Composer’s Spotlight: Nigel Foo performs ‘Baroque Flamenco’

Composer’s Spotlight Series: Nigel Foo performs ‘Baroque Flamenco’

In this interview, Nigel shares his experience playing Baroque Flamenco. He discussed his passion for Baroque Flamenco which blends traditional harp elements with unique characteristics, making it special as his debut solo. He emphasized the piece’s ability to captivate audiences with its impressive and unconventional style.

Nigel Foo

Nigel Foo is a professional harpist in Singapore. He graduated with a Master in Music degree from Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore. He’d performed with notable ensembles here, including the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He is also a co-founder of The Harp Quarterly, Singapore’s premier harp quartet collective, and the harpist of WindStrung Duo, a local harp and clarinet duo. Apart from performing, he produces shows and works as a programmer at Singapore’s National Arts Centre, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay!

Continue reading below for the full interview with Nigel Foo

Watch Nigel Foo play ‘Baroque Flamenco’ featuring Flamenco and Spanish Dancers in Esplanade, Theatres on the Bay, Singapore

BONUS! Nigel has another ‘Baroque Flamenco’ performance where he collaborated with a harp ensemble and a dance ensemble. See this video at the bottom of this post

A Mini-Interview with Nigel

How would you describe your experience of playing the piece?

A lot of passion!

What do people say when you play this piece? Do you have favorite memories of people’s reactions to it?

I think the audience just finds this piece so impressive and almost uncharacteristic of a typical harp work at times, truly combining the best characteristics of harp, and the unique characteristics of the harp.

What drew you to this piece – why did you choose to learn it?

The passion of the piece drew me to it, and the flair of it just attracts me again and again!

What does this piece add to your repertoire (and/or your life) that you didn’t have before?

This was actually my first solo piece that I ever performed live so it does have a special place in my heart.

What would you tell someone else who’s thinking of learning this piece that you wish you’d known before you learned it?

Let loose and feel the music!

What do you think you can get from working directly with the composer of the piece that you can’t get from the sheet music?

Improvisatory tricks, and other flairs that you could add to your performance

See Nigel’s other ‘Baroque Flamenco’ performance featuring a harp quartet and a dance ensemble!

Please follow this artist on social media and let them know what has opened up for your own self-expression in seeing and hearing their performance, and please share in the comments below.

YouTube: Nigel Foo
Instagram: @n.arp.l

Stay tuned for more artists soon and check out my Composer’s Spotlight blog series, featuring other talented musicians who played my song!  If you’re playing my music, apply here to be in the ‘Composer’s Spotlight’ blog series.