Where Purity Resides 《清韵》

Where Purity Resides is a bold and contemplative Nanyin performance series that reclaims the ancient spirit of this classical art form. Presented by Siong Leng, with the guidance of acclaimed Nanyin maestro and Siong Leng’s Nanyin advisor, Mr. Cai Wei Biao (China). Anchored in the traditional pillars of 指 (zhǐ- Nanyin Suites), 曲 (qǔ- Nanyin Vocals ), 谱 (pǔ- Nanyin Instrumental ), this series dares to present Nanyin in its most authentic and unembellished form — a bold and unprecedented approach on the Singapore stage.

At a time when Nanyin is increasingly adapted for tourism and modern spectacle, Where Purity Resides returns to its spiritual and contemplative roots. Here, the music is not dramatized, but distilled — performed with the same restraint, grace, and meditative depth that once echoed in the ancestral halls and teahouses of Quanzhou. This is more than a performance. Where Purity Resides is a long-term cultural movement: a commitment to elevating the performance mastery of Siong Leng’s artists, while forging a lasting educational bridge with Singapore audiences. It invites professors, researchers, music historians, and cultural thinkers to rediscover the inner world of Nanyin, and to participate in its preservation and continuity.

Through this series, we hope to cultivate deeper public understanding, spark critical dialogue, and nurture a new generation of appreciators and scholars. Ultimately, Where Purity Resides seeks to restore reverence for Nanyin not as mere tradition or entertainment, but as a living vessel of memory, discipline, and identity — echoing quietly, but powerfully, into the future.

Presented by Siong Leng
Supported by National Arts Council

*A post-show talk will be held after the performance.