2012 SEASON. Brass Exhibition. Tea & Symphony. Fri 14 September 11am

Transcription

1 2012 SEASON Brass Exhibition Tea & Symphony Fri 14 September 11am

2 INTRODUCTION Brass Exhibition In an orchestral concert the brass section sits towards the back of the stage, behind the strings, behind the woodwinds. If you re sitting in the stalls you may be hard pressed to catch even a glimpse of the players and their instruments. But without doubt you will hear them! Whenever symphonic music must sound especially magnificent, chances are the brass section will be there. So it s a special pleasure this morning to present the Sydney Symphony Brass Ensemble in the spotlight. The program is a brass exhibition, curated by Australian trombonist and conductor Michael Mulcahy. It begins in the Renaissance Room, with music by the great Giovanni Gabrieli trumpets and trombones calling one to the other in music conceived for the grand space of San Marco in Venice. It moves to the Australian Room, with contrasting miniatures by Elena Kats-Chernin and Paul Terracini. Then there is the pièce de résistance: an arrangement for brass and percussion of Mussorgsky s Pictures at an Exhibition. This is music that quite literally walks us from aural image to aural image. We promenade with a Russian gait (characteristically lapsing into five beats to the bar) and, pausing before each sketch, we re caught up in the visions of Mussorgsky s musical imagination. The finale, The Great Gate of Kiev, might have been composed for the piano, but we re sure you ll agree, it cries out for the brilliant and noble sounds of the brass. Viktor Hartmann s prize-winning design for the Kiev City Gate (pencil and watercolour). 2 sydney symphony

3 2012 season tea & symphony Friday 14 September, 11am Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Brass Exhibition Michael Mulcahy CONDUCTOR Sydney Symphony Brass Ensemble Giovanni Gabrieli (c.1554/ ) Canzon septimi toni a 8, No.1 Elena Kats-Chernin (born 1957) Mater Paul Terracini (born 1957) Gegensätze Modest Mussorgsky ( ) arranged Elgar Howarth Pictures at an Exhibition Promenade Gnomus (Gnome) Promenade Il vecchio castello (The Old Castle) Promenade Tuileries. Children quarrelling at play Bydło (Oxen) Promenade Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuÿle Promenade Limoges Market Catacombae Sepulcrum romanum (Catacombs. Roman Sepulchre) Con mortuis in lingua mortua (With the dead in a dead language) The Hut on Hen s Legs (Baba Yaga) The Great Gate of Kiev This concert will be recorded for later broadcast on ABC Classic FM. Estimated durations: 4 minutes, 6 minutes, 7 minutes, 36 minutes The concert will conclude at approximately 12.10pm. Biscuits at Tea & Symphony concerts kindly provided by Kambly sydney symphony 3

4 ABOUT THE MUSIC GABRIELI Canzon septimi toni a 8 No.1 The basilica of San Marco in Venice is a glorious setting of gilded Byzantine domes and winged lions, distinguished (according to the musician s perspective) by its multiple galleries. Giovanni Gabrieli the greatest Venetian composer of the high Renaissance composed this canzona with San Marco s unique layout in mind, dividing the musicians into two groups or choirs, which would have been split between the two organ galleries. The technique became known as cori spezzati (literally broken choirs ), characterised by calland-response musical dialogue. This canzona appeared with similar instrumental works in the groundbreaking publication Sacræ Symphoniæ at the close of the 16th century. San Marco s golden ceiling is high and round a desirable architectural feature for brass players allowing the music to bounce and echo through the space in brilliant fanfares. And the separation of the performing groups served to emphasise the dramatic spatial effects of Gabrieli s music. Title page of the Sacræ Symphoniæ (1597) of GIOVANNI GABRIELI Venetian composer (c.1554/ ) The interior of San Marco (painting by Canaletto, c.1755). 4 sydney symphony

