2007 CONCERTS
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TEHILLIM Synergy Percussion, Halcyon and Ensemble Offspring 8pm Saturday 4 August 2007 City Recital Hall Angel Place Ticket prices: Adults: $60 (A Reserve), $48 (B Reserve) Students/Under 26: $25 Bookings: (02) 8256 2222 www.cityrecitalhall.com 7.30pm Saturday 11 August 2007 Riverside Theatres Parramatta Bookings: (02) 8839 3399 www.riversideparramatta.com.au |
Two rising stars in Sydney’s contemporary music scene, Ensemble Offspring and Halcyon, join forces with the internationally renowned Synergy Percussion, to present Steve Reich’s seminal work, Tehillim. This driving, inspirational piece for four female voices, six percussionists and large instrumental ensemble, is an explosive mix of ethnic, folk and sacred music, with its crisp, ecstatic rhythms and exotic melodic lines. Sung in ancient Hebrew and based on biblical psalms, Tehillim is a musical celebration on the universal themes of joy, hope and divine love.
American Steve Reich, who turned 70 last year, is regarded as one of the leading composers of the minimalist style. His trademark hypnotic rhythms embrace not only aspects of Western Classical music, but also the structures, harmonies, and pulse of non-Western and American music, particularly jazz. "There's just a handful of living composers who can legitimately claim to have altered the direction of musical history and Steve Reich is one of them," states The Guardian (London).
This truly international program also includes the Australian premiere of György Ligeti’s Sippal, dobbal, nádihegedüvel, a fantastical song cycle for mezzo soprano and percussion; the other-worldly timbres of Claude Vivier’s Bouchara, a exultation of love in an imaginary language; and the world premiere of Damien Ricketson’s No More than Liquid, ‘water music’ for the 21st century.
Tehillim is an unmissable aural and visual experience.
Program
Steve Reich (USA) - Tehillim for large ensemble (1981)
Georgy Ligeti (Hungary) - Sippal, dobbal, nádihegeduvel, mezzo soprano & percussion ensemble (2000)
Claude Vivier (French Canada) - Bouchara, for soprano & ensemble (1981)
Damien Ricketson (Australia) – No More Than Liquid, for percussion and ensemble (world premiere 2007)
American Steve Reich, who turned 70 last year, is regarded as one of the leading composers of the minimalist style. His trademark hypnotic rhythms embrace not only aspects of Western Classical music, but also the structures, harmonies, and pulse of non-Western and American music, particularly jazz. "There's just a handful of living composers who can legitimately claim to have altered the direction of musical history and Steve Reich is one of them," states The Guardian (London).
This truly international program also includes the Australian premiere of György Ligeti’s Sippal, dobbal, nádihegedüvel, a fantastical song cycle for mezzo soprano and percussion; the other-worldly timbres of Claude Vivier’s Bouchara, a exultation of love in an imaginary language; and the world premiere of Damien Ricketson’s No More than Liquid, ‘water music’ for the 21st century.
Tehillim is an unmissable aural and visual experience.
Program
Steve Reich (USA) - Tehillim for large ensemble (1981)
Georgy Ligeti (Hungary) - Sippal, dobbal, nádihegeduvel, mezzo soprano & percussion ensemble (2000)
Claude Vivier (French Canada) - Bouchara, for soprano & ensemble (1981)
Damien Ricketson (Australia) – No More Than Liquid, for percussion and ensemble (world premiere 2007)
 Alexandra v Bach ‘Ophelia’ |
Lily on a Black Wave Halcyon 7:30pm Saturday 6 October 2007 Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music Ticket prices: $30 Full / $20 Concession & Under 30 Bookings: (02) 8256 2222 www.cityrecitalhall.com |
Modern composers interpret Shakespeare
“On the calm, black wave where the stars sleep White Ophelia floats like a great lily, Floats slowly, slowly, slumbering in her long winding veils...”The character of Ophelia from Shakespeare’s ominous play Hamlet has floated her way into the modern world, inspiring creative artists as diverse as Rimbaud, T.S. Eliot, Berlioz, Nick Cave and The Grateful Dead. Award-winning ensemble Halcyon premieres a new work, Ophelie, by Melbourne composer Kevin March, and introduces the waterphone to Australian audiences, an instrument described by musician Tom Waits as ‘a cascading crystal waterfall of light amidst the songs of a whale’. With modern musical settings from Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets by Stravinsky, Saariaho and Adès, Halcyon delivers all the drama and passion inherent in the words of this famous bard, distilled into their musical essence.
Artists: Mark Shiell conductor, Alison Morgan soprano, Jenny Duck-Chong mezzo soprano, Mark Donnelly baritone, Steve Meyer flute, Diana Springford clarinet, Veronique Serrett violin, Thomas Talmacs violin, Nicole Forsyth viola, Danny Yeadon cello, Paul Hooper mandolin, Raffaele Agostino guitar, Clare McDonogh harp, Sally Whitwell piano, Claire Edwardes percussion, Jenny Druery double bass.
Program
Andrew Ford Snatches of Old Lauds from Hamlet (2002)
Igor Stravinsky Three Songs to Shakespeare (1953)
Sally Beamish Sonnet (1986 / 1998) *
Tom James Ophelia (2004) *
Kevin March Ophelie (2007) °
Juori Kaipainen Sonnet 43 op. 43 (1994) *
Kataryzna Glowicka Summer's Day Sonnets (2000 rev.2004) *
Thomas Ades Court Studies from The Tempest (2005) *
Andrew Ford Epithalamium (1991) °
Evelyn Ficarra Full Fathom Five (2002) from Submarine *
Saariaho The Tempest Songbook (1993-2004) *
1. Prospero’s Vision 2. Miranda's Lament 3. Caliban's Dream 4. Ariel's Hail 5. Ferdinand's Comfort
* Australian Premiere ° World Premiere
For more information (02) 9818 5941 or halcyonmail@optusnet.com.au