DICHTER-GILA

DICHTER-GILA: A Malaysian retelling of Robert Schumann’s Dichterliebe

Dichterliebe (A Poet’s Love) is a cycle of 16 songs through love, obsession, and heartbreak. Dichter-Gila reimagines this iconic cycle through a Malaysian lens, preserving Schumann’s music and Heine’s original German texts while reframing the emotional narrative — where love can be irrational, overwhelming, and gila. Through additional monologues and repertoires into the song cycle, Dichter-Gila presents Dichterliebe not as a distant 19th-century artefact, but as a living psychological drama that still speaks powerfully today.

Louis Ong, baritone

Baritone Louis Ong completed a Specialist in Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Michigan in 2020 after earning both Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees from Louisiana State University. He received an Encouragement Award at the Michigan District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (2018) and First Prize in the undergraduate division of the 6th Bangkok Opera ASEAN International Singing Competition. Operatic highlights include Schaunard in La Bohème, the title roles in Don Giovanni and Le Nozze di Figaro, Ford in Falstaff, and Ah Chun in the world premiere of Tony Solitro’s Burial with Utah Opera. He also appears regularly as a concert soloist in Malaysia and Singapore.

Bernard Tan, piano

An award-winning pianist, conductor, and music educator, Dr. Bernard Tan holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) from the University of Michigan (USA), mentored by the world-renowned Martin Katz. He previously earned a Master of Music degree from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (UK). Bernard is recognised for his vocal coaching and accompanying abilities, having collaborated and coached singers of the highest calibres in vocal recitals and opera productions internationally. He currently serves as Senior Lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), while remaining actively engaged in masterclasses, workshops, and studio teaching throughout Malaysia and internationally.

Duration: 60 minutes without intermission