Latest news
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra announces its Chief Conductor
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has announced that English conductor, organist and harpsichordist Sir Andrew Davis has been appointed to the position of Chief Conductor and Artistic Director from January 2013. Sydney audiences can take in a preview of this artistic collaboration when the MSO performs at the Sydney Opera House with its Chief Conductor elect at the end…
If it’s contemporary can it be classical?
Is the term ‘contemporary classical music’ a contradiction in terms? Tom Service of The Guardian dispels some myths: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/apr/26/five-myths-contemporary-classical-music?intcmp=239
In Bach’s own hand.
The first manuscript in Bach’s own hand to enter the public market in 16 years, was sold in London last week, one hundred and eigty three years after it was written: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/bach-cantata-manuscript-sells-for-%C2%A3337250-at-christies-in-london
A quartet of six
It’s a dream combination. A composer in the mainstream of her creativity handpicks a string quartet to make the premiere recording of her music and then coaches them in the way she wants to the music to sound. Add to this, a recording producer who understands implicitly what the composer wants and who has the formidable reputation as…
How low can you get?
Till now, it was the All Night Vigil by Rachmaninoff that held the dubious honour of asking for the lowest note to be sung in choral music – the third B flat below middle C. This 97 year long record has now been shattered with Paul Mealor’s setting of the De Profundis in which he…
Conducting Business
Being a conductor has got to be one of the strangest of jobs! In the cascade of music that the audience comes to hear, the conductor makes not one sound; he touches no instrument. The audience doesn’t even witness the emotions of the maestro/maestra at work and indeed, some gestures may even be completely obscured. Tom Service…
Latest reviews
The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s ‘Bach Eternal’ reviewed
‘The hallmarks of excellence from beginning to end” says the Sydney Morning Herald’s reviewer, David Vance. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/aural-delight-from-start-to-finish-20120513-1ykv1.html
Selby and Friends review
Harriet Cunningham reviews “Friends and Admirers” from Selby and Friends: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/a-hearty-feast-for-all-friends-and-admirers-20120510-1yfct.html