Classic Melbourne

Opera Australia is luring us back into Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre with two operas by the world’s favourite composer of grand opera. The first Verdi work is one of his most often performed, whereas the second is seldom mounted.

The introduction of some spectacular digital technology for Aida will be an additional drawcard for many opera lovers. OA promises that Italian director and choreographer Davide Livermore’s interpretation “conveys the sense of
the scale, depth and magnificence demanded by this monumental opera, transporting the audience experience to a whole new level. Ten towering LED screens create an immersive theatrical experience, as ever-changing floor-to-ceiling set pieces present video design that ranges from rich symbolism to vivid landscapes. Coupled with Gianluca Falaschi’s magnificent costume designs, this production proves to be a feast for the senses.”

The cast features some of the world’s most notable singers, including American soprano Leah Crocetto, who is making her OA debut as Aida. Tenor Stefano La Colla will sing the role of Radamès, with French-Russian mezzo-soprano Elena Gabouri as Amneris. Basses Alexander Vinogradov and David Parkin will share the role of Ramfis, with baritone Michael Honeyman as Amonasro. All this, plus a cast of more than one hundred musicians, singers, dancers and actors for what looks like an extravagant production.

Based on Victor Hugo’s play Hernani, Verdi’s Ernani is among his early operas. An implausible, convoluted plot, where duty trumps personal desire, has been offered as a reason why Ernani has been comparatively neglected. Verdi’s music performed by outstanding singers, however, should more than compensate for any perceived shortcomings in that regard.

Opera Australia will present the Melbourne premiere of this epic co-production with Milan’s famous Teatro alla Scala. Acclaimed Australian singers Diego Torre and Natalie Aroyan will play Ernani and Elvira respectively, along with internationally renowned baritone Vladimir Stoyanov as Don Carlo, King of Spain. Alexander Vinogradov joins the cast as Don Ruy Gomez de Silva.

German director Sven-Eric Bechtolf’s conception of a “‘play within a play’ that enthusiastically embraces the melodrama of the story” has met with some puzzled responses during OA’s Sydney season; Melbourne audiences may well find his approach adds to the intrigue and excitement.

Photo supplied.

Aida: 6-21 May

Ernani: 13-22 May

The Board of the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) is delighted to announce the appointment of international piano virtuoso Paavali Jumppanen as its new Artistic Director commencing in January 2021.

Announcing the appointment John Daley, ANAM Chair, said today, “After a comprehensive international search, I am thrilled to announce Paavali Jumppanen’s appointment as Artistic Director to succeed Nick Deutsch in January 2021. The core of ANAM’s program is training future music leaders and Paavali brings a deep commitment to music education and extensive experience as a performer, festival director, collaborator and recording artist.

“Paavali is no stranger to Australia, having toured the country regularly for more than 15 years, and led three creative residencies at ANAM. His collaborative approach, deep respect for the cultural ecosystem of Australia and his drive to contribute to the musical life of Australia and the world is clear.

“Equally Paavali will deepen ANAM’s growing connections with leading international music academies. He has worked with many of them, particularly the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and as a visiting fellow at Harvard University.”

The renowned Finnish pianist, teacher, and musical leader has performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras around the globe, including the Finnish Radio Symphony, the BBC Symphony, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. He has performed solo and chamber music recitals, and taught around the world. Paavali is an acknowledged authority on the piano works of Beethoven and Boulez, having recorded all of the Beethoven piano sonatas, and the three Boulez sonatas for Deutsche Grammophon under the composer’s direction.

Responding to his appointment Paavali said: “I am thrilled to begin in this new role as a member of the ANAM family, taking the reins from Nick Deutsch – a visionary pedagogue and great performer who has steered ANAM to a very strong place on the national and international stage. To have a chance to build on this and to lead ANAM into the future is a tremendous honour and an exciting opportunity.

“Coming from Finland, a country often praised for its education system, I’ve always felt that ANAM is a special institution that we could all learn from. ANAM’s role is to provide a bridge for young musicians to their professional life while helping them envision and define the role of music in tomorrow’s world. We want them to become the best musicians they can be, and for ANAM to be an unmissable experience on their path to a successful and sustainable career, whether that be as an orchestral performer, soloist on the international concert stage, ambassador for contemporary music or contributing to the soulful wellbeing of their own communities. ANAM can be at the forefront of providing a meaningful response to the importance of culture and the arts in society, and with our world (and the way we live) currently undergoing dramatic change, that has never been more significant. The skills of today’s musicians are manifold, to play your instrument magnificently is just one component, to have something to say as a musician is perhaps even more important.

“I look forward to leading ANAM in strengthening its contribution to musical life nationally and internationally, to draw from the uniqueness of the Australian culture, and to work together with ANAM’s outstanding faculty, colleagues, alumni and guests to make sure that the distinct musical voices of this country and the world will be invited to share their musical minds with us all.”

Paavali will divide his time between Helsinki and Melbourne in 2021, before relocating his young family to be based in Melbourne from 2022. His position as Artistic Director will be generously supported by Janet Holmes à Court.

