Considered by many to be the “Prince of Love Ballads” in the Chinese music industry, crooner Jeff Chang serenaded the 7,000-strong audience accompanied by the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Orchestra at The MAX Pavillion @ Singapore Expo on Mar 15, in a musical extravaganza that lasted more than 2 hours.

The Jeff Chang & Symphony Orchestra 2008 concert was Jeff Chang’s first collaboration with a local orchestra in Singapore. The singer was clearly conscious of where he was by singing many well-loved songs of his that were penned and composed by Singaporeans during the concert. One of them was a song by Dick Lee called “Think”.

According to the English press release released to the media by Unusual Group of Companies, this unusual collaboration between the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Orchestra and contemporary music singer Jeff came about as a result of a vision on the part of Jeff himself. According to him, he was invited to be the “guest performer for the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra” a few years ago, and the opportunity “planted this idea” in him.

Said the talented singer in a statement released to the press, “I started learning to play the violin at the age of five, and was the main vocalist for the school choir throughout my primary and secondary school days. In my university days, I majored in opera and vocals. Therefore, being able to work with the symphony orchestra for my concert is actually a dream coming true.”

Just as his performance with the orchestra was a dream come true for Jeff, the concert was a dream realised for many of his fans seated in The MAX Pavillion.

The crooner first appeared on stage in a dashing black suit, however what elicited gasps of surprise and shock was the hairstyle he was sporting. Gone was his usual boyish look; in its place was an outrageous hairstyle that was atypical of the crooner’s usual ‘safe’ image. His hair was swept over to the right side of his face, and the curls he was sporting framed the top part of it while the entire left portion of his head was reduced to fuzz.

Despite their shock at their idol’s new look, the crowd (made up mainly of those in their late 20s to early 50s) recovered quickly to cheer madly when he sought their approval for his new look. In fact, as Jeff began the first of the 5 segments for the night, the crowd settled into a quiet calm that stirred only when the singer spoke to the audience.

The 5 segments of the concert were:
1. The Renaissance of Love
2. The Romanticism in Song
3. Oriental Love in Splash-Ink Painting
4. Impressionism Love Song
5. Modern Poetry’s Melody

The orchestra not only accompanied Jeff as he sang his ballads, but also opened each segment with a piece of music as Jeff retreated backstage for a costume change. The pieces played included Bizet’s Carmen, as well as Mascagni’s Intermezzo.

Jeff’s crystal clear vocals shone through especially with the accompaniment of the stringed instruments that comprised most of the orchestra.

“To Tell The Lie” was a song that showcased Jeff’s rich vocals perfectly. Another noteworthy song was “With Love”, in which the audience was moved by the sincerity in his voice.

Any singer less experienced than the veteran Jeff would have baulked at singing live with just the barest form of musical accompaniment like he did.

Surprisingly enough, the entire concert experience came together nicely. An intricate chandelier made of lights and drapes, and 3 huge screens at the back of the stage disguised as huge gilded paintings added to the whole classical-meets-contemporary feel of the concert. Jeff held reign in the forefront of the stage, while the orchestra and Jeff’s band filled the raised platforms on the stage in the background.

The screen paintings showcased the works of different artists through the ages, depending on the theme of each segment. The first segment “The Renaissance of Love” saw the works of Leonardo da Vinci projected on the huge screens, while the fourth segment “Impressionism Love Song”, saw the paintings of Paul Cezanne, a French Post-Impressionism painter, on the big screen.

Western influences, played a huge role in the concept of the concert, however it was evident that Jeff didn’t forget his roots. The audience was pleasantly surprised in the third segment when 2 Beijing Opera singers took the stage to create the overture to a song slated to be released in Jeff’s new album come April, Peony Care (???). The song was distinctly Jay Chou-esque, but Jeff’s vocals made the song so much more.

Jeff constantly asked his audience if they were still awake, evidently afraid that his soothing ballads might have lulled some to sleep.

He needn’t have worried; the 7,000-strong audience was definitely made up of his ardent fans – they clung onto his every word, and would often chant his name repeatedly between songs. When Jeff invited the audience to participate in the song “Too Much”, a slightly more upbeat song that was evidently popular with his fans, they participated most actively.

The encore segment was when the members of the audience, who had remained subdued for most of the performance, actually got to their feet.

“Unforgettable” and “I Do” were 2 of the 3 songs belted out by Jeff during the encore. He handled the songs with finesse, then rounded up the entire night with a bow on stage that lasted for as long as the audience’s claps.

All in all, it was a great performance by a great singer of our time.