Aubrey Suwito celebrates 30 years in music
FOR more than three decades, Aubrey Suwito has composed many popular tunes for the country’s top singers such as Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Dayang Nurfaizah, Faizal Tahir and Jaclyn Victor.
But at his two-nights-only concert, “Aubrey Suwito and Friends with the MPO — A Celebration of 30 Years in Music”, which begins tomorrow at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP), his best works will be rearranged into symphonic pieces.
This grand collaboration between the talented composer and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) will see performances by Dayang, Jaclyn, Faizal and Sean Ghazi, while Aubrey, 51, will join them on the piano.
The singers will perform 14 songs. Among them are Gemilang, Sedingin Mana Cintamu, Layarlah Kembali, Malacca Sun, Counting Days, Gemuruh, Seribu Impian and Menatap Dalam Mimpi.
“Each track took me a week to arrange,” said the Melaka-born at Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur recently.
“My wife said I should get someone else to rearrange the songs, but since it’s my show, I figured I should be the one doing so.
“It’s a labour of love and I promise a spectacular yet sensitively-sinful show.”
Conductor Ahmad Muriz Che Rose, who will be leading the MPO, said: “Aubrey has reinvented the tunes and now they sound really different from the original.
“However, you will find the original sound retained. The symphony only adds more magic to the already beautiful compositions.”
Also included in the repertoire are popular numbers by other composers that have influenced his musical palette, such as The Solianos’ patriotic tune Tanah Pusaka, Queen’s eclectic Bohemian Rhapsody and the late Sudirman Arshad’s heart-rendering Hujan.
“I’ll be sharing with the audience my musical journey spanning 30 years. It’s an intimate show, but in a grand setting.”
The Berklee College of Music graduate said the combination of MPO and the four singers would make the concert a five-star performance.
“There will also be a fifth vocalist joining us. His or her identity will remain a mystery until concert day,” Aubrey said.
“Come and find out who!” “Aubrey Suwito and Friends with the MPO — A Celebration of 30 Years in Music” will be recorded as a live album and will be available later this year.
Tickets, priced at RM380, RM270 and RM210, are available at the DFP Box Office counter. Alternatively, call 03-23317007 or email boxoffice@dfp.com.my. By Bibi Nurshuhada Ramli