The Opera Gala Spectacular in 2023 (All photos: Kuala Lumpur City Opera)
Asked how he started Kuala Lumpur City Opera (KLCO), executive producer Danny Chen chuckles and admits it was completely unexpected. “I had a singing teacher in 2012 who worked and lived in Malaysia. She later returned to her hometown in France but wanted to come back to conduct masterclasses where students can take one- to two-hour lessons and, at the end of the course, hold a small concert,” he says.
The classes became a big hit among local artists and aspiring vocalists. Delighted by the positive response, Chen and his tutor turned them into a bi-yearly event. The third and fourth instalments culminated in an abridged rendition of La Bohème, a romantic tragedy by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, and a full-length show of Frenchman Georges Bizet’s Carmen (based on the novel of the same name by Prosper Mérimée). Chen and his growing band of singers first went by The Eat, Sing and Travel People before officially rebranding as KLCO in 2015.
Although it is one of few such active organisations in the city, the troupe is constantly looking for ways to broaden its horizons in terms of genre. “We might be an opera company, but we don’t want to coop ourselves up and do purely that. We want to try different things. So, as long as it’s something we can learn from, enrich our members and entertain our audience, why not?” Chen muses.
To kick off the group’s 10th anniversary, a milestone for an independent performing arts group, Chen, along with music director Cadis Lee, is looking to none other than Broadway for inspiration. Titled The Golden Age of Broadway, the one-night-only production will bring scenes and tunes from one of American musical theatre’s most iconic eras to life.
But why bring Broadway, a movement and style that originated from mid-18th century New York City, to theatre-goers here?
“If you look at the era we are featuring, which started in the 1940s and went on till 1960, you’ll notice how it was an especially big time for famous composers like Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein,” says Chen. “They had really popular musicals that were so big they were turned into movies. It all began with Oklahoma! and ended with The Sound of Music, productions many people already know. In between, you have South Pacific, The King and I, Carousel and more. There were so many wonderful shows from this time and we want to share this with Malaysians.”
The performance is also the company’s opportunity to introduce local audiences to more niche classics and expand their tastes, which have primarily been shaped by mainstream media. Lee, who initially joined KLCO as a répétiteur and chorus coach before stepping into her current role, says: “We all have Wicked fever now. Everyone knows Lion King and even Grease. Some locals might be familiar with The Sound of Music, so what about the other classics that are hardly ever performed here as full-length productions? The show is an opportunity to show Malaysians, especially the youth, that there are many different singing styles from the ones we are aware of.”
The production had originally been intended to be held at KLCO’s studio, in its small onsite recital hall which seats up to 100 pax, but those plans quickly came to a halt when recruitment rates exceeded expectations. “We currently have around 50 members from all walks of life. There are working adults and even students, and they might join for a year or so before dropping out. On average, we only have around 40 members. With a bigger team and 15 to 20 workshop kids running about in a small space, there would have been no room left for the audience!”
After several discussions, the company managed to secure Menara Ken in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, KL as its venue partner. This change trickled down to the orchestra; Lee had initially planned to have just the piano. “When we moved to the bigger space and with a larger cast, a piano alone would not deliver an impactful experience, for the audience as well as performers. We want to feel the beat!
My task was then to create the arrangement based on existing scores because we have a limited number of musicians. So, purchasing full scores for a full orchestra was not going to work,” she says, noting that with a smaller ensemble, the challenge lies in having each instrument shine to its full potential.
Alongside the main choir, coached by KLCO chorus master Mak Chi Hoe, and the orchestra, the show will also include youth from the Opera for Kids & Teens workshop. Chen emphasises the importance of starting music education young, and how incorporating kids in the productions is a core part of the company.
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“We always try to involve children somehow. We don’t only train them to sing, but also enlighten them about the operas and musicals featured in each lesson term. We teach them about the social issues these shows address, so they might grow to be better citizens.”
“Most of them have some basic knowledge about musicals, usually stuff from Disney or really popular ones like Wicked. But a few of them are also familiar with older classics from previous eras, and they spread this information to their peers. It’s a good way for them to cultivate their own learning process among themselves.”
The recital is technically, as Chen says, a “warm-up” for the chorus ahead of its major opera this year. “We’ll be doing Don Giovanni in October which will be a first for the company.”
Still, great things can come in small packages, and both Chen and Lee believe audiences have much to look forward to.
“I hope viewers take note of how the chorus, children, soloists and orchestra have all been meticulously put together, and they might also hear some nostalgic tunes that they may not have known originated from a musical, and be pleasantly surprised,” musical director Lee smiles.
Chen agrees, saying he wishes everyone will “be tapping their feet and singing along. I hope the audience doesn’t only enjoy themselves but also gives back to the performers by creating a positive, energetic vibe”.
'The Golden Age of Broadway' will be held on March 22, 8pm, at The Platform, Menara Ken TTDI. See here for more information and tickets.
This article first appeared on Mar 17, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
