BLACK VOICES THEATRE TOURS City Recital Hall
Sunday 2 November, 3.00pm

Voice, in all its beauty and power.

With graceful harmonies and gorgeous tones, internationally acclaimed a cappella quintet, Black Voices have been wowing audiences all over the world for more than 25 years with their eclectic repertoire and dynamic performance style.

After sold out shows at Melbourne Festival, Black Voices returns to Australia in 2014 and look forward to presenting their new show to Australian fans. It’s their unique and joyous sound that has seen Black Voices sharing stages with greats like Ray Charles and Nina Simone, as well as entertain Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II and members of the British Royal Family.
watch

about

Black Voices’ upcoming Australian tour will feature a wide-ranging popular, contemporary and traditional repertoire using only their voices to create an unforgettable performance of rare emotional depth and passion.

Their stunning performances and distinctive brand of a cappella is a truly harmonic blend that celebrates their rich African, Caribbean and British heritage with the beautiful ability to cross language and cultural barriers.

Founder and Black Voices’ Music Director Carol Pemberton is thrilled to be bringing their unique sound back to Australia. “I can’t wait to perform again for Australian audiences,” said Carol. “We were last in Australia in 2007 where we played to some of the most receptive audiences of our career.”

You don’t want to miss them!
reviews

“… Electrifying, finger-clicking gospel and impossible to resist!” South China Morning Post

“A substantial reminder that amid the crafted din and amplified clutter of modern pop, unaided, unadorned human voices are capable of creating powerful music.” Los Angeles Times
Black Voices live in concert

purchase tickets
online at cityrecitalhall.com
by phone (02) 8256 2222
in person at City Recital Hall Angel Place
tickets $65 – $99
(additional fees may apply)

VOCAL FIREWORKS THE SONG COMPANY
Sunday 31 August, 3.00pm

Marking the final stage of a four-year cycle based on the elements of Earth, Water, Air and Fire, The Song Company celebrates the heat and passion of Fire and the music that expresses it. In his first collaboration with The Song Company, Danish Guest Director and composer Bo Holten leads a fiery program of neck-breaking speeds, hair-raising leaps and awe-inspiring harmonies.

The program includes 16th century madrigals by Marenzio, Morley, Wilbye, Flecha, and Gesualdo, as well as more contemporary pieces from Raffaele Marcellino, Berio, and Bo Holten himself.

“…the incredible singers of The Song Company are already national living treasures…[and] one of the finest vocal ensembles in the world.” John Davis, CEO – Australian Music Centre
artists
Susannah Lawergren SOPRANO
Michelle Ryan UNDERSTUDY SOPRANO
Anna Fraser SOPRANO
Hannah Fraser MEZZO-SOPRANO
Richard Black TENOR
Mark Donnelly BARITONE
Clive Birch BASS
Bo Holten GUEST DIRECTOR AND COMPOSER

program
Carlo Gesualdo Three madrigals
Luca Marenzio Three madrigals
Luciano Berio Sequenza for voice
Bo Holten Rota Veneris
Raffaele Marcellino Due Madrigali
Mateo Flecha El Fuego

The Song Company

The Song Company is Australia’s leading vocal ensemble, proud to celebrate 30 years of music making. Since its formation in 1984, it has provided audiences with international standard performances in the field of vocal chamber music. The group’s repertoire covers vocal music from the 10th century to the present day and is unique in its stylistic diversity.

Over 30 years, the ensemble’s schedule has grown to include a mix of national and international tours, a subscription series across Australia, recording projects, education activities, and special artistic collaborations.

Bo Holten
Danish composer and conductor, Bo Holten established his reputation as a conductor of early music vocal groups and has conducted a wide range of ensembles and choirs in Scandinavia and abroad. He has conducted all eight Danish professional Symphony Orchestras, performing and recording both his own and other composers’ works.

In his own work, Bo Holten’s music builds a bridge between old and new. He has written 120 works including symphonies, solo concertos, works for chorus and orchestra, operas, and musicals. Holten’s fourth opera, Operation Orfeo, is the most frequently performed Danish opera, having been performed twice here in Sydney at the Sydney Opera House.

