Twilite Orchestra accepts challenge for concert

Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian music is not easily adapted into orchestral ensembles because, unlike many Western musical traditions, it was never especially made for orchestras.

"Almost all Indonesian music is created from whistling or guitar playing, then adapted into various simpler arrangements such as keroncong (traditional Indonesian music with a Gujarati influence), so it is extremely difficult to adapt for an orchestra," said noted conductor Addie MS during a media conference on Wednesday.

Audiences expect a certain sensation when they attend a symphony orchestra performance, Addie said, explaining that one of these sensations was a specific play on the audience's emotions.

"The fluctuating emotional graph, explosive in the beginning, steady in the middle, et cetera," he said.

But Addie and his Twilite Orchestra are ready to take on this challenge at their upcoming concert, Dji Sam Soe Konser Indonesiaku (Dji Sam Soe My Indonesia Concert), on May 8.

"Sampoerna challenged us and we are ready to accept it. If one wants to get ahead one must accept challenges," he said, referring to PT HM Sampoerna, the company that produces Dji Sam Soe clove cigarettes.

For Konser Indonesiaku, instead of its usual mix of Indonesian and classical music, the Twilite Orchestra will perform all Indonesian arrangements, including Indonesian folk songs and pop songs.

"We are trying to elevate Indonesian music to a higher level by performing it with symphony orchestra arrangements," Rusni Kartina, Dji Sam Soe senior brand manager, said at the media conference.

The concert will also reunite Addie with pop singer Vina Panduwinata. The pair collaborated on her albums Citra Ceria and Cinta, before Addie gave up pop music entirely to focus on classical music in 1991.

"It is Addie's dream to make symphony orchestra music more familiar to Indonesians," Vina, famous for her song Burung Camar (Seagull), said.

Besides Vina and the Twilite Chorus, tenor Christopher Abimanyu and soprano Linda Sitinjak also will perform at the concert.

Following the Jakarta performance of Konser Indonesiaku at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), the concert will move to Medan, North Sumatra, on May 11 and Surabaya, East Java, on May 14.

The performances in Medan and Surabaya will also feature North Sumatra University's Consolatio Choir and the Petra Christian University Choir, respectively.

Tickets cost between Rp 75,000 and Rp 250,000 for the Jakarta concert, and between Rp 100,000 and Rp 150,000 for the Medan and Surabaya concerts.

I-BOX:

Dji Sam Soe Konser Indonesiaku at Plenary Hall, Jakarta Convention Center, South Jakarta, on May 8 at 7 p.m. Ticket bookings at Deteksi Production 021-7203601, 72791450, Ibu Dibyo 021-331178, Aquarius Mahakam 021-7208413, Aquarius Pondok Indah 021-7238760 and Duta Suara 021-325471.

In Medan, North Sumatra, at the Hotel Grand Angkasa on May 11 at 7 p.m. Ticket bookings at Sonya FM 061-4520345 and the Hotel Grand Angkasa 061-4555888.

In Surabaya, East Java, at the Hotel Shangri-La on May 14 at 7 p.m. Ticket bookings at Hard Rock FM 031-8250088, SCFM 031- 7317478 and the Hotel Shangri-La 031-5661550.