Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore“Tan brings home crowd to its feet”Now that Tan has finally performed here in public, hopefully, he won't wait too long before coming back.Christopher Lim, The Business Times, 21 January 2011“Lovely homecoming for Melvyn Tan”What a glorious return is his first recital here since the 1970s … Playing a mostly Romantic programme, it was both an emotional and historic event. One might say this was a Singaporean version of Vladimir Horowitz’s momentous 1986 return to Russia.The Straits Times, 21 January 2011Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 by Singapore born Melvyn Tan, a world master of the keyboard in all things Beethoven, brilliant and full of expression.Kronen Zeitung,September 2010Edinburgh International Festival“…Melvyn Tan sparkled in partnership with the Skampa Quartet.”The Sunday Times, August 2010London Philharmonic Orchestra /Yannick Nézet-Séguin“The concert took flight with a hugely accomplished and enjoyable account of Poulenc’s beguiling concerto for two pianos. Ronald Brautigam and Melvyn Tan provided just the right mixture of panache and insouciance in the solo parts…”The Guardian,February 2010Wigmore Hall RecitalThere are few pleasures as reliable in the driftwood days between Christmas and New Year as a morning concert at the Wigmore Hall. Playing on Paul McNulty's sweet-toned copy of a 1795 Walter fortepiano, Melvyn Tan explored the pinball harmonic flourishes and baroque follies of C P E Bach's Fantasia in C and the delicately outlined suspensions of Haydn's Sonata in C. The same composer's Variations in F Minor wrought gentle magic from a dowdy theme in little off-beat gasps of dissonance, sugary trills and pungent chromaticism, while the E- flat Sonata saw a mellow, nostalgic Adagio framed by exuberant showmanship and winking syncopation. A fine end to Haydn's anniversary year.Anna Picard, The Independent on Sunday,January 2010National Museum of Singapore- Two Debussy recitals to accompany the 'Dreams & Reality' exhibition of Musée d’Orsay masterpieces -Melvyn Tan is a master colourist, with a palette of rainbow shades, and multitudes of nuances to make each piece and turn of phrase come alive.Chang Tou Liang The Straits Times07 January 2012Esplanade Hall, Singapore His performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.23 in A major was a total joy from the word go. Crafting a very light and limpid sound that miraculously transcended the orchestra’s support, he made the piano sing, living up to Mozart’s direction of “flowing like oil”.Chang Tou Liang The Straits Times22 September 2011Edinburgh International Festival,Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh One other event stood out on this highest level: Melvyn Tan's Queen's Hall recital, a delicious yin-yang pairing of sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti with Cage's Sonatas and Interludes.Fiona MaddocksThe Observer21 August 2011Tan is, of course, among the most thoughtful, elegant and refined of pianists. (…) Tan played it all with faultless grace, and the audience adored every second of it. An outstanding recital and a festival highlight so far. Tim AshleyThe Guardian17 August 2011 Alongside the composers’ formal affinities was another common factor: Tan himself. He’s a player of light-fingered wit, a quality which came out strongly in both composers. Ivan HewittDaily Telegraph17 August 2011A great festival should be all about daring one-offs. So cheers to MelvynTan for giving the Edinburgh International Festival what was probably the wackiest piano recital in its 65-year history.Tan’s delightful playing (…) In his hands, Cage sounded as playful as Haydn, though also as sensual as Debussy.Richard Morrison The Times17 August 2011It took only seconds of music for it to be immediately apparent why Jonathan Mills had asked the renowned fortepianist to plunge himself into the world of prepared piano for this year’s Eastern Edinburgh programme.Keith BruceThe Herald16 August 2011Tan's performances were buoyant and infectious.Kenneth WaltonThe Scotsman16 August 2011
Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore
“Tan brings home crowd to its feet”
Now that Tan has finally performed here in
public, hopefully, he won't wait too long before
coming back.
