Melvyn Tan plays Mozart Piano Sonata in C

What a night, Melvyn Tan played Schumann, Debussy and Chopin. This was his first concert in Singapore in around 30 years? Due to his 'exile' as he was deemed to have 'escaped' national service, he didn't have the opportunity to visit the place he was born.

Anyhow, the playing was great, though I fell asleep thru the entire first piece. I was somehow exhausted, perhaps due to the great meal at Tomo Izakaya (fantastic Sashimi!!) I was awoken to rapturous applause.

The second half was great, through Chopin's Polonaise and Sonata. But as someone who is not 'hardcore' about classical music, my favourite section in recitals is always the encore. The first was a Chopin's Etude, and the 3rd and last piece was also another Etude (The 'Revolutionary', a decent way to end the night. But to me, the show stopper was when he played Mozart's Sonata in C, 2nd movement. And it was the only time Melvyn spoke during the show, that he last played this piece when he was eight years old at the Victoria theater. What strikes me in the simplistic music of Mozart Sonata is in the masterful playing by Melvyn of this ''children's piece.

Simplicity is sometimes best in our ever chaotic world, and with a maestro helming the Steinway & Sons concert grand, Mozart's music was ringing again, from the about-to-be-refurbished Victoria hall, through the 21st century Esplanade Concert Hall. What a generation!