“Music was like an extra language in our family, one we all spoke.”
The world-famous cellist Steven Isserlis comes from a long line of musicians. His Russian grandfather was accepted into the Moscow Conservatoire aged just 10. Steven Isserlis talks to the New Statesman about the pleasures and pressures of coming from an intensely musical family.
Baritone John Wegner has withdrawn from his performances in the Melbourne ‘Ring’ due to ill health. Warwick Fyfe will sing the role of Alberich and Andrew Moran will sing the role of Donner. http://melbourneringcycle.com.au/ring_cycle/behind_the_scenes/news/john%20wegner%20withdraws
The Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra has a new concertmaster. Laura Hamilton has taken up the position in Australia after working as Principal Associate Concertmaster at the Metropolitan Opera since 1999. Whilst there she led many of the popular “Live in HD” videocasts, including Carmen, Parsifal, Turandot, Faust, Salome, and Madama Butterfly. Laura is graduate of…
Composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi releases Underwater, his first new solo piano album in 20 years, now available on the Decca label.
If you’re reading this, you’re amongst the first to check out the thrilling programme of music to be heard when the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and the fearless acrobatic ensemble Circa, join forces to present Spanish Baroque at Sydney’s City Recital Hall in May. Featuring traditional music alongside works by Albeniz, Vivaldi and de Merula, the…
Cellist Umberto Clerici and guitarist Karin Schaupp have together recorded a new album Wayfaring on the ABC label (ABC 481 6811). The album launch will accompanied by a national concert tour. The Sydney concert will be on Wednesday 28 March at 11 am, at the Independent Theatre North Sydney, under the auspices of Musica Viva. On Wayfaring, the…
English composer and conductor George Benjamin was born in 1960. He demonstrated a gift for composition from the age of 7. from the age of 15, he studied first privately and then at the Paris Conservatoire with Messiaen, also taking piano lessons with Messiaen’s wife, Yvonne Loriod, moving later to study at Cambridge University. He was…