The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra offer a daring start to the season.
March 9, 2015
Hush Live in Concert is the 14th in a series of albums released to calm and comfort families facing stressful medical procedures. It’s a compilation of Hush Foundation recordings selected by former ABC Classic FM presenter Emma Ayres. Composer/pianist Paul Grabowsky states in the notes: “music has its roots in healing, dreaming, and story-telling”. Opening with two of his jazzy Ten Healing Songs, it becomes apparent from the outset that this is anything but the conventionally soothing Debussy for Daydreaming or Relaxation Made Easy style album. Andrea Keller’s A Castle for All is oddly uplifting as it cycles repetitively through the same series of chords. Brass, wind, and percussion instruments appear to improvise around Keller’s piano, and while it has plenty of musical tension, the overall feel is not a dark one. Tony Gould’s Gentle Conversations is as it sounds – a smattering of percussion, a gentle pulse, and a layering of instruments simulate just that. Though magnificently portrayed by the Grigoryan brothers, Songs with Strings is perhaps a touch too intense and emotionally confronting for an album attempting to reduce stress. Mark Isaacs’ romantic and visually evocative The Wind in the Willows is more fitting; one can just imagine a…
December 20, 2014
Russian violinist Alina Ibragimova gives an astounding performance of Sibelius. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in
November 23, 2014
German pianist’s mixed bag of Haydn, Beethoven and Chopin to Hobart.
October 27, 2014
Two contrasting orchestrations aid aural promenade through Mussorgsky’s masterpiece. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in
August 27, 2014
Tequila disguised as a slice of lemon; musicians in cages; Bach in the dark. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in
August 21, 2014
MONA will host a feast for the senses with Synaesthesia+.
August 5, 2014
Festival of Voices “slightly unusual concert,” proves to be just that.
July 14, 2014
TSO share the story of ballet dancer Li Cunxin with delightful music and stunning imagery. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in
June 11, 2014
Despite numerous recordings, it’s a rare treat to hear the composer’s original 1724 version of his St John Passion captured on period instruments. Richard Egarr directs some of Britain’s most stylish voices, accompanied by his own virtuosic musicians from the Academy of Ancient Music, on a journey through the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Christ. Egarr approaches the latter of Bach’s two surviving Passions with great intensity, asserting his view of the work at an unforgiving pace. Simultaneous movements of choir and musicians are mechanically concise, with individual entries uniform in expression – a consistent sound that comes across as well planned and not at all impersonal. The tenor James Gilchrist’s Evangelist is a real highlight – his earnest recitatives are sung with a near-feminine gentleness – I indulged in every word with utter delight. Matthew Rose and Ashley Riches give reliable performances as Jesus and Pilate, while Sarah Connolly’s arias are sung with seemingly as little effort as would be required for the spoken word. The program notes boast a “more muscular” version, and with instruments and voices combined it rarely disappoints. The articulation of the biblical text sometimes gets lost in the richness of the choral sound, but it’s…
April 17, 2014
Equal respect given to composers old and new, from a variety of genres and nations, in a remarkable orchestral performance. Continue reading Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in
April 16, 2014