Grammy Award winning New Zealand born bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu (he’s sung Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni for OA in Sydney) has had to meet a new challenge – that of learning a libretto in Chinese. He talks about it in this blog.
(The Grammy Award was in 2010 for Best Opera Recording Billy Budd)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/mar/26/learning-to-sing-chinese-songs
“….perhaps a conscious effort to introduce some of the younger, edgier classical musicians, including some of colour, into music coverage aimed at their younger demographic – many of whom can’t even conceive of classical music as music – might serve to break down some of these increasingly arbitrary walls. “ A fascinating read from Candace…
Republican or monarchist, embrace your inner Anglophile and tune in to this excellent series on SBS TV. Historian Dr David Starkey narrates this 4 part series on the way in which English monarchs from Henry V were responsible for much of what we still hear and perform today. The first episode has already aired…
Sir Charles Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE (1925 – 2010) Australian conductor, was one of the nation’s most revered and loved musicians. He was the first Australian chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and also had a glittering career around the world. The English National Opera (ENO) is just one ensemble with which he had a long and enduring…
Concerto writing for the violin in the 21st century is alive and well with the works of these celebrated living composers listed by Gramophone magazine. http://gramophone.co.uk/editorial/ten-violin-concertos-by-living-composers …and as a sequel to its list of 21st century violin concerti, Gramophone magazine nominates its list of top 10 20th century violin concerti. http://gramophone.co.uk/editorial/top-ten-20th-century-violin-concertos
The Music Performance Unit at the University of New South Wales has announced that John Rotar is the winner of the Willgoss Choral Composition Prize for 2023, for his work, Songs about birds, forests, flowers and mountains.
The 2013 winners of the ART Music Awards have been announced, acknowledging excellence in the creation, performance, education and presentation of Australian music. The awards are made by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre, and include contemporary art music, jazz and experimental music. At the pinnacle, the Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music was presented to 85-year-old George Dreyfus…