Singapore Sun Festival 2009: Asia's Leading Arts and Lifestyle Festival Opens Today!

Features over 190 international celebrities and artists in more than 90 events that celebrate the Art of Living Well

SINGAPORE, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The Singapore Sun Festival 2009, Asia's premier lifestyle festival, kicks off its third anniversary in Singapore today with a star-studded press conference at The Fullerton Hotel. Over 10 celebrity-attendees sat at the panel, including acclaimed director, producer and actress Joan Chen, Nobel Prize Laureate Wole Soyinka, Celebrity Chef Art Smith, Principal Dancers of the American Ballet Theatre Maxim Beloserkovsky and Irina Dvorovenko, and many others.

Following that will be more than 90 events over a period of 10 days, from 3 - 12 October, all of which celebrate The Art of Living Well.

This year's festival will showcase an extraordinary line-up of artists and events including a world-premiere ballet performance, 9 Singapore-premiere concerts by highly-acclaimed musicians; workshops and discussions with top literary figures; culinary delights with some of the world's finest chefs; fine wines; film screenings; and wellness programmes to rejuvenate the mind and soul.

Global President and COO of IMG Artists, Mr Jeffrey Fuhrman said, "I am very excited as we open the third chapter of our festival here in Singapore for the third time. The Singapore Sun Festival 2009 continues the international tradition of high quality events featuring stellar artists and unforgettable experiences that celebrate life and the art of living well. Our aim is to deliver world-class music and lifestyle events to audiences in Asia, and position Singapore as a truly global entertainment, arts and lifestyle destination."

The Festival Gala Opening Performance (3 October) at the Esplanade Concert Hall will feature principal dancers of The Bolshoi Theatre and Mariinsky Theatre in a world premiere performance. Also, be enthralled as Maxim Beloserkovsky and Irina Dvorovenko from the American Ballet Theatre dance works from the world's most loved ballets of all time.

Other well-received concerts in the Festival's Music programme include those by the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (NRPO) with conductor Jaap van Zweden and legendary flautist Sir James Galway (7 October); the phenomenal collaboration between one of the most influential cellists, Nina Kotova and 14-year old prodigy pianist, Conrad Tao (9 October); the NRPO conducted by Maestro Paolo Olmi, will present an stunning opera performance with Angela Gheorghiu and highly reputed Romanian Tenor Marius Manea (10 October).

Sensational indoor and outdoor waterfront concerts by superb artists from the jazz and popular music genres - Grammy-award singer Elvis Costello (5 October); sensational Jazz and five-time Grammy Award winning artist Al Jarreau (6 October); Grammy-nominated Cuban ensemble Afro Cuban All Stars (11 October); contemporary fusion group Sitar Funk (7 October); New Zealand soul songstress Hollie Smith (8 October) - have also enjoyed wonderful responses from festival-goers.

Other tantalizing events in the Festival include sumptuous Cuisine and glorious Wines at some of Singapore's best restaurants (including a magnificent schooner belonging to celebrated traveller, photographer and publisher Hans Hoefer). World-renowned chefs and wine-makers involved in the Wine and Cuisine events include famous celebrity chef and Oprah Winfrey favourite, Chef Art Smith; Chef Floyd Cardoz from Tabla, New York's most famous gourmet Indian restaurant; the two Michelin Star French Chef Thierry Marx; and local celebrity chef Samia Ahad.

Following the overwhelming success of the Singapore Wine Auction and Gala Dinner (12 October), the Charity Gala Dinner returns to celebrate the nostalgic era of romance with La Vie En Rose. IMG Artists aims to raise over $750,000 this year for the VIVA Foundation for Children with Cancer. Funds will be raised through table sales for the dinner, as well as the auction of 23 exclusive lots that evening that include: playing golf with Thailand's hot- shot player and multi Asia title winner Chinnarat Phadungsil , a flight in a private jet, VIP tickets and personal meetings with Liza Minnelli and Burt Bacharach in Australia, US Open Men's Final Tennis in New York City , VIP passes to the Hong Kong Sevens and rare wines including Dom Perignon, Chateau Haut Brion , Louis Roederer Cristal , Chateau Mouton Rothschild, and a rare 1966 Chateau Palmer among many others. Guests will be treated to a menu specially designed by two Michelin Star Chef Thierry Marx, and a spectacular live performance by Grammy-nominated Stacey Kent.

