Returning for its second instalment, Beautiful Sunday Online continues with two homegrown ensembles interpreting the works of Elgar, Fauré, Bizet as well as Singapore composers Low Shao Ying and Dick Lee. 

Featuring string quartet Bossa Celli and wind ensemble A Flutey Affair, it’s cellos against flutes in this sunny follow-up to Episode 1: The Voice. With their characteristic brio, the two groups will demonstrate how two instruments associated with a Western orchestra can bring numbers as melodically divergent as Georges Bizet’s Carmen and iconic National Day theme song Home to life. While the pieces may be divided by more than 120 years, they are also joined by their performers’ shared belief – that music is for everyone. 

A celebration of musical chemistry and camaraderie, witness a finely honed performance that signals Bossa Celli and A Flutey Affair as two Singapore quartets to watch (and hear)! Well acquainted with the Esplanade Concert Hall, the various members will also share their fondest recollections of the space, revealing how it was designed to support musicians, serve the public and spur an appreciation for the arts rooted in community spirit. 

Stay tuned for the premiere of series finale “King of Instruments” featuring Phoon Yu, Lau Wen Rong and Dr Evelyn Lim on 8 November. The production of Beautiful Sunday Online was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth’s Arts and Culture Resilience Package. 

Beautiful Sunday was launched by Esplanade in 2003 at the height of the SARS crisis to encourage Singaporeans to return to arts venues for live performances. Held once a month on a Sunday, it offers the opportunity for all to enjoy a series of free community concerts in the Esplanade Concert Hall. Since its introduction, the programme has drawn almost 20,000 attendees every year. For the first time in almost two decades, Beautiful Sunday arrives in a new online edition featuring homegrown artists and ensembles performing their own originals or evergreen favourites. 

Bossa Celli is a Singapore cello quartet made up of Ryan Sim, Shernise Khor, Trinh Ha Linh and James Ng. Established in 2016, the homegrown group has made it its objective to pursue new possibilities for the cello while introducing the instrument to broader, more diverse audiences. Pushing the boundaries of chamber music for the cello, the group performs a wide repertoire ranging from Bossa Nova to 17th-century Baroque tunes. 

A Flutey Affair is a Singapore flute quartet made up of Sin Jin How, Chan Tung Hoe, Lee Wen Xiang and Tan Kian Joo. Formed in 2010 and led by Sin, it has delighted audiences with music ranging from classical pieces to anime soundtracks as it continues to champion Singapore music and musicians. The group has performed at venues such as The Arts House, the Istana, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Gardens by the Bay.