A Singapore Trilogy at The Cockpit

Music: Chen Zhangyi
Words: Jack Lin

Dive into A Singapore Trilogy, a captivating full performance of three chamber operas—Laksa Cantata, Window Shopping, and Kopi For One. Composed by Chen Zhangyi with libretti by Jack Lin, this production weaves Singapore’s vibrant culture into universal tales of love, identity, and family.

In Laksa Cantata, Stephen, a laksa enthusiast, sparks a comedic clash with his feisty fiancée, Leah, by sneaking spicy curry noodles onto their formal wedding menu, testing their bond amid wedding preparations.

Window Shopping unfolds in a shoe boutique, where an elegant woman reflects on her past, contrasted by a reckless, shopaholic girl—perhaps her younger self—exploring memory and identity in a dreamy, lyrical narrative.

Kopi For One brings a nostalgic kopitiam to life, where a quirky waitress mediates a tense reunion between a daughter, who likens her displacement to coffee “born for a land far away,” and her stoic father, struggling to express love. The poignant twist—serving “kopi for one”—reveals lingering solitude.

Performed by a stellar cast with a small ensemble (clarinet, violin, flute, cello, piano), the trilogy blends lyrical melodies with contemporary textures, creating an intimate, evocative soundscape. Lin’s poetic libretti, rich with humor and heart, bring Singapore’s spirit to London.