A Dazzling Peranakan Party (8 October) will also be thrown at the Peranakan Museum in an exclusive after-hours party of cocktails, fashion and bling. Be entertained by The Main Wayang Company and see a unique showcase of the sarong kebaya, from traditional to modern fusions, whilst Foundation Jewellers, the only company that produces hand-crafted Peranakan jewellery in Singapore, will display its dazzling array of jewellery inspired by the past.

Painting workshops by artist Diana Francis entitled A Singapore Tale or Two at Singapore Art Museum (The Glass Hall) alongside author Dr. Julian Davison and Claressa Monteiro's Singing Art at Asian Civilisation Museum make up this year's Visual Arts programme.

The Literature programme will feature talks and workshops by Nobel Prize Winner Wole Soyinka and four of Singapore's leading playrights - Haresh Sharma, Alfian Saat, Natalie Hennedige and Dr. Robin Loon. The special platform will look at 'Writing for the Stage' and provide a superb insight into Singapore's theatre scene and the art of stage writing.

The magic of cinema will come alive in a series of five screenings (The Sun Film Festival); namely The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (3 October, 7.30pm), Dead Man Walking (7 October, 7.30pm), Hannah & Her Sisters (8 October, 7.30pm), Still Life (9 October, 8pm) and Edward Scissorhands (11 October, 2pm) - that have been personally curated by Joan Chen. Alternatively, get up close and personal with the starlet in an exclusive on-stage interview with Ms. Chen (4 October) at The Singapore Airlines Theatre, Lasalle College of the Arts!

The Festival will also present free outdoor film screenings at the Singapore Botanic Gardens with a 'Great Classics' theme - High Society (9 October); Casablanca (10 October); and The Last Emperor (11 October). Special food and film-paired events at Screening Room - Before Night Falls (2 October), The Sun Also Rises (8 October) and Saving Faces (9 & 10 October) - underscore some of the best moments in cinema.

Finally under the Wellness programme, Festival-goers can share an inspirational moment with poet-prophet Deepak Chopra, who was credited by TIME Magazine as "one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century". Alternatively, restore and energise one's senses in a special Sun Yoga Conference at The Arts House, and enjoy Free Taiji Sessions for all at the ACM Green. Talks by Wellness experts on international change agents, law of attraction and talks on Taiji complete the programme.

Join the Singapore Sun Festival online community on Facebook , Twitter and Twinity.

The Singapore Sun Festival is the third and only Asian chapter of a global lifestyle brand owned by the international arts management group, IMG Artists. The Sun Festival is also celebrated annually in Cortona, Tuscany (Italy) and in Napa Valley, California (USA) under the auspices of Festival Association Napa Valley, a California not-for-profit organisation, produced by IMG Artists.

Contact http://www.sistic.com.sg or 6348-5555 for tickets to the concerts at Esplanade. Special NRPO concert packages are also available upon purchase to all 3 concerts with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and enjoy 20% discount off the top 3 categories.

For table bookings at The Singapore Wine Auction & Gala Dinner, please call 6536-0031 and 6348-5555 to make bookings for the Diamonds Are Forever event or visit http://www.sistic.com.sg .

Please contact http://www.theartshouse.com.sg or enquiries@toph.com.sg regarding The Sun Festival bookings or call 6332-6919 for bookings and enquiries.

The Singapore Sun Festival is supported by the Singapore Tourism Board. For latest updates and more information on wine and cuisine, visit http://www.singaporesunfestival.com and sign up on our mailing list today!

    For media enquiries, please contact:

     Wesley Gunter / Samuel Chua
     Flame Communications
     Tel:   +65-6259-3193 / +65-6253-3193
     Fax:   +65-6259-0693
     Email: wesley@flamecomms.com / samuel@flamecomms.com

SOURCE Singapore Sun Festival

RELATED LINKS
http://www.sistic.com.sg
http://www.theartshouse.com.sg
http://www.singaporesunfestival.com