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Pro Musica 2009 - A Concert of Operatic Scenes & Arias

Location: Hotel Equatorial, Penang

Contact: Jasmin 604-2274006 / 012-5302633

Organizer: Suriana Events

email: promusica (a) foliamy.com

Admission by Contribution of RM120, RM60 and RM30

Proceeds to the Pro Musica International Master Class Fund

Pro Musica means in favour of music (and its advancement), and is the group name for an ensemble of outstanding singers from the Flanders Opera Studio of Belgium. They first performed in Penang in 2007, and this year they will be presenting “A Night of Opera” at the Equatorial Hotel Penang on Friday, 21st August, in conjunction with students from the Pro Musica International Master Classes. The artistes are Sabine Conzen (soprano, Belgium), Ines Madeira (mezzo, Portugal), Enrico Casari (tenor, Italy) and Andrew Ashwin (baritone, UK), accompanied by Hein Boterberg and Geneviene Wong on the piano. They will be performing and exciting programme of operatic ensembles and arias by Handel, Beethoven, Donizetti, Rossini, Giordano, Puccini, Massenet and Gounod – and a special interlude of Ravel’s Asie (from Sheherazade) with guest dancers Ramli Ibrahim and the Sutra Dance Theatre.

This year, the Flanders Opera Studio and OperaPlus, both from Gent, Belgium, will again be holding the Pro Musica International Master Classes for advanced and promising singers, providing an intensive course in voice production, musicianship, the art of performance and piano accompaniment, conducted by Loh Siew Tuan, Ronny Lauwers, Hein Boterberg and Geneviene Wong. The eight day residential course will held at Bellevue on Penang Hill from the 14th to the 21st August, with selected students from Thailand and Malaysia, and will be open to observers. The students will be participating with the international artistes in the main concert, which will also held in Ipoh on the 22nd August and in Kuala Lumpur, at the UCSI University on the 24th August.

The Master Classes and Concerts aim to become a regular annual programme comparable the international Music Summer Schools, and will help to put Penang on the music educational map. To achieve this, patronage and continual sponsorships will be needed, as the fees have to be subsidised to enable promising local students to attend.

Reservations and admission cards by contribution for the concert will soon be available from the Equatorial and other outlets. The event will be under the distinguished patronage of the Ambassador of Belgium, the Ambassador of Italy, and the High Commisioner of Great Britain. The international artistes are being sponsored by the Robus Foundation of Belgium and other donors. Proceeds will be donated to the Pro Musica International Master Classes.

Admission will be by contribution to International Master Classes Fund @ RM120 (for front rows), RM60 (middle rows) and RM30 (other rows) by cash or cheque (to “Suriana Sdn Bhd-ProMusica “), and will be issued with receipts. For enquiries and advance bookings call Jasmin @ 04-2274006 or 012-5302633, e-mail: promusica@foliamy.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

With piano accompaniment by Hein Boterberg & students of International master Class under the artistic direction of Loh Siew Tuan & Ronny Lauwers (Director of OperaPlus & Director (respectively) of the Falnders Opera Studio)