Marina Bay Sands launches the Grand Theater with Elvis Costello

Singapore (December 17, 2010) – Marina Bay Sands together with BASE Entertainment announces today that English singer-song writer Elvis Costello will perform at the Grand Theater for an electrifying unveiling of the venue on March 7th 2011. Audiences from around the globe will be enthralled by the captivating performance from the gifted singer in the 2,155-seat entertainment venue, bringing a taste of rock, jazz and country offering best Singapore entertainment (http://www.marinabaysands.com/Entertainment/).

Having made music that ranges from punk to country, 56 year old English singer-song writer Elvis Costello has spent more than 30 years crafting smart, literate music and is set to entertain audiences in Singapore for a one-night only performance as part of his Asian tour.

Marina Bay Sands President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Thomas Arasi, said, “Elvis Costello is a legend and we could not be more excited the he will be our Grand Theater’s opening act. Over the past three decades, Elvis Costello has secured his position as one of the rare artists that has remained true to his songs and his lyrics, producing countless hits as a result. Marina Bay Sands is excited about such a high caliber performance and is looking forward to welcome more and more world-class shows to our destination.”

Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader than that of most popular songs. His music has drawn on many diverse genres switching effortlessly from jazz to classical, country to punk. The young American critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes him as a "pop encyclopedia," able to "reinvent the past in his own image" and Rolling Stones magazine calls him a “quintessential critics” favourite.

Base Entertainment Asia Vice President and Managing Director Milan Rokic said," We are thrilled to open Marina Bay Sands’ beautiful Grand Theater with an unbelievably talented singer-song writer who can own a stage and captivate an audience with just his diverse music, lyrics and several guitars on hand. Audiences can continue to expect a variety of entertainment from Broadway productions, concerts, classical music events and Asian headliners showing throughout the two theaters over the coming months."

Costello whose real name is Declan Patrick McManus, first came to fame as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the Punk/New Wave genre after releasing his debut album, My Aim is True in 1977.

In Jan 2011, Costello will be releasing Pomp & Pout, The Universal Years. Pomp & Pout - The album, is the first ever collection of Elvis Costello's material from the years of 1998-2008, and provides a sonic bookend to the successful compilation The Best Of Elvis Costello. Pomp & Pout was compiled by Costello and features b-sides, rarities and work from soundtracks alongside other album highlights. In October this year he also released a new album called National Ransom, recorded in a total of eleven days at Sound Emporium, Nashville and Village Recorders, Los Angeles.

Costello has worked with Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, Lucinda Williams, Lee Konitz, Brian Eno, and Rubén Blades, as well as many other musicians not listed above. Costello is also a music fan, and often champions the works of others in print. He has written several pieces for the magazine Vanity Fair, including the summary of what a perfect weekend of music would be. His collaboration with Bacharach honoured Bacharach's place in pop music history. Costello also appeared in documentaries about singers Dusty Springfield, Brian Wilson, Wanda Jackson, and Memphis, Tennessee-based Stax Records. He has also interviewed one of his own influences, Joni Mitchell. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him #80 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Costello has released over 30 studio albums on his own and with the Attractions, the Imposters, or others. He is married to Grammy-winning Canadian jazz songbird Diana Krall with whom he has twin sons.
Tickets go on sale 18 December 2010. Don’t miss out!
Ticketing Information
7th March 2010 A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve D Reserve E Reserve
8.30 pm
(approx 2 hours with no interval)
Group Sales (20 or more tickets) 10%
$210 $170 $140 $110 $90