Guruh brings in divas for 'Sripanggung'
Guruh brings in divas for 'Sripanggung'
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Eight Indonesian divas will grace the stage for a night of song
and dance only for Jakartans in a presentation by Guruh Sukarno
Putra together with Vocuz Entertainment.
On Oct 25, at the Plenary Hall in the Jakarta Convention
Center (JCC), star singers Krisdayanti, Titi DJ, Ruth Sahanaya,
Reza, Vina Panduwinata, Cici Paramida, Nicky Astria, and singing
group AB Three will perform in the two-hour presentation titled
Sripanggung (Diva).
Staying true to his late father's tradition, Guruh took the
term sripanggung from the English word diva.
"I never want to use foreign terms in my productions. I put
all things Indonesian first in every thing I do," said the
youngest son of RI founding father Soekarno and his second wife
Fatmawati.
Guruh said the show was produced without a particular concept,
aiming only to highlight the singing talents of homegrown divas
and focusing on their individualistic singing styles.
"There are many excellent singers in Indonesia, but only a few
have the style and flying hours it takes to make them a diva," he
said at a media conference here.
Each of the divas will sing a combination of their hits as
well as Guruh's songs. For instance, dangdut (local music with a
strong Arab or Indian influence) singer Cici Paramida will sing
her hit RT5/RW3, while Vina Panduwinata will perform Aku Makin
Cinta (I'm More in Love), Reza will belt out Pertama (First), and
Nicky Astria will sing her hit Jangan Ada Angkara (Let There Be
No Anger). Music arrangements will be done by Erwin Gutawa.
"Each of the divas will perform in an atmosphere matching her
voice and singing style, for example Titi DJ will combine singing
and dancing," Guruh said. The Kinarya GSP -- Guruh's dance troupe
-- will only appear as the backup dancers for the divas.
He explained that the absence of a general theme for this show
did not mean that he had run out of ideas.
It was just part of the creative process, he explained, adding
that sometimes people want to come out with a serious message, a
theme, but other times they want to appear as they are.
"I just want to make a concert that is directed toward pop
music, not traditional or ethnic music. This doesn't mean that
I'm belittling myself," Guruh said.
As for the choice of singers, he said that they had all been
chosen by him based on his personal view and criteria for a diva.
"I never thought of myself as diva, so I am honored that Mas
Guruh considers me one," said lady rocker Nicky Astria.
Sripanggung will premier on Oct. 25 at 8:00 p.m. at Plenary Hall,
Jakarta Convention Center. Tickets cost Rp 95,000 for festival
seating, Rp 125,000 for second class, Rp 195,000 for first class,
Rp 295,000 for VIP seating, Rp 395,000 for VVIP back and Rp
495,000 for VVIP front seating. Tickets can be purchased from
Vocuz Entertainment (021-7988039, 7975837), Ibu Dibyo (021-
331178), Aquarius Mahakam (021-7208413), Duta Suara Sabang (021-
3101008) and En's Entertainment (021-7229535, 7257241).