OpusNovus pays tribute to Isang Yun (1917–1995), whose music forged a deeply personal meeting point between East Asian thought and European modernism. The programme opens with Tapis, a finely woven field of string sound, and returns to Yun through the concentrated dialogue of his late Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon and Horn. Around them, Boulez’s rigorously constructed Structures and Kurtág’s aphoristic Microludes reveal contrasting faces of post-war modernism. Yun’s student Toshio Hosokawa offers the evening’s most direct act of remembrance in Memory: In Memory of Isang Yun, while Carola Bauckholt’s Schlammflocke II transforms animal calls and concrete sounds into unexpected instrumental colours.
ABOUT OPUSNOVUS
Committed to presenting groundbreaking repertoire from the 20th and 21st centuries, YST contemporary music ensemble OpusNovus empowers young musicians to explore and engage with the evolving language of contemporary music through performance, collaboration, and experimentation.
The ensemble performs works by leading international composers and actively champions Southeast Asian voices. They have shared the stage with acclaimed groups such as the London Sinfonietta and Ensemble Phoenix Basel, and collaborated with guest conductors like Steven Schick and Jürg Henneberger.
The ensemble toured Australia for the first time in 2023 and recently made its China debut in October 2025 at the Shenzhen Belt & Road International Music Festival. Through bold programming and fearless performances, OpusNovus continues to shape a distinctive voice for new music in Singapore and beyond.
PROGRAMME
ISANG YUN
Tapis
CHEN YI-TIEN , violin
ZHANG HANZHI, violin
LIU XUANYU, viola
LIU YIDUO, cello
LOEWE LIM LI TONG, double bass
PIERRE BOULEZ
Structures, Book Ia — Movements 1 & 3
CHEN XING-CHI, piano
CHIU PIN-HSIN, piano
ISANG YUN
Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon and Horn
SEAN NICHOLAS ALEXANDER, clarinet
CHOI HONG WA, bassoon
LUO TIANHAO, horn
GYÖRGY KURTÁG
Hommage à Mihály András: 12 Microludes for String Quartet, Op. 13
GAO WEI TINA, violin
LIN YI-HSUAN, violin
LIU XUANYU, viola
ZHU RUONING, cello
TOSHIO HOSOKAWA
Memory: In Memory of Isang Yun
CHEN XING-CHI, piano
AUREITSEVICH NATALLIA, violin
ASSENBAY ALAN, cello
CAROLA BAUCKHOLT
Schlammflocke II
QI YUFEI, flute
SEAN NICHOLAS ALEXANDER, clarinet
CHEN SIHONG, bassoon
JIA LIYE, trumpet
LIU XIAOWEI, bass trombone
CHRISTIAN DANIEL RAGAY BORRES, percussion
CHIU PIN-HSIN, piano
NG EE-JUN, violin
KUNG YU-NING, viola
SHERZOD BAKHTIYOROV, cello
HUANG YUNG-TING, double bass
CHRISTOPH WICHERT, conductor
TICKETING INFORMATION
Admission is free and on a first-come, first-served basis. For everyone’s safety, admission will close once the venue reaches full capacity.
Out of respect for all patrons, late admission will only be allowed at suitable intervals. No children under 6 years of age will be allowed admission. Food and drinks are not allowed inside the venue.
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ACCESSIBILITY
YST offers step-free access from the street to all venues within the building. Accessible seating arrangements can be made for patrons with access needs. If you require more information about our facilities or wish to book accessible seats, please contact muscomms@nus.edu.sg