Music has always been at the heart of the Soliano family. Across generations, they've helped shape Malaysia's musical landscape, but at the centre of that story is Alfonso Soliano, a composer, conductor, arranger and educator whose influence earned him the title of the Father of Modern Malay Music. This September, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra is honouring his legacy through A Tribute to Alfonso Soliano, a special tribute concert that brings together the orchestra and The Solianos, the family ensemble he founded, for an evening celebrating his music that continues to inspire. Joining us are the concert's conductor, Ahmad Muriz Che Rose, and Alfonso's daughter, vocalist Isabella Soliano, who'll be taking to the stage with The Solianos. 

Music has always been at the heart of the Soliano family. Across generations, they've helped shape Malaysia's musical landscape, but at the centre of that story is Alfonso Soliano, a composer, conductor, arranger and educator whose influence earned him the title of the Father of Modern Malay Music. This September, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra is honouring his legacy through <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.mpo.com.my/season-2026/a-tribute-to-alfonso-soliano">A Tribute to Alfonso Soliano</a>, a special tribute concert that brings together the orchestra and The Solianos, the family ensemble he founded, for an evening celebrating his music that continues to inspire. Joining us are the concert's conductor, Ahmad Muriz Che Rose, and Alfonso's daughter, vocalist Isabella Soliano, who'll be taking to the stage with The Solianos.&nbsp;

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A Tribute to Alfonso Soliano

“When history happens, no-one is spared.” In The Secret Drawer, two women uncover the hidden histories of their fathers, men whose lives were shaped by theatre, social activism and the political upheavals of 1960s Malaysia. One father leaves behind a drawer his daughter is forbidden to open. The other leaves an archive of almost 60 documents tracing years of detention, rejection and separation. Through memories, archival material and re-enactments, these two women - performers and artists Ling Tang and Lim Tiong Wooi - begin to discover how their fathers' lives shaped their own. Presented by the Instant Cafe Theatre Company, we speak to director Jo Kukathas and writer-performer Lim Tiong Wooi about bringing these deeply personal stories to the stage.

“When history happens, no-one is spared.” In <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://tix.jcpac.my/events/the-secret-drawer-45">The Secret Drawer</a>, two women uncover the hidden histories of their fathers, men whose lives were shaped by theatre, social activism and the political upheavals of 1960s Malaysia. One father leaves behind a drawer his daughter is forbidden to open. The other leaves an archive of almost 60 documents tracing years of detention, rejection and separation. Through memories, archival material and re-enactments, these two women - performers and artists Ling Tang and Lim Tiong Wooi - begin to discover how their fathers' lives shaped their own. Presented by the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/instantcafetheatre/?hl=en">Instant Cafe Theatre Company</a>, we speak to director Jo Kukathas and writer-performer Lim Tiong Wooi about bringing these deeply personal stories to the stage.

The Secret Drawer

You may know the famous story of the swordfish that attacked Singapura. But in Todak◉Gundik, writer Kee Thuan Chye brings that legend together with the story of a Sultan’s favoured concubine, weaving them into a tale of power, jealousy, desire and war. It’s a contemporary Malay-language production packed with puppetry, masks, animation, live gamelan music and even Ulek Mayang. Presented by Pentas Project Theatre Production, we find out more about this very theatrical retelling from Thuan Chye.

You may know the famous story of the swordfish that attacked Singapura. But in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/6699-todakgundik">Todak◉Gundik</a>, writer Kee Thuan Chye brings that legend together with the story of a Sultan’s favoured concubine, weaving them into a tale of power, jealousy, desire and war. It’s a contemporary Malay-language production packed with puppetry, masks, animation, live gamelan music and even Ulek Mayang. Presented by Pentas Project Theatre Production, we find out more about this very theatrical retelling from Thuan Chye.

Todak◉Gundik

A couple sits down to talk about having a child. But what starts as a conversation about parenthood quickly opens up much bigger questions: climate anxiety, personal responsibility, love, fear, and what it means to build a life together when the future feels uncertain. That’s the premise of Lungs, Duncan Macmillan’s acclaimed two-person play. There’s no elaborate set, no props, and no time markers. Just two people, their words, and everything that sits beneath them. The play is now being staged by new theatre company Drifting Kaos Productions, and we speak to its founder and director, Dinesh Kumar Maganathan, and actor Grace Ng, to talk about the play, the relationship at its centre, and what it takes to bring such an intimate story to the stage.

A couple sits down to talk about having a child. But what starts as a conversation about parenthood quickly opens up much bigger questions: climate anxiety, personal responsibility, love, fear, and what it means to build a life together when the future feels uncertain. That’s the premise of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/lungs">Lungs</a>, Duncan Macmillan’s acclaimed two-person play. There’s no elaborate set, no props, and no time markers. Just two people, their words, and everything that sits beneath them. The play is now being staged by new theatre company Drifting Kaos Productions, and we speak to its founder and director, Dinesh Kumar Maganathan, and actor Grace Ng, to talk about the play, the relationship at its centre, and what it takes to bring such an intimate story to the stage.

A Tribute to Alfonso Soliano

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