Front Row

The folks in the Temple of Fine Arts are gearing up for its major festival--The Shantanand Festival of Arts 2014. Our guests today paint for us the artists--musicians, dancers and other performers, and the objective of the festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The singer, Dasha Logan will be a guest act of local Jazz-RnB-Hip-Hop-and-Experimental band--Bassment Syndicate--at a reggae event. She tells about singing in different styles. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 A production born out of a collaboration between the Instant Cafe Theatre Company and CAKE Theatrical Productions in which dreams and dreamers are put under the microscope. Which of course begs the question: What happens to a dream deferred?...Does it explode? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Detailing the benefits for young musicians and orchestras to tour and compete overseas. But then the work that goes on before: the rehearsals, the fund-raising and the logistics of organizing the little people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions on the importance of taking local performances overseas are explored, and the guests point to the aids to meet some of the challenges inherent in such a journey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The music of the manic but quintessentially Classical Mozart and the conservative Romantic Mendelssohn are brought together to move us morally. Have you ever shed a tear on account of being so stirred? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us don’t know who Pat Metheny is and so the musician from Sao Paolo tells us and points out why a tribute to this American, Pat Metheny who is a composer, songwriter and musician was his pleasure to pay.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six choreographers apply their life’s philosophy to choreograph dances. And in their words, “Just like a unicorn galloping and searching in a vast desert of people, targeting something more valuable and more precious than what the casual traveller would aim for. That something the unicorn seeks is ‘the present’, and it is to be kept safely with the unicorn’s belonging...

A theatre group with a mission to strengthen the family stages a production to show the various manifestations of love, the permutations, etc. While there are 13 sketches, what’s the overarching theme? The director walks us through his love scenes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Festivals create bridges for local and international dancers not only to just dance the dances but also talk about ideas and concepts that feed into the movements on the floor. This year’s event sees not just the international gallery but showcases by young Malaysian dancers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having sung for President Barack Obama, the King and Queen of Thailand; and having performed in more countries than you have toes and fingers, she’s in the studio to give a sample of her scatting and tales of life of a musician in Asia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With roots in Minangkabau, this traditional theatre is performed at festivals, and depending on the occasion the complex stories may unfold over several nights. A group from Negeri Sembilan will perform as part of Pusaka in Publika on the weekend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With James Bond-concerts in the past and others going on right now, the director and a performer tell about how they avoid the anxiety of influence. The director unfolds how she finds the right kinds of voices that can carry the different songs which span some 50 years. Neither the director nor the performer worry about being shaken or stirred. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The artist, with the curator at his elbow, answers the inevitable question What is the connection between Life of Pie and Life of Pi beyond the mere wordplay. The exhibition, which will open this Friday, presents 9 works on jute canvases continuing the artist’s examination and dialogue on the individual and community. What happens when we all--among the many--want a slice of the pie? See omn...

After hearing this trombonist play first trombone in Mahler’s Symphony No 3, we secured an interview with him to learn how he weaves his love for music into both classical and jazz. When not in the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in his tux and just-polished black leather shoes delighting and moving the audience, he’s found in t-shirt, jeans locally-branded baseball cap and tennis shoes pum...

The founder of the Centre for Asian Photographers points out that he has set up a social responsibility programme which aims at cultivating the local photography scene. And that scene here is quite strong, what with telcos, camera makers and even banks are getting their stakeholders to point-and-shoot, and often compete to take the best shot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some folks from the seldom-heard-of and even-more-seldom-from National Symphony Orchestra housed in the Istana Budaya have grouped for a public performance titled “It’s Time to Dance.” This newly formed percussion ensemble name Penso will be performing a few pieces on duo marimba and percussion title Riverdance. There will also be a chamber group performing. See omnystudio.com/li...

In an age of miracle cures, a play about a faith healer with purported powers to heal. What happens when the afflicted can’t be healed? Whose fault? The faithless afflicted or the faithless healer? The director and actors tell about a play of four monologues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hands Percussion’s invited guests to the festival share what they will be bringing to the festival in this international event which has performers from Vietnam, The Netherlands and Norway each bringing their own kind of music which characterizes them as artists exploring sonics and the creation of music. They explain their ideas of music and the kind of music they produce. See omnystudio.co...

The photographer tells of the competition held on the History Channel. Justin travels Asia, competing in a photography competition with five local amateur photographers to capture the best shot under the Speed, Theme and Extreme challenges. Singyuin Christy joins him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new theatre group, whose subsidiary focuses on performances which involve the young and for the young, tells about its inaugural project. Its overt mission is “to contribute to the building of a more thoughtful and caring society via the powerful medium of storytelling.” Shoichi Ayada from Japan brings with him experiences as a facilitator who engages with the youth, deploying proces...

Is the artistic gift in the DNA. Evelyn the daughter of Wan Kim Tiang. of unknown artist who contributed to public service in Malacca through his work designing some of the state’s logos and posters. He drew and designed public street displays for special holidays. He taught art also. His daughter and grandson, both artists talk about art in their lives. See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Challenging classical musicians to answer questions like, Why play new age and jazz? Isn’t classical music challenging and gratifying enough that there is a need to step out? Or is the motivation as simple as musicians love music, regardless of the genre? The upcoming concert is titled: Crossover, and will be at the Bentley Music Academy See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 126-year-old Perdana Botanical Gardens plays host to the first-ever art event held in a Malaysian public park: Art in the Park. This event is a burst of creativity and activity that include family-oriented experiences, free public workshops and appreciation of all kinds of artistic expression. This DBKL-project began on the 16th of October and ends on the second of November, and today we have...

Ancient Chinese words, from the earliest carved symbols on shells and bones, to the brush calligraphies, and the calligraphy of local educator and calligrapher, Sim Mow Yu now make their marks on the bodies of Chinese-Malaysian as they move to music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.