In their collaborative endeavour , "Voyage 迷航," An-Ting 安婷 and Daniel York Loh conjure emotions that gracefully transcends the boundaries of time and space. An-Ting's score, a celestial fusion of 'Asia beats,' the melancholic resonance of a lone tack piano, whimsical waltzes, and the soul-stirring melodies of erhu and pipa, serves as a vessel carrying us through epochs and landscapes.
Their narrative unfolds like a grand odyssey, where the harsh realities of impoverished Chinese settlers in the heart of London intertwine with the opulence and bitterness experienced by the émigré William Waldorf Astor. An-Ting's music becomes an uneasy voyage, traversing continents, navigating oceans, and meandering through winter prairies, the dimly lit holds of ships, the haunting magnificence of Astor's Xanadu in Two Temple Place, and the smoke-drenched, Victorian-laden streets of London, complete with opium dens.
Daniel York Loh, an acclaimed classical actor, assumes the role of storyteller with unparalleled finesse. His narration, described by The Upcoming as "striking," breathes life into an epic text that mirrors the myriad emotions embedded in the music. Together, they explore the universal themes of the immigrant experience — the pursuit of wealth, the quest for status, and the intricate dance between rejection and embrace in a land that one yearns to call 'home.'
"Voyage 迷航" becomes a symphony of both the tangible and intangible, a resonant expression that spans not only centuries but also the ever-changing landscapes of our collective human journey. An-Ting 安婷 and Daniel York Loh create an auditory experience that lingers, echoing the complexities of the past while seamlessly connecting with the present.
Review by Thomas Imposter