Front Row

A decade after the iconic Palate Palette (PP) Restaurant and Bar closed its doors, its spirit lives on through the Palate Palette Pop-Up event, a one-day extravaganza that wants to celebrate Palate Palette's enduring legacy of community, creativity, and inclusivity. Featuring a curated mix of food, music, art, and workshops, the event honours the past, revels in the present, and looks forward to a...

Perhiasan Kaca is a Malay adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ beloved classic The Glass Menagerie. With translation into Bahasa Malaysia by Marlenny Deenerwan, the play, which is a semi-autobiographical piece centred on the dynamics of a family of three, is set to be presented as part of the Kembali Ke Pangkuan series, curated and helmed by The Actors Studio’s new Associate Artistic Director Christo...

ABBA fans, you're in for a treat - Abborn, an award-winning ABBA tribute act are here in Malaysia, and will be performing in Kuching and Kuala Lumpur. Known for their stunning vocals, costumes, and meticulously crafted performances, ABBORN has captivated audiences worldwide, from Russia to Singapore. We find more about these two concerts - Abba Aborn at Zepp KL and also Dancing Queen Concert – A T...

Watercolour artist and educator Lee Wee Xian has made a name for himself in the world of watercolour painting, and is set to present his first solo exhibition titled Overture , that will feature over 25 watercolour paintings that capture the forgotten, vanishing scenes and landmarks of Melaka. Known for his skillful use of light, shadow, water, and pigments, his work captures the beauty of everyda...

The MJPF Music Festival has been uniting music enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds for over a decade now. The aim of the festival is to curate an unforgettable musical experience for the audience, while also showcasing rising music talents in Malaysia, and to provide them with the support and encouragement of music industry professionals. We speak to Michael Veerapen, renowned jazz pianist, compo...

My Video Making Practice is a unique mashup event by Gan Siong King , one of Malaysia’s most original contemporary artists. This event combines an artist talk, a screening, and a dialogue with invited guests. Through My Video Making Practice, Gan seeks to expand his distinctive, research-driven approach by remixing seven selected videos of Malaysian artists at work, created over the past decade. I...

When the conservative Ethan relocates to a dilapidated apartment in a rough part of London, he meets its quirky and captivating residents—Ms. Wong, the straightforward landlady; Afternoon, the eccentric hippy; Cat, the moody graduate student; and Lord Vallen, the peculiar thespian. These new acquaintances ensure that Ethan's flat is always bustling with activity and drama. However, he quickly real...

The good people from Musicians Linkage return, this time promising a night of beautiful music from movies and upcoming musicals in the performance titled: Cinematic Souls . Featuring singers Nixon Tan and Insyirah Azlan, the show will also mark the premiere of Artistic Director Dr Goh Chia-Chien's first original piece for string orchestra, performed by the Philomusica String Orchestra (PCO). Dr Go...

It's time for our yearly fix of all things French, as this year's instalment of the Le French Festival kicks off from the 29th of May until the 14th of July 2024. Back for its 22nd edition, the festival promises a mix of French-themed movie screenings, visual arts exhibitions, theatre performances, family and kids activities, workshops, gastronomy discoveries and so much more. Co-organised by the...

In June, Malaysia's Bach Festival Singers and Orchestra are set to be the first ensemble from Southeast Asia to be invited to perform in the most prestigious and important Bach landmarks in Germany: St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Bach Church in Arnstadt, as well as St. George's Church in Eisenach. The grand concert tour commences with two fundraising concerts right here in Kuala Lumpur. We catch up...

The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) continues its mission to broaden public appreciation for music beyond Western classical traditions, through the upcoming concert, Celestial Serenade . The concert celebrates Chinese classical music, highlighting the suona, a significant woodwind instrument in Chinese culture. Led by Jebat Arjuna Kee, the MPO collaborates with renowned suona performer Liu...

Cinderella, A Musical Comedy is not the Cinderella everyone knows; it is packed with live music, topical jokes, audience interaction, and just a touch of K-Pop flavour too. Telling the story of the supremacy of love, empathy and kindness over cunningness, selfishness, bullying and greed; the musical is loaded with humour and a touch of magic. We find out what's in store from director Joanna Bessey...

12tone Ensemble are set to present their second ever concert, “ Dream Tryst ,” featuring rarely performed choral compositions, right here in Malaysia. Highlights include John Corigliano's "Fern Hill," based on Dylan Thomas' poem, and Benjamin Britten's "Rejoice in the Lamb," set to Christopher Smart's text, among others. Founded in 2023 by Music Director Caeleb Tee, the ensemble comprises experien...