Bo Holten
Photo courtesy of Agnete Schlichtfrull, resmusica.com

purchase tickets
online at cityrecitalhall.com
by phone (02) 8256 2222
in person at City Recital Hall Angel Place
tickets $20 – $59
(additional fees may apply)

INTIMATE LETTERS AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
26 – 30 August

In a dramatic collaboration with Bell Shakespeare, the Australian Chamber Orchestra performs Janáček’s Intimate Letters and Smetana’s From My Life, sharing the stage with esteemed actors and led by London Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Gordan Nikolic.

Inspired by more than 700 passionate letters written between Janáček and his much younger, married muse, Intimate Letters explores their overwhelming and obsessive love.

Smetana’s autobiographical From My Life soars with the joy and hope of childhood which gradually derails and ultimately descends into despair, as the composer faces the inescapable fate of impending deafness.

program
MOZART Divertimento in F, K.138
SMETANA String Quartet No.1 “From My Life” (arr. for string orchestra)
JANÁČEK String Quartet No.2 “Intimate Letters” (arr. for string orchestra)

artists
Gordan Nikolic Guest Director & Violin, London Symphony Orchestra
Peter Evans Co-Artistic Director, Bell Shakespeare
Susanna Dowling Assistant Director, Bell Shakespeare
Nicholas Rayment Lighting Designer
With Marshall Napier and Ella Scott Lynch
Concept by Timo-Veikko Valve

A LITTLE LUNCH MUSIC: MOZART & MENDELSSOHN

Classical music is on the City Recital Hall menu, with a delightful lunchtime performance of Mozart and Mendelssohn for just $15.

Now in its seventh year, A Little Lunch Music is a favourite with Sydneysiders, who are encouraged to bring their lunch into the hall as they listen to a range of works by renowned artists.

On Friday August 22nd, Principal Conductor Dr Nicholas Milton leads the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony, with guest soloist Artistic Director Kathryn Selby AM playing a Mozart concerto.

“Every time I stand on stage to conduct, I feel proud, honoured and humbled to have the privilege to make music with these wonderfully engaged and passionately enthusiastic musicians” Dr Nicholas Milton.

The Willoughby Symphony Orchestra has long been recognised as Australia’s finest community orchestra. Founded in 1965, it is lead by Chief Conductor Dr Nicholas Milton, an internationally-renowned conductor and concertmaster. He will be joined on stage by Australia’s pre-eminient chamber music pianist, Kathryn Selby AM.

MOZART’S JUPITER
AUSTRALIAN BRANDENBURG ORCHESTRA
3 – 12 September

25th anniversary celebrations continue with a triumphant symphony, a favourite for flute and harp, & a rarely heard overture.

Mozart didn’t give his final symphony the title ‘Jupiter’ but it is entirely appropriate for such an epic and powerful piece of music to be named after the all-powerful Roman god, Jupiter.

It has been reported that Woody Allen has claimed Mozart’s ‘Jupiter’ to be so perfect and so complex, the symphony proves the existence of God, as it is impossible for the human ear to hear all that is being performed and that only God could completely grasp its profundity.

Teamed with the exquisite Flute and Harp Concerto and the beautiful and rarely performed overture to the little known opera Lucio Silla, this is a Mozart only program that will take you on a journey filled with emotion and joy .
program

MOZART Overture to “Lucio Silla”
MOZART Concerto for Flute and Harp K299
MOZART Symphony No.41 in C major Jupiter K551

artists
Marshall McGuire (Australia) period harp
Melissa Farrow (Australia) period flute
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
Paul Dyer AO Artistic Director and Conductor

soloists

Taking centre stage on period harp and flute will be two incredibly talented musicians, Marshall McGuire (period harp) and Melissa Farrow (period flute). Their playing is the epitome of beauty and elegance, every bit as captivating as it is accomplished.

