|
|
ANOTHER SCORE FOR HER VIOLIN
The Straits Times
By Rand Miranda
Sep 27th, 2002
NO GLITCHES. Not this time. Vanessa-Mae's return to the Singapore stage was not marred by the same electrical glitches that hit her concert last weekend in Hong Kong which resulted in the sultry star stamping her feet in protest as a number of upset concert-goers got on their feet and walked out.
Over here, the plucky 23-year-old managed to exhort a relatively moribund, sell-out crowd of more than 3000 to rise to their feet by stepping out into the crowd during a rousing take of Destiny. It's been great to come back here, she said at one point, and later, offered a thank you and a xie xie to the crowd, as well as saying: It's a bit different here because every1pxg is so clean, and us coming from London, where every1pxg is dirty.
Where technical problems in Hong Kong had forced the Singapore-born, London bred star to soldier on acoustically, here, she was able to display her skills on the acoustic and electric violin effortlessly, while exercising her vocal skills in a show that was more rock concert than staid orchestral recital.
Vocals may not be her forte, but the half-Chinese, half-Thai wunderkind gamely carried on, warming up as the night went on and the crowd began to relax.
With a voice that is a blend of a non-trilling Dolores O'Riordan of Cranberries fame and a husky Sarah McLachlan, Vanessa-Mae had a pleasant enough sound to offer in a 100-minute show.
But if she were to try and focus on her singing solely without electronic massaging, then even her mega-watt smile or understated sensuality might not be enough to satisfy her fans.
Still, her singing appears to be a progression of her vast musical skills some1pxg to experiment with as she continues to re-invent her sound.
Her strength, of course is her violin playing, and for much of the show, she alternated between genres, but made sure she scored with her hits Contradanza, Storm, Devil's Trill and Toccata And Fugue.
Here repertoire drew from her latest non-greatest hits album, Subject To Change, which she called a more chilled-out piece that was more organic in the fusion style.
She may have a classical background, but she has a rocker's soul and seemed to get more energized during songs which featured frenzied bowing.
Her impeccable violin skills were well-accentuated by a tight band and orchestral accompaniment by members of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
Pop, jazz, rock, classical, you name it, Vanessa-Mae said toward the start of the show, the violin can do it.
She's right. When it's in her arms.
Back to 2002 Reviews & Press >>>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
