Reviews

Violin ensemble re:mix tackle pop tunes in sumptuous new arrangements

STRAITS TIMES, May 24, 2018

Remember those suites of Beatles hits arranged and dressed up as baroque concerti grossi?

Here is a new album of popular songs - golden oldies mixed with more recent ones - performed by Singapore's leading purveyor of musical nostalgia, the crack string ensemble re:mix led by Singapore Symphony Orchestra first violinist Foo Say Ming.

The two major works are by Hong Kong-based, British composer-conductor Dominic Sargent.

Sonatina headily brings together the Bee Gees' Night Fever, Lady Gaga's Bad Romance and Michael Jackson's Billie Jean.

Longer and in five movements is Sonata Latina, which recycles songs such as Solamente Una Vez, Quizas Quizas Quizas, Besame Mucho and Desafinado. Whoever thought that Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine's Conga could be spoofed so deliciously as the finale from Bartok's Concerto For Orchestra?

Foo and his charges are totally into this music and they are sumptuously recorded, making this classy trip to yesteryear a most memorable one.

ALTERED STATES

re:mix and Friends

Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts

Sunday (13 October 2013)

‘I did not know any of the Hong Kong and Cantopop melodies in Dominic Sargent’s Do Not Worry - Medley Of Popular Songs (a crude translation of its Chinese title) but the local audience did, as audible humming emanated from somewhere deep in the circle seats. This enjoyable arrangement for both re:mix and Zephyr Flutes, accompanied by the composer on the piano (he also doubled up as one half of the evening’s hosts) was very well received.’

Chang Tou Liang on Pianomania (pianofortephilia.blogspot.com) 15 Oct 2013

WILD AND IN LOVE / re:mix and FOO SAY MING / Review

The longest work of the 75-minute-long concert was the World Premiere of British composer Dominic Sargent's Sonata Latino, a 5-movement string serenade using Spanish and Latin American hit songs dressed in the style of works by Tchaikovsky, Elgar, Britten and others. Commissioned by re:mix, its old-meets-new, East-meets-West stance truly embodied the ensemble's spirit. The 1st movement was an allegro in sonata form based on Augustin Lara's Solamente Una Vez, while the slow movement Notturno included a fugue on Osvaldo Farres' Quizas, Quizas, Quizas, popularised by Nat King Cole. The Barcarolle's rocking rhythm mashed up Besame Mucho with Perfidio, while the Tango dwelled sultrily on Antonio Carlos Jobim's Desafinado. The finale was an energetic Conga and Lambada in perpetual motion, but wittily taking some measures off the corresponding movement of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra.

A well-filled Victoria Concert Hall erupted in loud applause...

Straits Times 10 November 2015

...the fantastic Dominic Sargent...(Zitty)

...under the direction of Dominic Sargent...played very precisely...(Tagesspiegel)

...worked harmoniously together...(Berliner Morgenpost)

…the perfect partner, who caught her moods and ideas…(Münstersche Zeitung)

...the wonderful Herr Sargent at the piano...(Zitty)

...great virtuosity and awareness…(Oberhessische Presse)

...a really wonderful pianist...(Die Depesche)

...her marvellous accompanist at the piano…(Frankfurter Neue Presse)

...accompanied masterfully...(Berliner Morgenpost)

...the powerful compositions of Dominic Sargent...(taz)