Front Row

Even as he turned 73 on Aug 20, Malaysia’s foremost painter Abdul Latiff Mohidin is showing no sign of easing up on his work. On that day, Latiff opened his “Latiff in Singapore” exhibition at Opera Gallery, Singapore. This solo exhibition of 22 recent works comes to The Edge Galerie in Kuala Lumpur in September. TK Sabapathy tells about Latiff’s questions found in liquidit...

The Japan Film Festival returns for its 11th year and will feature 13 movies which includes five new releases making their Malaysian premiere. Cinephiles are sure to enjoy the festival which features a variety of titles to whet every appetite -- from light-hearted mainstream fare to movies that have made rounds in film festivals. With the Film Festival on us, the program director shares the offeri...

This is the first ever arts festival organised by Yayasan Sime Darby. This festival is timely in bringing a broader awareness of cultural art forms to the masses, providing the public with the rare opportunity to immerse themselves in the very best of our traditional and contemporary arts, and cultural heritage from around the country. From the bottom to the top of the programming, Yayasan Sime Da...

Child Aid Asia Goes Jazz is a charity concert which provides economically disadvantaged children with artistic potential the opportunity to develop their artistic talents. Pete Churchill, Guest Tutor for the first Jazz Choir Festival, tells us about Jazz.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are the arts experienced when they surround you; when they come together in their diverse forms and genres--live dances, music, light displays, calligraphy, photography? An assault on the senses like an over-rich cake or a delightful tease of the senses at a tasting plate? The guests talk about the upcoming event, The Rhapsody of River Wisdom. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

Singing is worshipping twice. But when that singing leads others to perform acts of charity and charities benefitting from this beneficent expression, then for certain, singing is worshipping more than twice. Thrice maybe. Four times? Is this the reason why classical singers don’t need to be paid, that they have prayers? HK Chong and de Gusman trade the hard stories on classical singing in M...

With eyelashes like wings of a butterfly,  whose fluttering in the Klang Valley can cause a hurricane in China (this is the M Butterfly Effect), Shelah explains why the National Treat is for “lahvers” of different stripes--sergeants and zebras not excluded.  Standing on a high public platform raised higher by her heels, Shelah responds to questions about using how to use the...

Reviewing three Chinese-language productions-, and --during the fasting month and positing explanations for their approach to performance; and their negotiating of the performance space, relationship to the audience in the national context. -Just KiddingCatan Kulit Hidup Ini Senget See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time around, as if a change in venue is also a change in focus, Arts for Grab focuses on and celebrates creativity and women. Sisters in Islam will be responsible for a production, titled Teater: Neo-Romantik See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The guests talk about freeing the human instrument--both in mind and body--in order to produce sublime sonics that can assist transcendence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talented comedian and actor, Robin Williams helped bring a little happiness and laughter in the hearts of audiences worldwide. With his unique ability to portray both drama and comedy, Robin Williams underscored the power of performing arts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With National Day just around the corner, ASWARA Dance Company, dances the nation’s identity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From software engineer to music composer, this Californian is here in KL for a one-night only performance as part of her Asian tour. This year, with ‘Level Up’, (which we will play on-air) she won both the Independent Music Award Best Song - Pop and Best Song - Social Action Song categories; Best Song - A-cappella with ‘The Hymn of Acxion’. Her ‘Aims’ won Best A...

A relatively new orchestra appeared on the local music landscape a couple of years ago (2012) and since then it has performed quite regularly. In its upcoming concert it will focus on Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Piano Concerto No 7 in F for Three Pianos. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The abstract artist exhibits 30 collage sculptures and abstracts. The collages were completed during the month of Ramadhan in sympatico with Malaysian Muslims. How does working after sunset and before sunrise impact the works? But then the artist was also an award-winning music producer and DJ doing gigs all over Asia. What is the impact of music on his art? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

The marrying two apparently different traditions—Asian and Western—to make music at once familiar and yet new, fresh. but rumour has it that Tchaikovsky heard the gamelan and was enamored of it. So Hands Percussion after dipping its toes into Western classical music, now has it hands, heart and all into it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Described as an innovative group, this quartet of four traditional string-instruments--two violins, a viola and a cello--brings fun and enjoyment of classical music to a larger audience intimidated or just put off by the term ‘classical’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jazz and Latin dancer, Gavin Tan tears the walls that separate formal dances and street moves. In his upcoming showcase, he includes salsa and other Latin Ballroom dances together with jazz, contemporary and pole dancing with undulations of the belly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Contextualizing 18th century canonical music--a couple of pieces by JS Bach--and uncovering to the tin ear its beauty and appeal. David Chin knits Bach’s life and music to show the resultant tapestry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 16-year-old not-for-profit organization brings professional ballet dancers to KL with a mission to take that classical dance to a higher level for both the active dancers and the less active audience. It will be bringing nine performers from five countries to seduce Malaysians into the Istana Budaya. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fantastical (as in full of fantasy) play about the early days of AIDS in the United States, capturing the denial, the anger and the conflicts of a time which test bonds between spouses, parent-and-child, lovers, friends, business colleagues, people who worship the same creator, etc. In the face of catastrophe, charge forward to fight, bury heads in the sand or simply pretend it’s just stat...

Getting children to play for other children and in the process getting the all-children cast to experience the creative journey of putting together a made-in-Malaysia program. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melding drumming, non-dance movement and oratory to tell stories of the dispossessed masses. The directors  want to confront us with existential questions of place, of wishes, of hopes. Whose answers should make us choose to live and not merely exist. ‘ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trumpeter comes from a family of musicians, picking up the instrument of his choice at 14.  Two years later, he packed his bags and went off to Cuba. Having played with many latin jazz bands and having traveled extensively--Europe, Americas, Asia, Africa--he turned to write music with different strains of influence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Desiring a play--A Streetcar Named Desire--into a dance: What happens when words and related actions disappear to be reimagined in balletic pirouettes, grande jetes and plies; and jazz brushes, lunges and paddle turns? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.