Music Education &
Performing Arts Consultant
Barry ABC 481 0331 “You should never judge a book by its cover is the long held saying. So it is with this debut solo disc from the abundantly gifted American mezzo soprano, Lucy Schaufer, that it should not be judged by its uniquely home-spun style cover (a photo of Schaufer as a young girl complete … Read more
Acacia Quartet 840-1202 (2 CD set) The music of Elena Kats-Chernin has immediate appeal for the 21st century as it grabs you by the throat and compels you to listen. It is edgy, striking, colourful, and rhythmically taut, with a momentum that is almost unceasing. This two CD set brings to the fore the composer’s … Read more
Daniel Herscovitch (piano); Elizabeth Neville (cello) Wirr 048 Producing a disc of Chopin music is perhaps a radical departure for Wirripang, which unashamedly promotes Australian composition, but it is a very worthwhile departure. Capturing the remarkable pianistic skills of Daniel Herscovitch in two Piano Sonatas (Op 35 No 2 and Op 58 No 3), as … Read more
ABC 481 0032 Tin Pan Alley comes alive when Simon Tedeschi meets Gershwin in this sumptuous disc of piano music. You can feel the Manhattan energy in Tedeschi’s playing as he delves into the heart and soul of one of the world’s greatest song writers. Having spent years living and working in New York City, … Read more
ABC Classics 481 0188 Influenced highly by literature, particularly Shakespeare, Andrew Ford’s music is inspired by his surrounds (real and literal). His oeuvre is a wondrous voice in Australia’s new music landscape. Taking a diverse array of literary sources for his song cycle, Learning to Howl, Ford crafts a set of songs which are pensive, … Read more
Biding fond farewells are always filled with heart-reaching moments. This will be no further from the truth when the acclaimed Tokyo String Quartet makes its final tour of Australia this month. Established since 1969, the Quartet has attracted accolades across the world for its “exemplary chamber music” (The New York Times). Making the decision to … Read more
Konzerthaus Kammerorchester Berlin, Andre de Ridder (Conductor), Daniel Hope (Solo Violin); DG 481 0044 It may seem an absolute sacrilege to think that Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons needs to be re-composed or re-invented in some way, thus it was with some trepidation with which I listened. However, the playing of the score (its original, along with … Read more
Genevieve Lacey, Neal Peres Da Costa, Daniel Yeadon ABC 476 5105 From the outset, the exuberance and clarity of tone of this recording makes a huge impact. It is an enormously gratifying aural experience, in which three of the country’s finest exponents of early music perform works written hundreds of years ago, whilst bringing to … Read more
ABC Classics 476 5039 Rhythmically charged and sporting titles which avoid the “string quartet” tag, these pieces use the abundant forces at the disposal of the string quartet, but allow for greater impact by means of seeking new expressive ideas, whether they be rhythmic, harmonic, melodic, or colouristic. Recorded in 2003 but only released a … Read more
ABC Classics 476 5168 The composing of string quartets always seems to suggest a maturity for a composer. In the last decade or so, a greater focus has been dedicated to writing in this genre by some of Australia’s finest. Notwithstanding the already large output by Peter Sculthorpe, other composers are currently making significant contributions, … Read more