Swan Songs: Concert for Children takes place at Esplanade Recital Studio on Sunday 6 December 2026 at 10am. It is an interactive chamber music event in English and runs until about 10.40am, with no interval. The organiser describes it as a relaxed event suitable for young children.
Tickets are S$35 per person and babies in arms need their own tickets. The children’s programme is separate from the evening concert on Monday 7 December. If you want the shorter family format, choose the Sunday morning product from Chamber Music and Arts Singapore.
- Sunday 6 December, 10am, Esplanade Recital Studio.
- About 40 minutes without intermission.
- S$35 per attendee, including babies in arms.
- Esplanade lists door sales by PayNow only. Check current availability and use the organiser’s booking confirmation.
Find what you need
How to buy Swan Songs children’s concert tickets · What will young listeners hear? · Planning a relaxed 40-minute concert with children · How to find Esplanade Recital Studio
| Visit question | Published details |
|---|---|
| When? | Sun 6 Dec, 10am–10.40am |
| Where? | Esplanade Recital Studio |
| How much? | S$35 per person |
| What format? | Relaxed interactive concert for young children |
How to buy Swan Songs children’s concert tickets
Use the organiser’s booking page and check that the selected product says Concert for Children. It lists S$35 per person, with no separate e-ticket for this programme. Look for the purchase confirmation and check your spam folder if it does not arrive. Keep the confirmation accessible and follow the organiser’s arrival instructions.
Do infants need tickets?
Yes. The organiser says each ticket admits one person and that babies in arms need tickets. Two adults and one child would therefore pay S$105 at the listed rate, or S$140 if also bringing an infant. The organiser lists tickets as non-refundable and non-exchangeable once sold. Check the date, headcount and venue before ordering.
Can you pay at the door?
The Esplanade event page lists door tickets by PayNow only. That listing does not guarantee a seat will remain on the day. Check availability if you are travelling specifically for the performance. For wheelchair-accessible seating, use the organiser’s contact on the ticket page before booking.
What will young listeners hear?
The children’s listing uses Schubert’s String Quintet as a starting point for a concert about ways of saying goodbye. The piece is written for two violins, a viola and two cellos. The event is led by a presenter and musicians, with an interactive format. Use the children’s listing for its description rather than assuming it follows the full evening concert programme.
What is chamber music?
Chamber music is played by a small group. That makes it easier to follow an individual player and notice how others respond. Point out the larger cellos and the instruments held under the chin, then listen for a sound that passes between them. A child does not need to identify each instrument by name to hear how a phrase changes when a different player takes it up.
What is a swan song?
The title uses the idea of a final work or farewell. Before the concert you might ask a child to think of a cheerful goodbye and a quiet one. During the music, listen for something that feels like either. There is no correct picture the child has to imagine. Let the presenter guide the actual interactive parts.
Do you need to prepare?
A short conversation about strings, bows and listening can be enough. Tell a first-time visitor that the musicians will be nearby and that the morning is shorter than a full recital. Older children can listen for a tune passed between high and low instruments. Save discussion for a moment when the presenter invites it or for after the concert.
Planning a relaxed 40-minute concert with children
The organiser describes the event as relaxed and suitable for young children. It has no scheduled interval. Check directly if you need specific information on leaving and re-entering, seating or other access support. A relaxed designation can be useful for choosing a first event, while the venue and organiser still set the rules for the room.
A workable Sunday morning
Aim to reach the arts centre with enough time for a toilet stop and to find the studio before 10am. Have breakfast before you arrive or plan a meal afterwards. The published end is about 10.40am. Give yourself time to leave and regroup before arranging another stop. A walk by the bay can be optional depending on the weather and the children’s energy.
Going with an infant and older sibling
Count both children in the booking. Check the studio’s current stroller and access arrangements if you need them. Pick a clear meeting place in case one adult steps out with the younger child. If you need more time in the foyer, plan for it before the programme begins.
Choosing the evening concert instead
The organiser’s series page lists the separate evening programme on 7 December at 7.30pm. That listing includes Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 135 and Schubert’s String Quintet. The children’s ticket is for the 6 December morning session. Read the two products separately if planning a family visit and an adult evening outing.
How to find Esplanade Recital Studio
Use the Esplanade MRT walking guide. Esplanade (CC3) and City Hall (EW13/NS25) are convenient approaches. Follow current directions through the linkway or CityLink. Set the destination to Recital Studio, which is separate from Esplanade Concert Hall and Theatre.
Make the meeting point specific
Choose a named landmark near the studio if relatives are arriving separately. Share the programme name and 10am start in the same message. The header photograph shows Esplanade in the distance across the bay. Use the venue signs for the final indoor leg. If you need an accessible route, check it ahead of the visit.
A listening plan for a child’s first string concert
Listen for a sound that returns
A young listener can choose one sound to remember, such as a long low note or a short repeated phrase. Later, ask whether another instrument made a similar sound. The point is to notice something concrete, even if the child cannot name the instrument. A small chamber group can make it easier to see who is moving their bow when a sound begins.
Compare two moods without naming every piece
The programme’s theme gives a simple question to carry into the room. Ask whether one passage feels like a quiet goodbye and another like a happy one. A child can change their mind as the music changes. Let the presenter lead the interaction in the room. Compare the two impressions afterwards, without treating one answer as correct.
If a child already plays an instrument
Invite them to watch how players signal a change to each other. They might notice a glance, a breath or the way a bow lifts before a phrase. After the concert, ask them to describe one detail they could try to notice at their own practice. For a child with no lessons, the same concert can be about hearing how instruments take turns and play together.
A short morning can be enough
There is one published start at 10am. Make it the main appointment and keep everything afterward flexible. If the group has energy after 10.40am, you can walk by the waterfront or find breakfast nearby. If the concert is the child’s first experience of a recital space, leave time to talk about it on the way home rather than fitting in another event immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Is Swan Songs for Children suitable for young children?
The organiser describes it as a relaxed concert for young children.
Do babies in arms need tickets?
Yes. The organiser requires one ticket per person.
How long is it?
About 40 minutes with no interval.
Which room is it in?
Esplanade Recital Studio.
Is the evening concert included?
No. It is a separate event on 7 December.
See the Singapore November and December events guide for more year-end outings.