After Elvis

OpusNovus, the newly renamed Yong Siew Toh Conservatory New Music Ensemble, explores minimalism and the influence of rock 'n' roll in contemporary classical music through a selection of works with roots in the genre set in motion by Elvis Presley.

Inspiring the title of the concert, Michael Daugherty's Dead Elvis is a postmodern, postminimal melange that pays tribute to the King by juxtaposing his songs with a Latin hymn about Judgement Day. Louis Andriessen’s Workers Union makes a politically-charged musical statement in a minimalist, rock-inspired style. YSTCM faculty member Nick Omiccioli ventures into American experimental music with his heavy metal-influenced, improvisational GRINDCORE.

The concert also includes Singapore premieres of Ligeti's classic Ramifications for microtonally-tuned string ensembles and Younghi Pagh-Paan's Tao-inspired U-Mul.