Latest news
If it’s contemporary can it be classical?
Is the term ‘contemporary classical music’ a contradiction in terms? Tom Service of The Guardian dispels some myths: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/apr/26/five-myths-contemporary-classical-music?intcmp=239
In Bach’s own hand.
The first manuscript in Bach’s own hand to enter the public market in 16 years, was sold in London last week, one hundred and eigty three years after it was written: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/bach-cantata-manuscript-sells-for-%C2%A3337250-at-christies-in-london
A quartet of six
It’s a dream combination. A composer in the mainstream of her creativity handpicks a string quartet to make the premiere recording of her music and then coaches them in the way she wants to the music to sound. Add to this, a recording producer who understands implicitly what the composer wants and who has the formidable reputation as…
How low can you get?
Till now, it was the All Night Vigil by Rachmaninoff that held the dubious honour of asking for the lowest note to be sung in choral music – the third B flat below middle C. This 97 year long record has now been shattered with Paul Mealor’s setting of the De Profundis in which he…
Conducting Business
Being a conductor has got to be one of the strangest of jobs! In the cascade of music that the audience comes to hear, the conductor makes not one sound; he touches no instrument. The audience doesn’t even witness the emotions of the maestro/maestra at work and indeed, some gestures may even be completely obscured. Tom Service…
Demystifying Danielle
The uber–glamourous and precociously talented soprano Danielle de Niese returns to Australia, for performances around the nation. She was interviewd by Sharon Verghis of The Australian. Following the link to her interview are links to her blogs in ‘The Huffington Post’ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/rising-opera-star-danielle–de–niese-is-set-to-stun/story-fn9n8gph-1226374852846 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielle–de–niese/the-case-for-making-recor_b_1220059.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielle–de–niese/baroque-coming-out-party_b_1177726.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielle–de–niese/inspired-to-inspire_b_1154608.html
Latest reviews
Susan Graham’s recital reviewed
David Vance commends Susan Graham’s ambitious programme: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/opera/all-stand-for-a-musical-match-made-in-heaven-20120502-1xz26.html
Steve Reich reviews
Peter McCallum reviews the Steve Reich Celebration for the SMH: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/rhythms-unfold-with-a-timeless-grandeur-20120430-1xv0e.html …and from Murray Black at The Australian: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/music/three-ages-of-reich-revisited-with-brio/story-fn9d2mxu-1226343085722