Marshall is acclaimed as one of the world’s leading harpists in baroque and contemporary repertoire (he has commissioned and premiered over 100 new works for the instrument). He is a three-time ARIA nominee and is also Music Programmer at one of Australia’s most prestigious venues, the Arts Centre Melbourne.

Melissa is well-known and much-loved by Brandenburg audiences. She has been Principal Flute for over ten years and performs regularly as a soloist on flutes of the baroque and classical periods.

book now and win

Purchase any two adult tickets to Mozart’s Jupiter for your chance to win two A reserve tickets to the Brandenburg and Ottoman Baroque in October 2014. Must use code word JUPITER25 when booking, select the ‘prize entry price’ option to go in the draw.
Offer closes 5pm Monday 25 August 2014.

purchase tickets
online at cityrecitalhall.com
by phone (02) 8256 2222
in person at City Recital Hall Angel Place
tickets $68- $160 (additional fees may apply)

IMOGEN COOPER
MUSICA VIVA
18 August 7pm and 23 August 2pm.

One of the greatest pianists of her generation, Imogen Cooper CBE makes a long overdue return to Australia for this special tour. Get swept away by Cooper as she takes you through the romantic and musical landscape of Brahms, Schubert and Schumann.

Most of the music on the program focuses on the extraordinary musical and emotional kinship between Clara and Robert Schumann and their friend and protégé Johannes Brahms – and in particular on Clara, another ground-breaking female pianist. Imogen is looking forward to her first full recital tour in Australia.

“An outstanding artist, one of the finest pianists now playing” Daily Telegraph UK
program
SCHUMANN Novelletten Op.21 No.2 in D major
SCHUMANN Davidsbündlertänze Op.6
BRAHMS Theme and Variations in D minor (arr. from String Sextet Op.18)
SCHUBERT Piano Sonata No.21 in B flat major, D960

double pass giveaway!

Musica Viva is delighted to offer friends of City Recital Hall the chance to win a double pass to see Imogen Cooper this August!

Simply email knowthescore@musicaviva.com.au with the subject heading ‘City Recital Hall’ for your chance to win! Winner will be notified via email by 6 August
Watch the Video

Schubert: “4 Impromptus, D. 899: No. 4 in A-Flat Major – Allegretto”

purchase tickets
online at cityrecitalhall.com
by phone (02) 8256 2222
in person at City Recital Hall Angel Place
tickets $50- $107 (additional fees may apply)

Together with Music Director Joshua Bell, the Academy has created a concert season packed full of musical treats, including collaborations with some of the finest soloists performing today. Highlights include London concerts and international tours with pianist Jeremy Denk, clarinettist Martin Fröst and violinist Julia Fischer. Principal Guest Conductor Murray Perahia tours with the orchestra to Europe in August and September and on an exciting tour of Asia in November. Joshua himself will undertake four tours with the Academy this season, travelling as far afield as South America and the Middle East, as well as two tours of Europe.

The orchestra’s programmes for this season contain many gems from the chamber music and classical repertoire; look out for Schubert’s String Quintet, Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings, Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht among others. The Academy’s winter concert at St-Martin-in-the-Fields, Walking in the Air, will pay tribute to the work of composer Howard Blake, including a newly commissioned arrangement of The Snowman, conducted by the Academy’s Life President Sir Neville Marriner.

In addition to our concerts, our players continue to reach out to young musicians and adult learners through Outward Sound, the Academy’s education programme. This year’s projects include workshops for school children, professional development partnerships and lifelong learning schemes, all creating opportunities for everyone to connect and create music with the orchestra.

Each year we have to secure financial support from our sponsors, Friends and Patrons to enable the Academy to perform, to tour and to maintain our education and outreach work which brings our music to a new generation of audiences. If you enjoy what the Academy does and would like to support our work, why not consider joining our Friends and Patrons? Our supporters enjoy an enhanced relationship with the orchestra and our musicians, priority personalised booking for our concerts as well as invitations to special events, receptions and rehearsals. Contact the Academy by phone or email for further information about joining our Friends and Patrons, or join online at our website.

Visit their website www.asmf.org for more information about this season’s events.