October 2008 marks the 24th Singapore French Film Festival. Organised by the Alliance Française de Singapour, the French Embassy and Cathay Organisation, the festival has brought the best of French cinema, art and culture to Singapore for over 2 decades. Over 20 French films make their debut screening in Singapore. From heart-wrenching dramas to romantic comedies, the organizers present a wide-genre of award-winning films set to entertain and expose Singaporeans and expatriates alike to the brilliant world of French cinema.

Come and discover an alternative cinema at the 24th Singapore French Film Festival.

www.alliancefrancaise.com

Venue: Cathay Picturehouse, 2 Handy Road & Alliance Française, 1 Sarkies Road
Time: Various
Ticket Price: $10, $9 (concession)
Ticket Bookings: The Picturehouse Box Office or www.picturehouse.com.sg
SISTIC 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg
Presenter: Alliance Française de Singapour, The French Embassy & Cathay Organisation

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland with the support of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore Botanic Gardens and Yamaha Singapore are proud to announce the unveiling of Fryderyk Chopin’s monument in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, as a gift from the Polish people to Singapore. The official ceremony will take place on October 5, 2008 and will be graced with a concert performed by the NAFA orchestra. This cultural initiative aims to reach out to the people of Singapore through the music of the most prominent Polish composer and serves to tighten the bonds and understanding between the two countries.

www.nafa.edu.sg
www.singapore.polemb.net
www.sbg.org.sg

Venue: Singapore Botanical Gardens, Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, 1 Cluny Road
Time: 4 p.m. (VIP Reception), 5:15 p.m. (Monument Unveiling), 6:00 p.m. (Concert)
Ticket Price: Free Admission
Presenter: The Embassy of the Republic of Poland and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

The group’s recent, winning performance at the US Harmony Sweepstakes:
Surprise National Champs of the 2008 Harmony Sweepstakes Finals, all-male German quintet Vocaldente, appearing last after very strong sets by the previous seven Regionals winners, quickly got the crowd laughing and on their feet applauding at the end. They easily won Audience Favorite, and it was no surprise when the judges awarded them first place. The title tune of this excellent CD, Cole Porter's "Let's Misbehave," was their opening number, is beautifully done here, as is Kenny Loggins' "Footloose," the group's encore performance. Other winning covers are Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles," George Michaels' "Faith," the Rat Pack favorite "Everybody Loves Somebody" (here mimicking Dean Martin's rendition of the song), Freddie Mercury's "Don't Stop Me Now," a silly faux-ukelele version of Dion's "The Wanderer," and a tongue-in-cheek spoof of Abba's deathless "Mama Mia." Vocaldente sings all these songs (with the exception of "3-Tage Bart," which is in German) in very good English, but their strength is in their innocent, non self-conscious humor, which is not at all harmed by their unexpected and charming German accents. The sweet, pure falsettos, faux horns, strings and other instruments, comic asides and samples (like one from Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" at the end of "Mama Mia") combined with their totally deadpan posing and pretending to play their faux instruments, are all, quite simply, hilarious. While we're laughing at this, we're noticing that their stuff is amazingly arranged (by group members Tobias and Oliver) and that they are top-drawer professional singers and vocal percussionists. From seeing them live, it's also clear that they are having big fun up there, and so are we. Two kinds of genius come together here, comic and musical, to award-winning effect!

www.a-cappella.org.sg
www.theartshouse.com.sg

Venue: The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Ticket Price: $35
Ticket Bookings:The A Cappella Society 9455 9407 or www.a-cappella.org.sg / The Arts House 6332 6919 or tickets@toph.com.sg
Presenter: The A Cappella Society Ltd

Concerto!  Concerto!  Concerto!  Isabelle Moretti (France) and Katryna Tan (Singapore) together with The Philharmonic Orchestra led by Lim Yau, opens this year’s Harp Festival with an array of Harp concertos.

For the first time in Singapore, Isabelle and Katryna will feature a double harp concerto by French composer Parish Alvars.  They will also be performing Boieldieu’s Harp Concerto in C and Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez.

www.harpfest.com

Venue: Victoria Concert Hall, 11 Empress Place
Time: 8 p.m.
Ticket Price: $45, $30
Ticket Bookings: SISTIC 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg
Presenter: Rave Harps

Be prepared for an exciting evening of a harp concert—jazzed up!
Be swept awayby Harp Trio (Cindy Yan-violin, Katryna Tan-harp and Natasha Junyan Liu-cello) presenting classical to finger snapping music.
Discover a new frontier of Jazz on Harp with Jakez Francois (France) and Singapore’s own Percussionist, Tama Goh and bassist, Tony Makarome…..

www.harpfest.com

Venue: The Arts House, 1Old Parliament Lane
Time: 8 p.m.
Ticket Price: $40
Ticket Bookings: SISTIC 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg
Presenter: Rave Harps

Indulge in a beautiful evening of harp music with Lynne Aspnes as she brings you music from Bach, Korngold, Grandjany, Piazolla and many more….

www.harpfest.com

Venue: The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane
Time: 8 p.m.
Ticket Price: $40
Ticket Bookings: SISTIC 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg
Presenter: Rave Harps