5 KATS-CHERNIN Mater When Elena Kats-Chernin was commissioned to write a song around the theme of mother and child, she knew it would be a very personal investment: her son had recently been near death. She initially thought of writing a lullaby, but instead took inspiration from the Latin hymn, Stabat Mater. Mary, the mother, mourns at the foot of the cross: At the Cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to her Son to the last. Dvořák, Haydn, Rossini and Verdi are just some of the composers who ve set this powerful and moving text, often in richly vocal, even operatic, conceptions. In her own choral setting, Kats-Chernin chose to avoid dense wordpainting and instead set the text with syncopated rhythms, creating a texture so intricate that at times the words are indistinguishable. The version for brass ensemble begins with a conversation between the upper voices and explores brassy depths when the instruments come together in unison, maintaining momentum until the final Amen. ELENA KATS-CHERNIN Australian composer (born Tashkent, 1957) TERRACINI Gegensätze Paul Terracini says the noble sound quality of the brass ensemble makes it a rewarding medium, and that there s always a feeling of returning home when he composes for brass. (Terracini is himself an accomplished trumpet player.) The title Gegensätze (literally contrary sets ) suggests contrasts, contradictions, even conflict. These ideas are explored by calling on the players in this large ensemble to shift rapidly between passages of intense rhythmic energy, hymn-like lyricism, and extreme contrasts of volume and colour. PAUL TERRACINI Australian composer (born 1957) sydney symphony 5

6 MUSSORGKY arr. Elgar Howarth Pictures at an Exhibition Modest Mussorgsky had been introduced to Russian artist Viktor Hartmann in 1870, and the two became close, sharing a mutual love for Russian expression in the arts. When Hartmann died just three years later at the age of 39, Mussorgsky was plunged into depression. But the following year, a memorial exhibition of Hartmann s delicate sketches and designs inspired Mussorgsky to compose Pictures at an Exhibition a suite of musical sketches for piano shaped by a scenario that places the listener in the position of the composer wandering through the exhibition and reflecting on Hartmann s legacy. If you know the music of Pictures at an Exhibition, most likely you know Ravel s renowned orchestral arrangement from But this is just one of many orchestrations and arrangements made over the years it s as if Mussorgsky s music calls out for more colours and a grander scale than a piano can provide. In translating the music for brass instruments, Elgar Howarth faced practical challenges: how to get tricky trills and runs through metres of tubing; how to provide enough variety of instrumental colour and effect to hold the listener s interest. His solution employs a large ensemble including brass instruments outside the standard orchestral line-up: euphonium, flugelhorn and piccolo trumpet. Mussorgsky s music places us at the exhibition, promenading from picture to picture. This is the recurring Promenade, which wanders between a five- and six-beat pulse. It s heard five times during the piece (Howarth includes the fifth Promenade that Ravel omitted), each with a different voicing, mood and texture. Gnomus was inspired by the design for a nutcracker in the form of a gnome. This gives Howarth the opportunity to introduce eerie and grotesque brass effects: muted trumpets for a distant, tense tone, and stopped horns where the hand is inserted into the bell of the horn to give a harsh, buzzing sound. Together they depict the shrieks of the gnome as it stalks and stumbles through the lowest voices of the ensemble. A watercolour of a troubadour singing before The Old Castle is given a lyrical musical treatment. Ravel s famous (and inspired) alto saxophone solo is, in this arrangement, passed between flugelhorn, tuba, trumpets and horn, supported by a pulsing bass line and distant trumpet calls. The painting of the Tuileries Garden in Paris is among the Hartmann sketches now lost, but it s likely the artist added figures of quarrelling children and their nannies to give a sense of scale. The teasing tone of falling intervals and ascending runs of scampering feet play in the upper brass. The calmer middle section could suggest adults trying MODEST MUSSORGSKY Russian composer ( ) ARTIST: ILYA REPIN 6 sydney symphony

7 to calm the children; evidently they do not listen and the bickering first theme returns. Bydło is the Polish word for cattle, and refers to a drawing of two large oxen pulling a heavy cart. Where Ravel gave this lumbering tune to the tuba, Howarth writes for horns playing loudly in their middle register a powerful, and uncharacteristically edgy, sound. The tune builds to a climax as the cart passes, then the opening tune returns and fades, as the oxen pulling their burden into the distance. Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks is based on a costume design of dancers dressed in shells for the opera Trilby. The first section is filled with skittish tweets and chirps, dancing in the upper register of muted trumpets. The central section is smoother and more orderly, a walking theme superimposed by shimmering trills. A final repeat of the first section a rare strategy for Mussorgsky completes the structure of this comical number. Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuÿle takes as its starting point two life sketches, described by Vladimir Stasov as Two Jews: rich and poor. Most likely Mussorgsky named them himself. In both Ravel s orchestration and Howarth s arrangement the wealthy Samuel Goldenberg is represented by sinister horns; poor Schmuÿle by a stuttering piccolo trumpet. In combining two unrelated portraits, Mussorgsky establishes an expressive narrative of his own. The two main themes combine as the poor man begs from the rich, but to no avail. Canary Chicks in their Shells. Hartmann s costume sketch for Gerber s ballet Trilby (watercolour). sydney symphony 7

