SIFA 2022: Music Makes A Huge Splash At The Singapore International Festival Of Arts

Holly Herndon will have her debut concert in Asia for SIFA 2022 (Credit: Vera Marmelo)

The boundary between music and art becomes blurrier and more porous as the appeal of multi-disciplinary events becomes more prevalent. Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) is one such nexus that fosters a relationship between the two worlds, and like its previous iterations, it is motivated to fortify these ties this year.

Organised by Arts House Limited and commissioned by the National Arts Council, SIFA 2022 will take on the theme of The Anatomy Of Performance – Ritual, and it will run from 20 May to 5 June. This edition marks the start of the three-year tenure of Festival Director, Natalie Hennedige, who’s earned her stripes over the years as the Artistic Director of performance company, Cake.

The lineup of SIFA 2022 was recently unveiled at Pasir Panjang Power Station (Credit: Courtesy of Arts House Limited)

Under her wing, SIFA 2022 will feature three layers of programming – Creation, a platform for prime offerings from local and international artists; Life Profusion, a virtual stage that runs in tandem with the live festival; and SIFA X, which showcases more alternative performances. These will all take place across multiple venues including Pasir Panjang Power Station, The Esplanade, Goodman Arts Centre, Victoria Theatre, The Arts House, and Aliwal Arts Centre. A massive endeavour, as you can tell.

Yeule will perform as part of Syndicate’s segment in SIFA 2022 (Credit: Bayonet Records)

From the numerous performances on the bill, several revolve around music as their core. Experimental electronica act, Holly Herndon, performs her debut concert in Asia to promote her PROTO full-length album. Cross-cultural innovators, SAtheCollective, present oneirism, a show that traverses a time where reality merges with the spirit realm; portrayed by an ensemble cast of musicians that include SAtheCollective, Tiramisu, NADA, Mohamed Noor, Randolf Arriola and more. And then you have audio-visual collective, Syndicate, always known for their unconventional and disruptive antics. They have curated a programme – a series of multi-disciplinary capsules for the Life Profusion virtual stage – that’s stacked with collaborative sessions including Anise x Brandon Tay, Cyber Cesspool x deførmed x Claude Glass, Kiat x Strangeloop, Lenne Chai, Phua Juan Yong x Weish, Yeule, and Shelhiel.  

Other noteworthy performances on the lineup are MEPAAN – featuring the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and Borneo-based company, Tuyang Initiative – which explores spiritual and cultural connections amongst Southeast Asian natives. Ceremonial Enactments delves into local customary rituals with a contemporary spin, presented by a tripartite collaboration between MAX. TAN on fashion design, Nadi Singapura on percussion, and Bhaskar’s Arts Academy established by Cultural Medallion recipient, the late Santha Bhaskar. In Bangsawan Gemala Malam, watch a Shakespearean classic reinterpreted in the Malay operatic theatre format of Bangsawan, performed by local arts company, Teater Ekamatra. And in The Once and Future, immerse yourself in an expanded cinema experience, pairing live music by The Berliner Philharmoniker and homegrown, award-winning filmmaker, Yeo Siew Hua.

“The performing arts remains an important space for reflection, creative articulation and nuanced expression,” shares Festival Director, Natalie Hennedige. “SIFA 2022: The Anatomy of Performance - Ritual gathers within individual creations, a range of artistic disciplines and perspectives, inviting practitioners of vivid cultural hues, from different walks of life to embrace a blending of genres, artistic practices and internationality, to imagine the possibilities of performance made by exploring and expanding notions of Ritual in varied, unexpected and nuanced dimensions.”

Judging by the lineup it’s organised so far, SIFA 2022 is making good on its vision.

(Credit: Courtesy of Arts House Limited)

Singapore International Festival of Arts 2022 happens from 20 May to 5 June across multiple performance venues. For information on the full schedule and tickets, visit its official website.