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Hot off the press –
Elena Kats Chernin is at work on a new composition: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/many-lands-and-voices-capture-core-of-countrys-heart-20120809-23wu5.html A preview of Zubin Kanga’s Sydney concert http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/dont-try-this-on-the-new-steinway-kids-20120812-242p3.html
Victorian Pianist wins Sydney Eisteddfod Piano Scholarship
Twenty-four-year-old Victorian pianist Konrad Olsezewski has taken out the prestigious $10,000 Allison/Henderson Sydney Eisteddfod Piano Scholarship with a winning performance, Konrad played the Piano Sonata No 2 in B-flat minor, Opus 36, (1st version) by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Konrad recently completed a Bachelor of Music with Honours at the University of Melbourne and is now studying for a…
Now its opera under the water
Sydney presented opera on the harbour. Now German soprano Claudia Herr presents the world premiere of her vocal work under the waters of the river Elbe in Dresden. The performance commemorates the devastating floods that hit Saxony 10 years ago. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19215589 http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/__pr/P__Wash/2012/08/09ElbeOpera.html
BBC Music magazine looks at opera’s 20-20
BBC Music magazine turns 20 next month and to mark the occasion, has collected images from 20 outstanding opera productions over the past 20 years. Take a look at this intriguing picture gallery – and to add some spice, hide the caption and try to guess the opera, the production, the year and the singers….
Monteverdi meets the marimba
When Synergy Percussion under its Artistic Director Timothy Constable presents Masterpieces of Time, later this August, some of the music performed will pre-date by centuries, the instruments on which it will be performed. Herr Bach, Monsieur Couperin and Mr Handel will meet the marimba, vibraphones, bells, gongs, mechanical music boxes, prepared piano and steel drums. It doesn’t make the original versions obsolete, but…
From the press: Elitism in classical music and a new book on conductors
Two features from The New Statesman – the first on elitism in classical music, and the second, a review of a new book Music as Alchemy by Tom Service, The Guardian’s music writer, examining the careers of six conductors and their orchestras: http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/music-and-performance/2012/07/classical-music-should-be-about-more-elite-parties-and-private-s http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/culture/2012/07/music-alchemy-review
Latest reviews
José Carbó – ‘My Latin Heart’
It comes from his heart. His Latin heart. Argentinian born Australian baritone José Carbó has recorded a collection of music from Argentina, My Latin Heart, a tribute to his heritage. Accompanying him are guitarist brothers Leonard and Slava Grigoryan. Together they have created a swathe of Latin American songs that blaze, glow, fade to embers and flare again. Carbó…
Danielle de Niese with the Australian Chamber Orchestra
On hearing that I was attending the opening night of Danielle de Niese’s concert season with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Sydney, a friend asked me to let him know whether I thought he should go along to hear her. Twenty four hours after the concert, I’m still deliberating on my response to him. Danielle de Niese is…