Christopher Lim,
The Business Times,
21 January 2011
“Lovely homecoming for Melvyn Tan”
What a glorious return is his first recital here
since the 1970s … Playing a mostly Romantic
programme, it was both an emotional and
historic event. One might say this was a
Singaporean version of Vladimir Horowitz’s
momentous 1986 return to Russia.
The Straits Times,
21 January 2011
Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 by Singapore
born Melvyn Tan, a world master of the
keyboard in all things Beethoven, brilliant and
full of expression.
Kronen Zeitung,
September 2010
Edinburgh International Festival
“…Melvyn Tan sparkled in partnership with the
Skampa Quartet.”
The Sunday Times,
August 2010
London Philharmonic Orchestra /
Yannick Nézet-Séguin
“The concert took flight with a hugely
accomplished and enjoyable account of
Poulenc’s beguiling concerto for two pianos.
Ronald Brautigam and Melvyn Tan provided just
the right mixture of panache and insouciance in
the solo parts…”
The Guardian,
February 2010
Wigmore Hall Recital
There are few pleasures as reliable in the
driftwood days between Christmas and New
Year as a morning concert at the Wigmore Hall.
Playing on Paul McNulty's sweet-toned copy of a
1795 Walter fortepiano, Melvyn Tan explored
the pinball harmonic flourishes and baroque
follies of C P E Bach's Fantasia in C and the
delicately outlined suspensions of Haydn's
Sonata in C. The same composer's Variations in
F Minor wrought gentle magic from a dowdy
theme in little off-beat gasps of dissonance,
sugary trills and pungent chromaticism, while
the E- flat Sonata saw a mellow, nostalgic
Adagio framed by exuberant showmanship and
winking syncopation. A fine end to Haydn's
anniversary year.
Anna Picard,
The Independent on Sunday,
January 2010
National Museum of Singapore
- Two Debussy recitals to accompany the
'Dreams & Reality' exhibition of Musée d’Orsay
masterpieces -
Melvyn Tan is a master colourist, with a palette
of rainbow shades, and multitudes of nuances to
make each piece and turn of phrase come alive.
Chang Tou Liang
The Straits Times
07 January 2012
Esplanade Hall, Singapore
His performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto
No.23 in A major was a total joy from the word
go. Crafting a very light and limpid sound that
miraculously transcended the orchestra’s
support, he made the piano sing, living up to
Mozart’s direction of “flowing like oil”.
Chang Tou Liang
The Straits Times
22 September 2011
Edinburgh International Festival,
Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
One other event stood out on this highest level:
Melvyn Tan's Queen's Hall recital, a delicious
yin-yang pairing of sonatas by Domenico
Scarlatti with Cage's Sonatas and Interludes.
Fiona Maddocks
The Observer
21 August 2011
Tan is, of course, among the most thoughtful,
elegant and refined of pianists. (…) Tan played
it all with faultless grace, and the audience
adored every second of it. An outstanding
recital and a festival highlight so far.
Tim Ashley
The Guardian
17 August 2011
Alongside the composers’ formal affinities was
another common factor: Tan himself. He’s a
player of light-fingered wit, a quality which
came out strongly in both composers.
Ivan Hewitt
Daily Telegraph
17 August 2011
A great festival should be all about daring one-
offs. So cheers to MelvynTan for giving the
Edinburgh International Festival what was
probably the wackiest piano recital in its 65-year
history.
Tan’s delightful playing (…) In his hands, Cage
sounded as playful as Haydn, though also as
sensual as Debussy.
Richard Morrison
The Times
17 August 2011
It took only seconds of music for it to be
immediately apparent why Jonathan Mills had
asked the renowned fortepianist to plunge
himself into the world of prepared piano for this
year’s Eastern Edinburgh programme.
Keith Bruce
The Herald
16 August 2011
Tan's performances were buoyant and infectious.
Kenneth Walton
The Scotsman
16 August 2011
