By Lifestyle Editor
Photo: Picture: Old Money Aesthetic courtesy from Casual Closet
From style talk, gamelan, live jazz and polo match, this is GC’s roundup of the classy things to do in May 2023, to level up your elegant & class journey.
Picture: BoboKL
3 - 6 May @BoboKL
GEMA GAMELAN
Gamelan is a traditional musical ensemble that originates from Indonesia, particularly from the islands of Bali and Java.Gamelan music is known for its intricate rhythms, rich melodies, and unique tonal qualities that create a hypnotic and meditative effect on the listener.
Rhythm In Bronze – the acclaimed gamelan ensemble - take to the Bobo Stage this May with their first public performance since 2018. Introducing GEMA GAMELAN – an immersive evening of magical gamelan in the intimate environment of BoboKL; intoxicating and inspiring – a completely unique experience.
For tickets, click here
Picture: KLPAC
4 - 7 May @KLPAC
KonTra : Borneo
Borneo showcases a contingent of five talented choreographers from East Malaysia along with one more from Peninsular Malaysia. Drawing inspiration from the people of East Malaysia, their culture and their way of life, the choreographers weave this rich tapestry of cultures and stories into six contemporary dance works.
KonTra is an on-going experimental dance series helmed by choreographer Zhafir Muzani which honours our traditions while forging a new way forward through contemporary dance.
For tickets, click here
Joseph Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill gathered in Tehran in 1943 to plan their strategy for winning World War II. PHOTOGRAPH BY THE NEW YORK TIMES PHOTO ARCHIVES,REDUX
4 May @Zoom
Harvard Kennedy School: Power Vacuums in Great Power Politics: The Consequences of Retrenchment and Collapse
Differing beliefs about how great powers react to the emergence of power vacuums in international politics play a central role in the current debate on U.S. grand strategy: on the one hand, those who believe that power vacuums are inevitably filled by adversaries seeking to expand their influence abroad tend to call for a more involved grand strategy; on the other hand, those who are more sanguine about the possible consequences of creating power vacuums tend to support calls for the United States to withdraw from some of its international commitments.
To register, click here
Picture: FLUX28 STUDIO
Pencak Mirage: An Audio/Visual Performance
6 - 7 May @ Muzium Telekom, Kuala Lumpur
Pencak Mirage is a mixed reality performance show that blends the ancient Malay martial art, Silat, with cutting-edge digital art techniques for an unforgettable experience.
Immerse yourself in the fabled battle of Hang Tuah and Taming Sari, brought to life through mesmerizing visuals, captivating soundscapes, and awe-inspiring performances. This is a live fusion like no other, with traditional art techniques seamlessly intertwined with the latest in digital technology, motion capture, and more.
For tickets, click HERE.
Picture: Ugly Duchess. Courtesy from National Gallery collection.
Online course: Renaissance ideas of beauty
9,16,23 May @ Facebook Live
Question concepts of Renaissance beauty, with Jacqueline Ansell.
Quinten Massys's ‘Ugly Duchess’ is arguably one of the most popular and most intriguing paintings in the National Gallery’s collection. The distinctive appearance of the sitter raises many questions: is this a lifelike image of a real person, or have her features been exaggerated for comic or grotesque effect? What is the significance of the body language and accessories in the painting, and are the clothes in keeping with the fashions of 1513?
To address these questions, they will consider the wider context of image-making between 1400-1600, interrogating notions of beauty in relation to conceptions of gender, national identity and ethnicity. The concepts of the ‘real’ versus ‘the ideal’ will be discussed in relation to satire, as they focus on decoding dress, decorum and deportment in paintings produced both north and south of the Alps.
To watch, click here
Picture: Asia School of Business
Innovation Summit Southeast Asia 2023
10 May @ the Asia School of Business, Kuala Lumpur
Asia School of Business established in collaboration with MIT Sloan will be organising their inaugral Innovation Summit on 10 May 2023, 9.30 am - 4.30 pm at the Asia School of Business, Kuala Lumpur.
The Southeast Asia Innovation Summit will try to highlight the theoretical and institutional pillars for an innovation-driven policy agenda, focusing in particular on economic growth, food security and healthcare.
To register, click here
Picture: Wardrobe
Style Talk - The Wardrobe Essentials
13 May @ Wadrobe Flagship Boutique, Bangsar
Building a versatile and timeless essential menswear wardrobe is an investment in your personal style and can help you save time and money in the long run. Join Wardobe as their CEO will guide your style journey.
Registration is free. To register, click here
Picture: DPAC
The Frankie Sixes Ep Launch
18 - 21 May @ DPAC
One of the most prominent live jazz acts in the Malaysian circuit today, 6-piece swing jazz combo The Frankie Sixes launches their debut EP via 4 days of live showcases, guest performances, swing dancing and dance workshops. Fresh from their slot in Taiwan Lantern Festival 2023 and vocal guest spot for Unfolding Bangkok 2023, the band recently released a lindy hop music video featuring 100+ dancers across 12 countries.
Expect original Malaysian swing jazz tunes and classic American jazz standards by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole and more so be prepared to move your feet!
To register, click here
Picture: Istana Budaya
Flourishes’23: Seri Puteri Symphonic Winds Royal Concert
20 May @ Istana Budaya
SPWinds has performed at major classical music venues around the world, promoting both western and Malay symphonic band music on world stages. These include the Carnegie Hall in New York, the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Golden Hall Musikverein in Vienna, Sydney Opera House and Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.
To celebrate its decade of musical excellence, SPWinds is delighted to present to you FLOURISHES ’23: SPWINDS ROYAL CONCERT, its debut fundraising gala at the majestic venue PANGGUNG SARI, ISTANA BUDAYA.
SPWinds will entertain you with music of various genres, from Pops to Classicals, Asli to Symphonic, Operas to Broadway and many more. FLOURISHES’23 will cherish you further with a special collaboration with ANUAR ZAIN.
Proceeds from FLOURISHES ’23: SYMPHONIC GALA CONCERT will be channelled to funding SPWinds participation at the 2023 International Orchestra Festival and Competition Golden Sardana in Barcelona.
For tickets, click here
Picture: KL SHAKESPEARE PLAYERS
Hujan Pagi
26 May - 4 June @ Taman Ekuestrian Putrajaya
Performed entirely in the original Malay text, with surtitles in English, this adaptation is based on Malaysian National Laureate A. Samad Said’s novel “Hujan Pagi”. It is a solo play featuring Zul Zamir, who plays the roles of the two brothers Lokman and Lajis.
Lokman started as a pre-war journalist and subsequently became the editor of a Malay daily. Disheartened by the changing and declining news industry, he slipped into a hallucination where he leads Hujan Pagi, a fearless and leading newspaper that fights the British colonizer and protects the Malay dignity, in a different world. He even found the right successors to continue his legacy.
In the real world, his younger brother Lajis tried to investigate the cause of Lokman’s condition, and unwittingly discovered a string of mysteries that got him to question his own identity…
This 60-minute adaptation of the original novel over 400 pages long with many characters and multiple subplots will focus on Lokman’s mental struggle and Lajis’ attempt to uncover the mysteries.
For tickets, click here
Picture: RMPA
The RMPA Cahaya Cup
26 May - 4 June @ Taman Ekuestrian Putrajaya
Yet another exciting polo match organised by the Royal Malaysian Polo Association. Where else you can watch sports that combined elegance, majesty, and fun? Polo of course.
For tickets, click here