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The Opera and Song Collective Presents Music From Scandinavia
July 16, 2023 @ 3:00 pm
Diamonds in the Snow promises an afternoon of the musical sounds of Scandinavia, performed by soprano Leah Thomas, mezzo-soprano Jill Sullivan, flautist Christine Draeger and pianist Tonya Lemoh.
This recital takes the listener through the unique soundscape of the North in works from Norway, Sweden and Finland in song, flute and piano music in the charming and intimate setting of the auditorium of the Sydney Unitarian Church. There are pieces for flute and piano by seldom heard, Swedish female composers Elfrida Andree and Amanda Maier, alongside songs by the giants of Nordic composition, Edvard Grieg and Jean Sibelius. There are also heart-warming and evocative songs by Eyvind Alnaes (Norway), Toiva Kuula (Finland), Wilhelm Peterson-Berger and Ture Rangström (Sweden).
At interval there is a complimentary interval glass of wine, water or soft drink.
The Opera and Song Collective (TOSC) aims to introduce audiences to contemporary composers and lesser known works alongside the famous and familiar. Accordingly there is an original work on the program by Christine Draeger, A Dream of Sweden for flute and piano.
Leah Thomas and Jill Sullivan have both worked with Opera Australia for several years. Each is a specialist recitalist. Leah is a former winner of the Mietta Song Competition and Jill a co-founder of The Lieder Society of Western Australian, later known as Art Song Perth, acclaimed for her vocal recitals for Art Song Canberra, Perth and Tasmania.
Christine Draeger is acclaimed for her flute solo performances, contributions to new music in Australia and has three recordings of Australian flute music. She was a member of the SSO 1981-86 and has also worked with ASO, TSO, and Australian Opera Orchestra. From 1981 to 2007 she was a member of the new music group The Seymour Group Ensemble. Christine first performed for TOSC in 2021.
Pianist is Tonya Lemoh, won the prestigious Danish Radio P2 prize for best solo recording of the year and for ten years, was a lecturer in the piano faculty of Copenhagen University. Tonya will be performing in collaboration with singers and flute and as soloist, will perform works by Grieg and Alfred Gammelsaeter’s Hommage a Edvard Grieg Nos 1 & 2.