8 The Limoges Market depicts two women gossiping in a busy market. Trumpets, horns and cymbals imitate calls and yells from the bustling crowd, and the scene becomes increasingly chaotic before falling straight into depths of the Catacombs. In this painting, Hartmann depicted himself exploring the Paris catacombs, the light of the lantern spilling onto piles of skulls. There is a dramatic dialogue between the upper and lower brass, and the tense chords eventually fade into With the dead in a dead language, the title appropriately given in Latin. This eerie variation of the Promenade theme echoes amongst quivering trumpets. Baba Yaga is a fearsome witch of Russian folklore who lives in a hut built on the legs of a giant fowl and dines on children. She has a broom, but her mode of travel is a mortar and pestle the broom is merely to brush away her tracks. Hartmann s Baba Yaga is a meticulous design for a clock, which of course stands on hen s legs. Mussorgsky s music is mechanical with a driving clockwork rhythm, contrasted with fragile, anxious moments is she, perhaps, luring some poor lost child? When the exciting chase returns, it plunges headlong into The Great Gate of Kiev. In this final movement, Mussorgsky matches the grandeur of Hartmann s prize-winning design for a commemorative city gate (never built). He settles the uneven pulse of the Promenades, building from a stately chorale with soft chant-like melody to the final majestic procession big, beautiful and Russian, as if it was always meant to be played by brass. Paris Catacombs. Artist Viktor Hartmann with his friend Vasily Kenel and a guide with a lantern (watercolour). Baba Yaga s Hut on Hen s Legs. Hartmann s sketch for a clock in the Russian style (pencil). ROSA GOLLAN SYDNEY SYMPHONY sydney symphony

9 ABOUT THE ARTISTS Michael Mulcahy CONDUCTOR Michael Mulcahy was born in Sydney and began studying trombone with his father, Jack Mulcahy. He completed his studies with Baden McCarron of the Sydney Symphony, and Geoffrey Bailey at the Sydney Conservatorium, and in 1980 he was a winner in the ABC Instrumental and Vocal Competition (now Young Performers Awards). His orchestral career began in 1976 as principal trombone of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra; the following year he joined the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as principal trombone. In 1981 he left Australia to pursue his career in Europe, where he was appointed solo trombone with the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra. In 1989 Georg Solti appointed him to his current post with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He is also principal trombone with Music of the Baroque (Chicago) and the Grand Teton Music Festival, and has appeared as a soloist throughout North America and around the world, including concerto performances with the CSO, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hilversum Radio Symphony Orchestra and on tour with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Since 1999 he has been Professor of Music at Northwestern University, where he leads a summer masterclass. He has also held lecturing and artist-inresidence posts at the Canberra School of Music at the Australian National University (where he formed the CSM Chamber Players and Orchestral Repertoire Ensemble), Indiana University and Florida State University. He has also taught and conducted at Daniel Barenboim s East West Divan workshop for young Arab and Israeli musicians in Seville, and has served as Music Director for the Australian Youth Orchestra s National Music Camp. Michael Mulcahy s interest in conducting was sparked in 1987 when West German Radio invited him to direct a program of Arvo Pärt. Since then he has served as assistant conductor for the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and he conducts regularly for the Music at the Millenium and Composers Perspectives Festivals at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Other conducting engagements have taken him to Japan (International Youth Musicale, Shizouka) and Denmark (Royal Danish Orchestra). With Scott Kinmont, Nick Byrne and Eric Klay, Michael Mulcahy has recently released the recording Full Circle, a collection of Australian music for trombone, including premiere recordings of Richard Mills Sonata for three trombones and percussion, Barry McKimm s Trombone Quartet and At a Loss by Stuart Campbell. Background.html sydney symphony 9

