18 August, 8pm, 19, 22 & 26 August, 7pm, 21 August 1.30pm

“The ACO’s first-ever performance of a Brahms symphony was exciting beyond belief.” The Daily Telegraph, 2010

“Whether in lulling, lilting, soothing phrases in its opening moments or generating red-blooded, electrifying climaxes that conjured up images of Brahms on steroids, this was music-making at its best.” The West Australian, 2013

This August, discover the Australian Chamber Orchestra in full symphonic force, directed by Richard Tognetti.

Don’t miss this grand program that features one of the seminal works in the classical repertoire, Brahms’ colossal Third Symphony as well as Mozart’s glorious Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola and orchestra, and the composer’s The Magic Flute Overture.

After the triumphant symphonic performances of Brahms’ Symphony No.1 in 2010 and Brahms’ Symphony No.4, in 2013, Richard Tognetti takes 50 talented musicians to the stage in the ACO’s largest ensemble of the 2015 season, to perform Brahms’ Third Symphony for the first time.

With its sweeping lyrical string lines and contrasting evocative key changes, Brahms’ Third Symphony is considered the most finely crafted of his symphonies.

Played by Tognetti and the ACO, it will be a revelation.

City Recital Hall Angel Place – Mahler’s Fourth

Various dates and times in May and June

Join the Australian Chamber Orchestra for two concert series featuring some of the most inspiring international guests in May and June.

First up, American violin virtuoso Stefan Jackiw joins the ACO for Mostly Mendelssohn, a dazzling program powered by musical prodigies. Jackiw is ‘a legend in the making’ (The Chicago Tribunal) and his vigorous playing style and sweet tone are a perfect match for Richard Tognetti’s brilliant arrangement of Mendelssohn’s famous E minor Violin Concerto. Also in the program, the Orchestra interprets Mendelssohn’s charming String Symphony No.9 and Hugo Wolf’s playful Italian Serenade, and Jackiw and ACO Principal Double Bass Maxime Bibeau take on the challenging duet for violin and double bass, Bottesini’s Gran Duo Concertante.

In June, travel back in time with Egarr & The Golden Age, where Richard Egarr presents music from the Golden Age performed on the ACO’s stunning collection of rare Italian instruments from the 17th and 18th centuries. Back in Australia after the huge success of his 2012 tour with the ACO, expect Egarr to present an invigorating concert that brings new life to some of the Baroque’s finest gems.

PETER SERKIN IN RECITAL
18 May, 7pm

Beethoven and Nielson

This is no ordinary recital program, but Peter Serkin is no ordinary concert pianist!

“Peter Serkin is one of the most perceptive and provocative pianists of his generation…” – American Record Guide

He is a passionate thinker, a spirited individualist – ‘striking that magical balance between intellect and heart’. And, like his father Rudolf, he’s revered as a musician’s musician.

Enjoy a recital where his commanding technique shines in a beautiful program with Renaissance music, Nielsen’s Theme with Variations and the powerful and original piano sonata by Beethoven.

WUORINEN after Josquin Ave Christe – recast for solo piano
SWEELINCK Capriccio in A minor
BULL Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la; A Gigge
DOWLAND set by Byrd Pavana Lachrymae
BYRD La Volta
NIELSEN Theme with Variations
REGER 3 Pieces Aus meinem Tagebuch
MOZART Rondo in A minor, K511
BEETHOVEN Sonata in E, Op.109

GOLDNER STRING QUARTET
4 May, 7pm & 10 May, 2pm

A piece too dangerous to perform behind the Iron Curtain; a heartfelt, lyrical offering of thanksgiving after a life-threatening illness; and a new work tailor-made just for them: this is how Australia’s pre-eminent chamber ensemble celebrates its 20th anniversary! Be moved by the intense emotions in music by Ligeti, Beethoven and Paul Stanhope.

Musica Viva is thrilled to announce that Sean Bacon will be joining the creative team for the Goldner String Quartet tour as the Video Designer. Through the use of projected images, ambient lighting and stunning repertoire you will be taken on a journey through time!

