Spectacular Marina Bay 2015 Countdown Kicks Off Singapore's Golden Jubilee

SINGAPORE, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- Thousands of Singaporeans and visitors joined a spectacular celebration, including a fireworks display during the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2015 which kicked of a new journey for the nation that celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. The event was jointly presented by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). The New Year's eve celebration had 25,000 wishing spheres set afloat Marina Bay, a projection mapping display on the façade of Fullerton Hotel and Merlion, and close to 400 drummers performing "live" to specially-commissioned music in an eight-minute fireworks display at midnight. The fireworks display was choreographed to an original score composed by two up-and-coming Singaporean music talents, Julian Wong and Riduan Zalani, under the guidance of the late Iskandar Ismail. This year, a special segment of the music featured close to 400 drummers performing "live" at the lower boardwalk in front of the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza, adding a resounding beat to the music and fireworks display. The 25,000 red-and-white spheres, bearing the wishes of the community illuminated brightly in Marina Bay. The red spheres, floated for the first time, formed a giant "50" to commemorate Singapore's 50th year of independence. The wishing spheres were sponsored by Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Ltd. Fullerton Hotel Singapore was transformed into a giant screen for the projection mapping display titled "Reflections of our Past, Present and Future", featuring a montage of sketches and graphics. At 11.55pm, as a prelude to the countdown, revellers were taken on a journey to remember key milestones in the Lion City's history that has transformed it into what it has become today. Other events around Marina Bay included a carnival at The Promontory and a bazaar at the Marina waterfront, as well as ticketed concerts and performances such as Celebrate With The World 2015 and Celebrate SG50 which featured more than 60 artistes, including Stefanie Sun, Kit Chan, Dick Lee and K-pop boy band BIGBANG entertaining the crowd till the midnight countdown. -- BERNAMA