The film Living Bach by German filmmaker Anna Schmidt embarks on a journey across six continents, delving into the lives of musicians and singers, who are in one or many ways, profoundly connected to Johann Sebastian Bach's music. All across the globe, individuals of diverse cultures, religions, and backgrounds unite under the spell of Bach's compositions. Through striking visuals and the enchanti...

We're invited to step into the world of passion, betrayal, and tragedy with the KL Shakespeare Players (KLSP), who are proudly presenting William Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece, Othello . Presented in their one-of-a-kind Shakespeare Demystified format, and renowned for their dedication to bringing classical works to life with a contemporary twist, the KLSP team promise us an unforgettable jour...

We're invited to journey into the enchanting realm of nature's melodies with "Echoes of Seasons," a concert featuring cello soloist Elizabeth Tan's captivating rendition of Haydn's sublime Cello Concerto in D major, and subsequently, under the guidance of Artistic Director Ergys Koni, the stage transforms into a vibrant canvas, as Vivaldi's timeless masterpiece, "The Four Seasons," unfolds. Presen...

Forged by Time: Ono Kang's Visual Diary is an exhibition of 15 art pieces, crafted from a variety of materials, including scrap metal, recycled and upcycled items, and found objects sourced from Georgetown. Each piece narrates its own unique story, offering viewers a glimpse into the artist Ono Kang's life and experiences, and celebrating the beauty of objects often overlooked or dismissed as junk...

Unquiet Thoughts is an art song recital that focuses on poetry that explores the myriad of emotions entangled in the realm of love - matters that keep us awake at night, so to speak. This art song recital showcases a rich selection of poetry spanning millennia and continents, exploring the complexities of human connection and desire. The program includes art songs in English, Mandarin, German, Ita...

The klpac Orchestra are kicking off their 2024 season with a special program showcasing the renowned compositions of Ludwig van Beethoven. More than two centuries ago, Beethoven debuted two of his most significant works during a single concert, a moment that also marked his final public appearance before succumbing to complete deafness in the ensuing years. Among these works, Symphony No. 5 stands...

Tabula Rasa 2024, Choreography: Reset, Reflect, Reimagine is a mixed-bill production featuring new contemporary works by five artists - Chai Vivan, Raziman Sarbini, Zulkarnain Zuber, Nadhirah Rahmat, and Indian Manipur guest Surjit Nongmeikapam. With Creative Production by Imran Syafiq and presented by ASK Dance Company , Tabula Rasa or “blank slate,” begins with the premise that all humans are bo...

Past Lives and Distant Voices is a photography exhibition that explores the concept of anemoia —longing for a time one has never experienced firsthand. Through the lens of photographer Nirmala Karuppiah, one journeys through moments that blur the lines between past and present, reality and memory. We speak to Nirmala, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Titik Garis Bentuk: Drawing as Practice is an exhibition featuring works by 27 contemporary Malaysian artists, who use drawing as a centre in their practice. While traditionally, drawing was seen as part of an artist’s preparatory work for a painting or sculpture, it is now regarded as a medium in its own right. The exhibition examines how artists are redefining the medium by blurring the boundari...

Classical Kung Fu! is described as a cross cultural celebration of music and martial arts. This fundraising concert promises an exciting dive into the mix of classical music and martial arts movie music, and features performances by the Philomusica String Orchestra, and the Philomusica Youth String Orchestra, led by Dr Goh Chia-Chien, the Artistic Director of the Musicians Linkage group of ensembl...

Aiwei Foo ’s first solo exhibition, “ Forever Gone But Always Exists ” features six recent works on paper by the artist, as well as a piece of performance art . The exhibition and performance are described as the artist’s avenue in challenging the conventional ideas of time and permanence, and through it she explores the nuances of memory, life, and the eternal imprint that transitory things leave...

Kalpana Dance Theatre (KDT) will be presenting a weekend of two solo Bharatanatyam recitals - 'Kaivalyam - a journey to liberation' by Danya Rubinee Lim, and 'Tvameva - to You, I Surrender' by Shobita Nagulendran. Accompanied by a live orchestra, the aim of these double bill solo presentations is to pay obeisance to the roots of Bharatanatyam, which initially started as a solo performing art and w...