10 Sydney Symphony Brass Ensemble Formed in 1997, the Sydney Symphony Brass Ensemble comprises many of Australia s finest brass players, drawn from the brass section of the Sydney Symphony. Varying in size from a quintet to a full brass section of 16, the ensemble has a repertoire that ranges from music of the Renaissance to contemporary composers, including specially commissioned works from Australian composers such as Matthew Hindson, Nigel Westlake and Ross Edwards. In addition to performances in Sydney, the Brass Ensemble tours regularly throughout New South Wales and in most seasons appears in the Sydney Symphony subscription series. HORNS Ben Jacks Principal Geoffrey O Reilly Principal 3rd Euan Harvey Marnie Sebire Sharn McIver * Guest musician Sydney Symphony Fellow TRUMPETS David Elton Principal Paul Goodchild Associate Principal Anthony Heinrichs Andrew Evans* Justin Lingard* Josh Rogan* TROMBONES Ronald Prussing Principal Scott Kinmont Associate Principal Nick Byrne Christopher Harris Principal Bass Trombone TUBA Steve Rossé Principal Karina Filipi* TIMPANI Richard Miller Principal PERCUSSION Mark Robinson Sydney Symphony Board John C Conde ao Chairman Terrey Arcus am Ewen Crouch Ross Grant Jennifer Hoy Rory Jeffes Andrew Kaldor Irene Lee David Livingstone Goetz Richter 10 sydney symphony

11 SYDNEY SYMPHONY PATRONS Maestro s Circle Peter Weiss am Founding President & Doris Weiss John C Conde ao Chairman Geoff Ainsworth am & Vicki Ainsworth Tom Breen & Rachael Kohn In memory of Hetty & Egon Gordon Andrew Kaldor & Renata Kaldor ao Roslyn Packer ao Penelope Seidler am Mr Fred Street am & Mrs Dorothy Street Westfield Group Brian & Rosemary White Ray Wilson oam in memory of the late James Agapitos oam Sydney Symphony Leadership Ensemble David Livingstone, CEO, Credit Suisse, Australia Alan Fang, Chairman, Tianda Group Tony Grierson, Braithwaite Steiner Pretty Insurance Australia Grou p Macquarie Group Foundation John Morschel, Chairman, ANZ Directors Chairs Andrew Kaldor, Chairman, Pelikan Artline Lynn Kraus, Sydney Office Managing Partner, Ernst & Young Shell Australia Pty Ltd James Stevens, CEO, Roses Only Stephen Johns, Chairman, Leighton Holdings, and Michele Johns Roger Benedict Principal Viola Kim Williams am & Catherine Dovey Chair 02 Lawrence Dobell Principal Clarinet Anne Arcus & Terrey Arcus am Chair 03 Diana Doherty Principal Oboe Andrew Kaldor & Renata Kaldor ao Chair 04 Richard Gill oam Artistic Director Education Sandra & Paul Salteri Chair 05 Jane Hazelwood Viola Veolia Environmental Services Chair 06 Catherine Hewgill Principal Cello The Hon. Justice AJ & Mrs Fran Meagher Chair 07 Robert Johnson Principal Horn James & Leonie Furber Chair 08 Elizabeth Neville Cello Ruth & Bob Magid Chair 09 Colin Piper Percussion Justice Jane Mathews ao Chair 10 Shefali Pryor Associate Principal Oboe Rose Herceg Chair 11 Emma Sholl Associate Principal Flute Robert & Janet Constable Chair For information about the Directors Chairs program, please call (02) Sydney Symphony Vanguard Vanguard Collective Justin Di Lollo Chair Kees Boersma Rose Herceg David McKean Amelia Morgan-Hunn Jonathan Pease Anna Swan Members Nikki Andrews James Armstrong Stephen Attfield Andrew Baxter Mar Beltran Kees Boersma Peter Braithwaite Andrea Brown Ian Burton Jennifer Burton Ron Christianson Matthew Clark George Condous Michael Cook Paul Cousins Justin Di Lollo Rose Gallo Sam Giddings Derek Hand Rose Herceg Jennifer Hoy Damian Kassagbi Chris Keher Elizabeth Lee Antony Lighten Gary Linnane David McKean Hayden McLean Amelia Morgan-Hunn Hugh Munro Fiona Osler Peter Outridge Jonathan Pease Seamus R Quick Michael Reede Jacqueline Rowlands Bernard Ryan Adam Wand Jon Wilkie Jonathan Watkinson Darren Woolley Misha Zelinksy sydney symphony 11