John Daley said: “As ANAM embarks on its next chapter, including realising our vision for transforming our home at South Melbourne Town Hall into a cultural and community destination venue, the ANAM Board is confident in Paavali leading the organisation through this exciting juncture, building on Nick Deutsch’s outstanding legacy.”

ABOUT PAAVALI JUMPPANEN

In the brief span of recent seasons, the imaginative and versatile Finnish virtuoso Paavali Jumppanen has established himself as a dynamic musician of seemingly unlimited capability who has already cut a wide swathe internationally as a solo recitalist, orchestral collaborator, recording artist, artistic director, and frequent performer of contemporary and avant-garde music.

Mr. Jumppanen has performed extensively in the United States, Europe, Japan, China, and Australia alongside such great conductors as David Robertson, Sakari Oramo, Susanna Mälkki, Osmo Vänskä, and Jaap van Zweden. He has commissioned numerous works and collaborated with such composers as Boulez, Murail, Dutilleux, Penderecki, as well as many Finnish composers. The Boston Globe praised the “overflowing energy of his musicianship” and The New York Times his “power and an extraordinary range of colors.”

 In the recent years Paavali Jumppanen has dedicated much of his time into performing cycles of the complete Beethoven and Mozart Piano Sonatas. He has also often performed all of the Beethoven Piano Concertos and chamber sonatas. Paavali Jumppanen attended at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and later worked with Krystian Zimerman at the Basel Music Academy in Switzerland where he also studied organ, fortepiano, and clavichord. Russian born pianist Konstantin Bogino has remained an important mentor throughout his career.

Paavali Jumppanen’s has an expanding discography which includes “the best recorded disc of Boulez’s piano music so far” (The Guardian, about the three sonatas recording on DGG made upon the composer’s request) and the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas on Ondine. Mr. Jumppanen spent the 2011–12 season as a visiting scholar in Harvard University’s Music Department studying musicology and theory to deepen his immersion in Viennese 18th century music.

Photo supplied.

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s summer concerts at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl are well-known for their accessibility and affordability (they are free, after all!), but this year something is different for the first concert, as the MSO told Classic Melbourne in a press release:

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will dedicate its first Sidney Myer Free Concert on Wednesday 5 February to those affected by the bushfires. All funds raised at the event will be donated to the Australian Red Cross.

“All of us at MSO are extremely saddened by what has occurred in Victoria and throughout our beautiful country,” said MSO Managing Director Sophie Galaise.

“A number of staff and musicians have been directly affected by the bushfires and our hearts go out all Australians, who have been, and continue to be, impacted by this distressing catastrophe.”

MSO has partnered with ABC Classic and the Australian Red Cross to support the Bushfire Disaster Relief through this performance. ABC Classic will broadcast the concert live on radio across Australia from 7.30pm, and donations received on the night will be gifted to the Australian Red Cross to assist their emergency teams supporting thousands of people in evacuation and recovery centres across the country.

“We’d like to thank Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and all of their staff and musicians for leading this incredible initiative and showing such generosity to our emergency teams and the people we help,” said Belinda Dimovski, Head of Engagement and Support at Australian Red Cross.

This special event will also see the on country premiere of Deborah Cheetham AO’s musical acknowledgment of country Long time living here. Performed by Cheetham in the Boon Wurrung language, this work is part of a larger collaborative project between the MSO, Deborah, Short Black Opera, and language custodians and their communities, to create Musical Acknowledgement of Country for each of the 11 official indigenous language groups of Victoria.

The event will be conducted by Tianyi Lu, and will feature performances of works by MSO Cybec Young Composer in Residence, Jordan Moore; Australian composer, Matthew Hindson AM; and Dvořák’s Symphony No.9 From the New World. 

For more than 90 years the MSO’s Sidney Myer Free Concerts have been a meeting place for family and friends to share in the power of music. This event will provide an opportunity for the community to come together in this trying time and begin what will be a long and difficult healing process.

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will return to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl stage for two more free concerts on Saturday 8 and Saturday 14 February. Entry is free. For further information visit mso.com.au/bowl

The concert is presented in association with the University of Melbourne, ABC Classic and Australian Red Cross. The Sidney Myer Free Concert series is proudly supported by Sidney Myer MSO Trust Fund.

Red Cross volunteers will be collecting donations on the night. Donations can also be received at redcross.org.au/mso

Sidney Myer Free Concert
Around the World with the MSO
Wednesday 5 February, 7.30pm
Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Entry is free. mso.com.au/bowl

We’ve all been waiting for it…

Melbourne’s traditionally generous arts community was sure to be moved by the plight of those affected by the fires.  First we heard from the opera singers, courtesy of publicist Cameron Lukey, with this media release…

Melbourne’s opera community is banding together to raise funds for the Red Cross Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund, with 50 of the country’s leading singers performing in concert at the Athenaeum Theatre on 7 February.