‘One only had to hear the opening bars to realise this is a very fine quartet indeed.’ The Telegraph, UK

Presented by Musica Viva Australia

Program:

LIGETI, String Quartet No. 1 Métamorphoses nocturnes

STANHOPE, String Quartet No. 3 Commissioned for Musica Viva Australia by Huntington Estate and friends

BEETHOVEN, String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, op. 132
STEVEN ISSERLIS WITH CONNIE SHIH
13 June, 2pm & 15 June, 7pm

Steven Isserlis rose to world fame through his compelling stage presence and captivating enthusiasm for the music he loves. Here he presents a typically engaging and extraordinary program, with Franck’s beloved Sonata, lesser-known masterworks by Saint-Saëns and Fauré, and evocative, colourful musical postcards from Thomas Àdes.

“Isserlis’s playing is in many ways consummate: his technical mastery matched by an obvious love for the work.” The Australian

Presented by Musica Viva Australia

Program:

SAINT-SAËNS, Cello Sonata No. 1 in C Minor, op. 32

FAURÉ, Cello Sonata No. 2 in G minor, op. 117

ADÈS, Lieux retrouvés

FRANCK, Cello Sonata from Violin Sonata in A major

VIVALDI UNWIRED
6 – 15 May 2015

This May, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra presents Vivaldi Unwired, showcasing the Orchestra and Vivaldi as you never imagined before!

A shared belief in the transformative power of music and a spirit of intrepid adventure led award-winning British composer Max Richter to re-imagine the baroque classic, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons for orchestra and synthesiser, and for Paul Dyer AO to take up the challenge to present the recomposed piece with period instruments, taking the reins of the synthesiser himself.

The result is an audacious creation that takes the audience through the same landscape of spring, summer, autumn and winter but with a renewed sense of the brilliance of Vivaldi’s work. Richter’s Recomposed – Vivaldi: The Four Seasons is in turns beautiful, peaceful and serene, yet also wild, passionate and intensely emotional, proving great music can flourish under radically different interpretations and still retain its indestructible genius.

Vivaldi Unwired includes Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, widely recognised as amongst the best baroque compositions written, C.P.E Bach’s Concerto for flute (arr. soprano saxophone) featuring Brandenburg favourite Christina Leonard, Vivaldi’s Concerto op. 3 no. 8 from L’estro armonico and finally discover Vivaldi, the indestructible baroque genius in a new light with Richter’s Recomposed – Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, beautifully led by Guest Concertmaster Brendan Joyce.

Don’t miss this baroque adventure with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.

Saturday 11th April – 10am to 1pm

Maitland Con Community Music Open Day

301 High Street, Maitland

Come along and experience the joy of making music, we’ll happily show you how!

Free admission to all activities plus a chance to win four lessons in an instrument of your choice.

Early Childhood Music demonstrations for parents and littlies.
Piano demonstrations
String demonstrations
Woodwind demonstrations
Vocal demonstrations
Brass demonstrations
….and lots more.

Thursday 23rd April – 7:00pm

The Song Company presents Lamentations for a Solider
The haunting sound of the Turkish flute or ‘ney’ and the transcendental dance of the dervish form the anchor of our 2015 Easter program. East and West collide through the juxtaposition of Robert White’s beautiful setting of the biblical Lamentations and traditional music from the Sufi tradition going back to the central figure of Rumi.

With Oguz Mülayim, ney (Turkey) and Ekrem Mülayim, composer/performance artist (Australia)

Program

Robert White
(1538-1574)
Lamentations for six voices

Ekrem Mülayim
New setting of Rumi verse

Traditional
Turkish sufi music

Tickets sold online at www.songcompany.com.au

Adults $60 / Concession $50 / Under 30 $40 / Student $20

A pre-concert talk will commence 30 minutes prior to the performance.

Thursday 30th April – 7:30pm

Musica Viva presents Goldner String Quartet

Four friends, three pieces, two married couples, one quartet: this tour celebrates the 20th anniversary of Australia’s pre-eminent chamber ensemble. Critics and audiences around the globe have warmed to the musical and emotional insights brought to light by this extraordinary quartet.

PROGRAM

LIGETI
String Quartet no 1 Métamorphoses nocturnes

STANHOPE
String Quartet no 3 Commissioned for Musica Viva Australia by Huntington Estate and friends

BEETHOVEN
String Quartet no 15 in A Minor, op 132

Tickets sold online at www.musicaviva.com.au

Front and rear stalls $76 / Gallery $53 – $76

The Global Orchestra’s inaugural Concert for the Planet, a mass participation, multi-location, first of its kind performance of Holst’s The Planets, has gone global with musicians and communities around the world coming together via innovative technology to mark our commitment to listen to each other and our planet’s needs during Earth Hour 2015.

The unique performance will take place at 8:30pm on 28th March 2015, with Global Orchestra’s Conductor-Cam capturing and streaming the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s (SSO) highly acclaimed Chief Conductor and Artistic Director David Robertson live as he leads the SSO through Holst’s The Planets at the Sydney Opera House.

While the main event will take place at the Sydney Opera House, events are being hosted across the globe as community groups come together to perform in unison with the SSO via the live stream.

With only a few days to go, Global Orchestra has been inundated with registrations and can confirm that several hundred of schools and organisations in Australia and around the world, as well as the NASA base at Langley, will all be joining the performance.  Registration is not compulsory and it is anticipated that the number of people actually participating in the Concert event will be in the thousands.

The inclusion of 70 musicians from NASA’s Langley Research Centre in Virginia, consisting of NASA employees and local Adult and Youth Orchestra Members is a huge addition to the Concert event.

Kelly Murphy, Assistant Head of the Aerothermodynamics Branch at NASA Langley Research Center said today: “One of NASA’s primary missions is to understand and protect our home planet.  NASA Langley, where many of the world’s leading atmospheric scientists conduct cutting-edge research, is thrilled to participate in the Concert for the Planet – with people all over the world – to reflect on how each of us can “play our part for the planet.”

With the support of the SSO, Global Orchestra has also created musical arrangements, instructional videos, lesson plans and information packs for participants to play their part on the big night. The Conductor-Cam, featuring David Robertson conducting the SSO live in performance, will also guide players through the bar numbers and count players in to ensure everyone follows the score and knows when to play their part.

Please see the introduction video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqdp9w0g8Zc

In another world first, Google + will live stream a broadcast quality, multi camera production of the SSO‘s performance, via Hangout on Air.

Earth Hour is supporting the initiative and encouraging schools to link with the Global Orchestra to spread the word of this unique opportunity. More than 200 community and schools groups have already registered, with thousands of participants rehearsing in the lead up to the Concert for the Planet.

Global Orchestra Founder and Artistic Director, Charlie Chan, said today “In the last week we’ve had an amazing pick up of registrations and interest, particularly with the inclusion of 70 musicians at the NASA base in Langley.  There’s only two more days to go and even at this late stage, people are still registering new events – it’s not too late to join!  We’re looking forward to forming the Global Orchestra with the world”

For more information about the Global Orchestra or to register for the Concert for the Planet: www.globalorchestra.com/.

Following Selby & Friends’ thrilling season opener in February, Tour 2 beckons with an eclectic program of friends old and new – and all at a 10% discount on adult tickets purchased by 5pm tomorrow!

Artistic Director and pianist Kathryn Selby AM is joined by her special international guests, the popular Finnish Concertmaster from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Vesa-Matti Leppänen, and SSO Co-Principal cellist from Italy, Umberto Clerici, for an evening of chamber music powerhouses and new discoveries!

Meet Vesa-Matti Leppanen, listen to a radio podcast here.

The program proudly spotlights these guest artists in César Franck’s much-loved virtuosic violin sonata and Beethoven’s first cello sonata. The ensemble then comes together in two piano trios: Grammy-award winner Joan Tower’s “Big Sky”, which was inspired by her childhood memory of horseback riding through the Bolivian Andes; and the soul-stirring Shostakovich second Piano Trio, premiered in Leningrad in 1944, which intrigues with sharp contrasts and rhythms from Jewish folk music.

ARTISTS
Vesa-Matti Leppänen − VIOLIN
Umberto Clerici− CELLO
Kathryn Selby – PIANO

REPERTOIRE
Joan Tower ‘Big Sky’ (2000) – Australian Première
Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata for Cello and Piano in F major, Op. 5 No. 1
César Franck Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major
Dmitri Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, for Violin, Cello and Piano, Op. 67

Don’t miss this brilliant program of chamber music at its best!