40-piece choir here to jazz up show tunes

Features

Published: 09 Mar. 2006, 20:27

40-piece choir here to jazz up show tunes

Talk about packing a stage: The 40 members of Elfa’s Jazz & Pop Singers, a group formed by combining Elfa’s Singers and Elfa’s Choir, have little elbow room even in the biggest concert halls.
The Indonesian group, led by Elfa Secioria, one of most famous figures in the country’s music scene, comprises four Elfa’s Singers, 28 members of Elfa’s Choir and eight members of Elfa’s Band, including a piano, bass, guitar, drum set, Latin percussion section, trumpet, trombone and saxophone.
The group is coming to Seoul for the fifth time ― this time to perform tunes from famous musicals under the title, “The Most Beautiful Musical Concert in My Life.”
Elfa’s Singers has released 18 albums since it was formed in 1978, selling more than 3 million copies. Its lineup has changed five times. Elfa’s Singers united with Elfa’s Choir in 1998.
For three years in a row, Elfa’s Jazz & Pop Singers won the grand prize in the jazz category of the International Choir Olympic Championship, including last year’s competition in Busan. But the two groups still work separately and perform together on an as-needed basis.
Elfa’s Jazz & Pop Singers, known for singing a cosmopolitan repertoire in an Indonesian style, will sing “All I Ask of You” from “The Phantom of The Opera;” “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” from “Evita;” “Memories” from “Cats;” “I Could Have Danced All Night” from “My Fair Lady,” and “Tonight” from “West Side Story.” They are also planning to sing Korean songs on stage.

by Park Sung-ha

Elfa’s Jazz & Pop Singers will perform at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center on March 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets cost 20,000 won ($20) to 60,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2068-8000. For tickets, call 1588-7890 or 1544-1555, or visit www.ticketlink.co.kr or ticket.interpark.com.