement.
The martial finale did not strike awarlike posture for long, instead de-lighting in the ending chorale castin the major key.
(From left) Ewen Bremner, Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle star in T2 Trainspotting. PHOTO: SONY PICTURES
Singer-songwriter Beth Yap comesfrom a musical family. PHOTO: ST VIDEO
Trainspotting sequelreunites the gang inEdinburgh with arock soundtrack,fast-cutting imagesand flashbacks
Nostalgia spotting
All forms of investments carry risks, including the risk of losing all of the invested amount.Such activities may not be suitable for everyone.
Organised By
2017
FREEADMISSION
10 - 12 Mar 2017, 10am-9pmSuntec City, West Atrium@ Level 1 (Near H&M)
INVEST Carnival is back!INVEST Carnival is a casual and fun event to promote financialliteracy. Come join us this March to engage yourself with the arrayof investment instruments and opportunities! Attend succinct andquality talks by investment speakers and embark on your investingjourney today!
For more enquiries, please [email protected] (65) 6517 8777
Register now at www.investcarnival.com
Have astory toshare?
SMS/MMS: 9477 8899E-mail: [email protected]
Call: 1800 733 44 55
Call, text or e-mail us. If your story ispublished, you get a...
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D10 life | THE STRAITS TIMES | FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017 |
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