The stellar lineup for the Gala includes Rosamund Illing, Suzanne Johnston, Antoinette Halloran, Alexander Lewis, Lee Abrahmsen, Margaret Haggart, Roger Howell, Adrian Tamburini, Stephen Smith, Dimity Shepherd, Roxane Hislop, John O’May, Michael Cormick, Suzanne Shakespeare, Mike Snell, Phillip Calcagno and a host of others. They’ll perform a program of operatic arias, duets and ensembles by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Donizetti, Bernstein, Bizet, Strauss and many more. Accompanists include Maestro Anthony Negus, Phoebe Briggs, Raymond Lawrence, Phillipa Safey and Dean Sky-Lucas. All artists, staff and technicians have donated their services and ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF FUND.

Celebrated Bass-baritone Adrian Tamburini led the charge,   reaching out on social media to suggest the idea of a fundraiser. The response was overwhelming.

  “It was breaking my heart that huge parts of the country were burning over the Christmas period. All I could think of was to bring together my friends in the opera community to raise money for all those who have lost their property and their loved ones, and need to rebuild their lives.”

What then began as a modest attempt to bring together a group of artists looking to help and make sense of the tragedy has quickly escalated into an unprecedented event, with the Athenaeum offering the theatre in support.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to provide a platform for artists to utilise their talents in support of such a vital cause,” says Greg Hocking at the Athenaeum. “And for audiences to support the Red Cross relief fund while also enjoying the efforts of this incredible lineup of performers.”

Tickets at $85 and $125, available via Ticketek here: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=RELIEF20

After the deluge of Christmas music, January tends to be rather bleak. It’s good news that a major classical music festival is on again this year for the first 10 days of January. This is, of course, the Peninsula Summer Music Festival (PSMF) which, like Port Fairy in the Spring, boasts a number of beautiful locations and venues.

Classic Melbourne sometimes features performances which are “crossover”, such as cabaret, jazz, and even comedy, supporting our belief that a music lover will always find something of interest at an affordable price to attend in Melbourne.

However, there is no doubt about the value of the PSMF and its proud Artistic Director, Ben Opie, as he tells:

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 2020 Peninsula Summer Music Festival.
Exquisite music making across the Mornington Peninsula brings us outstanding performances from around the world at this year’s Festival.
This year we will be treated to intimate candlelight concerts, unique performances in our treasured wineries, and more music around the Peninsula.
There is a strong focus on the talents of local and interstate artists this year who will be sharing a wide range of music, from Japanese shakuhachi and harp to saxophone to recorder and koto and much more!
Experience yoga classes with one of Australia’s leading violinists performing during the session, there’s our family day ‘Haydn Seek’ where kids of all ages will search for our musicians in Balnarring. Hear multi-talented First Nations artist Eric Avery perform music and dance surrounded by Indigenous artworks.
It’s been such a pleasure putting this festival program together, and I look forward to seeing you in the glorious Mornington Peninsula this January.

For full details, go to the PSMF website: http://www.peninsulafestival.com.au/
2020 Peninsula Summer Music Festival photo supplied.

Last year, Trio Marvin won the Grand Prize and First Prize in the Piano Trio division of the 2018 Melbourne International Chamber Music Festival.  A year later, they return to Australia for concerts in Melbourne and then Sydney, notably at the Melbourne Recital Centre for Musica Viva’s Morning Masters series on 12 November and the next day in Mornington, Victoria.

Trio Marvin, who met over their mutual interest in Soviet Era music, comprises cellist Marius Urba, violinist Marina Grauman, and pianist Vita Kan.  It was one of sixteen ensembles to compete in the 2018 Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, the first to be run by Musica Viva in partnership with Creative Victoria, the Australian National Academy of Music and Melbourne Recital Centre.

“We will be bringing two beautiful works with us – Brahms’ C minor trio and Shostakovich’s No. 2,” says the trio’s cellist Marius Urba.  “We have a special connection with the Shostakovich. All three of us have Russian roots and each member of our ensemble has in one way or another a big connection with and understanding for Soviet music.  You can’t not have that connection, if you grow up among Soviet architecture, with your parents telling you a lot of stories from Soviet times and with your teachers from a Soviet school.”

At the end of the competition the trio walked away with the $30,000 Grand Prize, as well as the $22,500 First Prize in the Piano Trio division (The Tony Berg Prize). They embark on this Australian performance tour, arranged by Musica Viva, as part of the Grand Prize.

“It felt and still feels like a great privilege to be able to win,” reflects Marius.  “These are very warm memories, every time we think about the competition and our stay in Australia in 2018.”

“Classical music is so special,” he continues.   “Even if you are not an expert, you can find your own way to feel connected and touched by the music. Take the Shostakovich trio for example. You can know the history of the Soviet Union, but to feel how the composer felt at that time, you could only do so by hearing his music.”

Before arriving in Australia, the trio recorded their debut album with South West Radio and Label Genuin and released on 4 October, featuring some of the works they will be performing on this tour.

“We are totally looking forward to our tour of Australia,” concludes Marius.  “We can’t wait to be back and play in this beautiful country!”

CONCERT DETAILS: