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Hip-hoppin to chopin
It’s not the first time that Chopin’s music has been appropriated for dance. In 1909, Glazunov orchestrated the music of Chopin with choreography by Fokine and created the short non-narrative ballet Les Sylphides. In 2012, pianist Lang-Lang has collaborated with Dubstepper Marquese “Nonstop” Scott to create a performance that combines Chopin’s Etude Op 25 No 12,…
Paul Mealor’s ‘De Profundis’ cries from the deep
Paul Mealor. On the day I was scheduled to speak to Welsh composer Paul Mealor, based in Aberdeen, Scotland, there was a storm so wild, that telecommunications were disrupted and the call had to be re-scheduled. The elements seemed to conspire to evoke Mealor’s inspirations and memories whilst defying his aspirations to “write music that…
The price of the priceless – a signed photograph of Mahler has emerged.
A signed photo of Gustav Mahler, previously owned by Arnold Schoenberg is the subject of a tussle between the Schoenberg family and its present owner who’s willing to part with it for a fee. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/11/lost-gustav-mahler-photo_n_1957333.html?utm_hp_ref=music-news
The Dark side of mothering: Herodias in ‘Salome’
There’s no time for niceties in Richard Strauss’ opera Salome. There’s no overture that introduces themes and focuses the mind. Rather, the music and the narrative plunge straight into the tangle of lust and depravity that culminates in death and ruin. This week in Sydney, Opera Australia presents a new production of Salome, directed…
‘undress for opera’ addresses its future
Whether you believe opera as an art form is moribund or thriving, opera companies the world over are examining its relevance to 21st century living and building strategies to attract and retain audiences into the future. In Sydney, Opera on Sydney Harbour exceeded expectations on many fronts; high definition opera in the cinema has brought…
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José Carbó – ‘My Latin Heart’
It comes from his heart. His Latin heart. Argentinian born Australian baritone José Carbó has recorded a collection of music from Argentina, My Latin Heart, a tribute to his heritage. Accompanying him are guitarist brothers Leonard and Slava Grigoryan. Together they have created a swathe of Latin American songs that blaze, glow, fade to embers and flare again. Carbó…
Danielle de Niese with the Australian Chamber Orchestra
On hearing that I was attending the opening night of Danielle de Niese’s concert season with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Sydney, a friend asked me to let him know whether I thought he should go along to hear her. Twenty four hours after the concert, I’m still deliberating on my response to him. Danielle de Niese is…