Concerts to pay tribute to Teresa Teng

EVEN though Taiwanese singing superstar Teresa Teng died 10 years ago, fans still remember her crystalline voice.  

There are a few tribute concerts to Teng this year, and the first one that is scheduled for her fans and Chinese music lovers is on Aug 4 and 5. 

The concert, entitled Almost Teresa, commemorates the tenth anniversary of her death in Thailand on Aug 5, 1995.  

Event organiser Horace Ng has also roped in Taiwanese singer Delphine Tsai and local artistes Yudi and Candy Cheah for both concerts. 

Ng himself was inspired to organise the tribute concert, because he grew up listening to her songs and in his words, “My father loves her music so much.”  

He also explained that many of Teng's fans considered her music not only relaxing but therapeutic.  

“Many of her songs have simple melodies, stark arrangements. This was deliberately done to let the beauty of her voice shine.” 

Tsai, who was in Kuala Lumpur for a press conference, is no stranger to the music business. 

In 1983, a 14-year-old Tsai won Malaysian hearts with her song Walk Beside the Railway, which was featured in a popular Taiwanese serial called The Stars Know My Heart. 

A veteran in the business, Tsai has released 40 albums and is still largely known for her voice, which is said to be uncannily similar to Teng's.  

In the past, she earned the affectionate nicknames of “Little Teresa Teng” and “Skylark of the Orient”.  

Tsai herself cancelled a scheduled concert in Taiwan to perform in Kuala Lumpur as it is for a good cause.  

This is in line with Teng's own generosity, as she was known to give many free concerts to help the less fortunate or to help raise funds for charity causes. 

Yudi, already known as a shi daiqu singer in the local scene, will perform songs that were made famous by Teng and that were written by Malaysian composers. 

Cheah is set to sing Teng's Cantonese hits and one or two of her own songs.  

Ng said the concerts would culminate in medleys, duets and singalongs, between the three singers and the audience. 

The Almost Teresa concerts are in aid of charity.  

All net proceeds of the ticket sales will be donated to the Ti-Ratana Welfare Society.  

The community service centre offers free medical services for the poor, nursery and child care centres, old folks' homes, a home for the handicapped and a shelter for abused women. 

In conjunction with the anniversary of Teng's death, Universal Music has also released a double-CD compilation entitled Lovers in Heaven, which includes two never released songs.  

It will be sold at the concerts and part of the proceeds will be channelled to the Ti-Ratana Welfare Society as well.  

Event organisers will also auction a special 20-CD box set of Teng's music from 1978 to 1988. 

On Aug 4, the concerts are in a theatre-show format, with ticket prices at RM60, RM80 (both free seating), RM120, RM180 and RM250.  

Ticket prices for the dinner show on Aug 5 are RM1,600, RM1,900, RM2,500, RM2,800 and RM3,800 per table. For more information, contact 03-2143 1243, 012-290 7826 or 012-239 2156. 

The Ti-Ratana Welfare Society is located at Salak South Baru. For details, call 03-7988 1818.