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Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra plays Beethoven and Farrenc
June 2, 2023 @ 7:00 pm
Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra presents the music of Beethoven and Farrenc in New Perspectives, its May-June tour of the Eastern States of Australia and the ACT.
In the first half of the 19th century, music moved out of the palaces of Europe and into its living rooms, with an explosion in publishing houses making the latest works accessible to everyone from princes to paupers. As with so many developments in music, Beethoven was at the centre of things: his Septet in E Flat major opus 20 was a huge critical and popular success, and demand for the printed music was a great boost to his publisher’s business. And it is easy to see why: it has all the easy charm of a serenade or divertimento, two hugely popular formats at the time and features some exquisite writing.
The piece proved an impossible act to follow. For the next fifty years, only Schubert, with his Octet, wrote any large mixed chamber work of significance – that is until Louise Farrenc’s Nonet, also in E flat major, opus 38 in 1849.
A child prodigy, Farrenc was a renowned pianist and accomplished touring soloist. She was Professor of piano at the Paris Conservatory, yet, ironically her most famous piece does not feature her chosen instrument. Instead, scored for a combined quartet of strings and quintet of winds, it is full of rich textures and intricate scoring, demonstrating her irrefutable compositional skill.
The program: LOUISE FARRENC Nonet in E flat major, Op.38/ BEETHOVEN Septet in E flat major, Op.20
The performers: Georgia Browne Flute/ Tatjana Zimre Oboe/ Nicole van Bruggen Clarinet/ Anneke Scott Horn/ Lisa Goldberg Bassoon/ Jenna Sherry Violin/ Stephen King Viola/ Daniel Yeadon Cello/ Rob Nairn Double Bass
Other concerts: Wednesday 31 May | The Hills Grammar School, Kenthurst/ Saturday 3 June | Ithaca Auditorium, Brisbane City Hall/ Sunday 4 June | The Events Centre, Caloundra/ Tuesday 6 June | Albert Hall, Canberra/ Wednesday 7 June | Adamstown Uniting Church, Newcastle/ Saturday 10 June | David Li Sound Gallery, Monash University, Melbourne
Image credit Robert Catto.
The Walsh Bay Arts Precinct will be part of the Vivid Sydney (Fri 26 May – Sat 17 June) light walk. Please plan your visit carefully as there will be limited parking and road closures in place from 5pm. More details will be released over the coming weeks on the Vivid Sydney website.