Zephyr Quartet with Greta Bradman Soprano

Transcription

1 Zephyr Quartet with Greta Bradman Soprano Bjork and Handel, classical and contemporary, folk and art. One of Australia s most versatile and adventurous string quartets, together with soprano Greta Bradman, will lead you on a delightful adventure that knows no boundaries. ZEPHYR QUARTET Zephyr Quartet Zephyr Quartet is one of Australia s most versatile and adventurous string quartets, delighting in the exploration of a diverse mix of music and in forging interesting and innovative collaborations. The quartet has a continuing commitment to the development and promotion of contemporary classical music and often commissions and performs new works. Zephyr Quartet members are passionate about the development and extension of the role of the string quartet, the value of experimentation and of pushing the boundaries, and above all the pure and simple delight of music in its many wondrous guises. Armed with a spirit of collaboration, Zephyr welcomes and initiates exciting new projects and partnerships between leading artists in varied art forms. This has led them into the worlds of dance and theatre where they have worked with companies such as Leigh Warren and Dancers, Restless Dance Company, Tutti Ensemble, State Theatre of SA, State Opera of SA and the Festival Theatre's Inspace program, and into composing for film and bands. The quartet has recently finished a critically acclaimed, sell out season of music dance collaboration Impulse with Leigh Warren and dancers. Zephyr has also worked with many

2 visual artists including Hossein and Angela Valamanesh and recently collaborated with Adelaide based poets Yahia Al Samawy and Rob Walker. Zephyr has received tuition from the Takacs Quartet, the Australian String Quartet and at the National Academy of Music, performed at festivals including the Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Fringe, WOMADelaide, Barossa Music Festival and the Glenelg Jazz Festival and has presented concert series from 2004 to 2007 to great critical acclaim. Zephyr has a continuing commitment to the development and promotion of contemporary classical music and often commissions and performs works by living composers. In 2006 Zephyr presented two concerts of entirely new works by young living composers based in Adelaide, Sydney and London. In 2007 the quartet commissioned works by James Cuddeford and David Kotlowy. For 2008 the quartet will present one concert entirely of works by the members of the quartet as well as a follow up event to 2006 s highly successful Electro Acoustic Project, involving commissioning more of Australia s fine young composers. The preparation for this concert was filmed for ABC TV and featured on the Sunday Arts program. Zephyr is also committed to presenting concerts in an education context and often performs for primary and secondary school students as a part of the Musica Viva in Schools program. In 2007 the quartet travelled to North Western NSW and performed over fifty concerts. In 2007 Zephyr was awarded the Ruby Award in the category of Innovation. This prestigious recognition was awarded for the group s 2006 Electro Acoustic Project. Also in 2007, Zephyr completed a studio recording for ABC Classic FM and have been heard on the Rising Stars and Drive programs. The quartet has toured extensively for Musica Viva s CountryWide program, including a week of drought relief concerts in Victoria s Wimmera region, and also presented a successful and diverse three concert series in Adelaide. The release of their second album Esque capped off an extremely productive and successful year.

3 REVIEWS The Advertiser 20th July 2005 Stephen Whittington Sight Specific Music Greenaway Art Gallery "...(In) the quartet's own arrangement of a traditional Syrian dance, featuring brilliant improvised solos by the violinists, they entered upon world music territory previously trodden by quartets like Kronos and Turtle Island, and they did so most engagingly; the Womadelaideians in the audience were delighted." "...Shaker Dances gave the quartet something to sink their teeth into as string players and they took to it with gusto, with catchy tunes and earthy, toe tapping rhythms..." The Advertiser 11th November 2005 Rodney Smith FIRM Concert Pilgrim Church "No higher compliment can be paid to the Zephyrs than to say that they remained so consistently competent and completely absorbed in their work throughout the evening that one could concentrate on the music to hand without the least distraction." The Advertiser 27th September 2005 Elizabeth Silsbury Recitals Australia Pilgrim Church "Musicianship to challenge similar ensembles with much wider reputations underpinned the playing of locally based Zephyr Quartet." "...sounding like one single, multicoloured voice." "... An electrifying ride." The Advertiser 14th August 2004 Rodney Smith Zephyr and Aleksandr Tsiboulski Jade Monkey "The Quartet's sound is satisfyingly homogenous and their interpretations are well thought through, unanimous and empathetic with the composer's intentions." "All players wove magic around her music which showed real heart and genuine warmth." The Advertiser 4th October 2003 Elizabeth Silsbury Barossa Music Festival Saltrum Winery "Six world premieres...all the music is worth hearing again, all was played with confidence and insight."

4 GRETA BRADMAN SOPRANO Photograph by Grant Hancock Award winning soprano Greta Bradman has been described as an exceedingly intelligent and perceptive musician and one of Australia s finest young singers (The Advertiser, 2008). Known for her versatility, vocal timbre and dexterity she performs music from the renaissance through to intricate contemporary works. As a recitalist Greta regularly works with Melbourne pianist Leigh Harrold, performing in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne to critical acclaim. Other instrumental ensembles she has performed with in 2009 include the Kegelstatt Ensemble, the Langbein String Quartet, the Adelaide Chamber Players (in association with Graham Abbott), the Soundstream Contemporary Music Ensemble, and the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra (in association with Arvo Volmer). Currently based in Adelaide, Greta also appears as guest soloist with numerous choirs including the Adelaide Chamber Singers, Corinthian Singers, Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus, Graduate Singers, Syntony, and Young Adelaide Voices. Greta is also an accomplished ensemble singer, having been a founding member of awardwinning EVE vocal trio with whom she released two successful CDs, and a member of Adelaide Chamber Singers. Greta has recently been recruited to the ABC Classics label, with upcoming projects including the recording of her first solo album, for 2010 release. She has also recently undertaken studio recording for ABC Classic FM and has presented numerous ABC Classic FM Sunday Live concerts and will present a seventh this year in association with the Kegelstatt Ensemble. Greta enjoys balancing her passion for music and the voice with her passion for the human mind. Having received the Australian Psychological Association Prize for topping her year in Honours Psychology, she has gone on to undertake a research PhD in psychology and medicine and a Master of Clinical Psychology. On completion of her PhD

5 Greta plans to put a hold on her interests in psychology so as to focus wholly on pursuing more national and overseas singing opportunities REVIEWS Greta Bradman and her partner The Langbein String Quartet soared through an unfailingly engaging program to set a high bar for opening of The Firm's 2009 series. Bradman extended her lofty range down the scale into chest territory, producing a nearauthentic, aboriginal nasal twang for the winds, the waves and the seagulls crying, floating and wheeling like them in a long, meditative vocalize. Her thrilling high C flew to the moon and beyond. Elizabeth Silsbury Advertiser June 2009