Post-pandemic recovery for Singapore Symphony Orchestra under way with Hans Graf, music director, on a recruitment drive
- The Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s new Austrian music director, Hans Graf, is leading its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, when venues had to close
- He is auditioning to fill several vacancies and is conscious of the need for musicians, like football players, to practise as a team ‘to get it going again’
Expectations for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s new season have risen among its musicians and regular concertgoers since it appointed Austrian conductor Hans Graf music director in June.
Graf has been the orchestra’s chief conductor since 2019, when the previous music director, Lan Shui, retired after 22 years. The 73-year-old says his new role will allow him to help the orchestra emerge stronger from one of the most challenging periods in its 43-year history.
Speaking to the Post between rehearsals last week, Graf said that when he first arrived in Singapore, the orchestra’s schedule had broken down because of the pandemic.
“We had so many cancellations. We were supposed to tour in Japan and Europe earlier this year but all of that was impossible. There was no travelling out of Singapore,” he said.
He said the musicians had lost momentum in the past two years. “We have to work to get it going again. If a football team does not play for two years together, they are still good players, but they have to train and they have to train together,” he says.
