Latest news
Two reasons to celebrate today – Britten and the patron saint of music
Detail of mosaic in the crypt of the Chiesa di Santa Cecilia, Rome “Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions To all musicians, appear and inspire: Translated Daughter, come down and startle Composing mortals with immortal fire”. W.H. Auden, from the “Hymn to St Cecilia” by Benjamin Britten There is something special about the way…
Outback Opera
Check out this very entertaining feature from smh.tv – Opera Australia’s production of La Boheme goes on a regional tour: http://www.smh.com.au/tv/show/outback-opera/outback-opera-20111118-1nmzi.html?rand=1321745380422
Ryde-Hunters Hill Symphony Orchestra calls for musicians
Orchestral musicians! The Ryde- Hunters Hill Symphony Orchestra launches its inaugural season in 2012 and is looking for enthusiastic and talented musicians to join its ranks under Music Director and conductor George Ellis. If you have orchestral performance experience and would enjoy playing classic orchestral repertoire with like-minded people then contact them for an audition at: http://www.rhhso.org.au/auditions/ Auditions…
The lasting memory
An intriguing feature on how music is remembered when other aspects of memory are impaired. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/musicians-memories-wiped-except-for-notes-of-harmony-20111114-1nfid.html
Notes on memory
Performing is a curious business. It regularly throws up conundrums and contradictions and one of those is the phenomenon of memory. Dancers develop their muscle memory from hours of rehearsal and cues from the accompaniment; memorising lines is implicit in being an actor. Solo instrumentalists almost always perform from memory. All opera singers work from memory, yet…
Latest reviews
Arrebato fuses flameno, jazz and the world in their second CD “Absolucion”
The style is possibly as difficult to define as the English meaning of their name – “Arrebato”, variously translated as “fury”, “something that rises rapidly” or “a wave of emotion”. It’s fair to say that any and all of these describe the music of this ensemble. Arrebato release their second CD “Absolucion” in June 2011….
New Alden production of “Dream” an abstraction of Britten’s life.
Once in a while in opera, a new production comes along that fits so perfectly with the narrative, history and legend, that you wonder why it took so long for the concept to be realized. Christopher Alden’s new production of Britten’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the ENO, is one such offering. More “Scream” than “Dream”,…