12 PLAYING YOUR PART The Sydney Symphony gratefully acknowledges the music lovers who donate to the orchestra each year. Each gift plays an important part in ensuring our continued artistic excellence and helping to sustain important education and regional touring programs. Donations of $50 and above are acknowledged on our website at Platinum Patrons $20,000+ Brian Abel Geoff Ainsworth am & Vicki Ainsworth Robert Albert ao & Elizabeth Albert Terrey Arcus am & Anne Arcus Tom Breen & Rachael Kohn Sandra & Neil Burns Mr John C Conde ao Robert & Janet Constable Michael Crouch ao & Shanny Crouch James & Leonie Furber Dr Bruno & Mrs Rhonda Giuffre In memory of Hetty & Egon Gordon Ms Rose Herceg Mr Andrew Kaldor & Mrs Renata Kaldor ao D & I Kallinikos James N Kirby Foundation Mrs Joan MacKenzie Justice Jane Mathews ao Mrs Roslyn Packer ao Dr John Roarty oam in memory of Mrs June Roarty Paul & Sandra Salteri Mrs Penelope Seidler am Mrs W Stening Mr Fred Street am & Mrs Dorothy Street Mr Peter Weiss am & Mrs Doris Weiss Westfield Group Mr Brian & Mrs Rosemary White Ray Wilson oam in memory of James Agapitos oam Kim Williams am & Catherine Dovey June & Alan Woods Family Bequest Gold Patrons $10,000 $19,999 Mr C R Adamson Stephen J Bell Alan & Christine Bishop Ian & Jennifer Burton Copyright Agency Limited The Hon. Ashley Dawson-Damer Ferris Family Foundation Nora Goodridge Mr Ross Grant The Estate of the late Ida Gugger Helen Lynch am & Helen Bauer Ruth & Bob Magid The Hon. Justice AJ Meagher & Mrs Fran Meagher Mrs T Merewether oam Mr B G O Conor Mrs Joyce Sproat & Mrs Janet Cooke Henry & Ruth Weinberg Anonymous (2) Silver Patrons $5000 $9,999 Doug & Alison Battersby Mr Alexander & Mrs Vera Boyarsky Mr Robert Brakspear Mr David & Mrs Halina Brett Mr Robert & Mrs L Alison Carr Bob & Julie Clampett Howard Connors Ewen & Catherine Crouch Ian Dickson & Reg Holloway Colin Draper & Mary Jane Brodribb Penny Edwards Edward Federman The Greatorex Foundation Mrs Jennifer Hershon The Sherry Hogan Foundation Mr Rory Jeffes Stephen Johns & Michele Bender Judges of the Supreme Court of NSW Mr Ervin Katz The Estate of the late Patricia Lance Mr David Livingstone Timothy & Eva Pascoe William McIlrath Charitable Foundation David Maloney & Erin Flaherty Rodney Rosenblum am & Sylvia Rosenblum Manfred & Linda Salamon JF & A van Ogtrop Michael & Mary Whelan Trust Ms Caroline Wilkinson Jill Wran Anonymous (2) Bronze Patrons $2,500 $4,999 Mr Marc Besen ao & Mrs Eva Besen ao Jan Bowen M Bulmer Firehold Pty Ltd Stephen Freiberg & Donald Campbell Anthony Gregg & Deanne Whittleston Vic & Katie French Warren Green Mrs Jennifer Hershon Ann Hoban In memory of Bernard M H Khaw Gary Linnane Matthew McInnes J A McKernan R & S Maple-Brown Greg & Susan Marie Alan & Joy Martin Mora Maxwell James & Elsie Moore Drs Keith & Eileen Ong In memory of H St P Scarlett David & Isabel Smithers Mrs Hedy Switzer Marliese & Georges Teitler Dr Richard Wingate Mr & Mrs T & D Yim Anonymous (2) Bronze Patrons $1,000 $2,499 Charles & Renee Abrams Mrs Antoinette Albert Andrew Andersons ao Mr Henri W Aram oam Dr Francis J Augustus Richard and Christine Banks David Barnes Michael Baume ao & Toni Baume Nicole Berger Mrs Jan Biber Allan & Julie Bligh Lenore P Buckle In memory of RW Burley Eric & Rosemary Campbell The Hon. Justice JC & Mrs Campbell Dr John H Casey Joan Connery oam & Maxwell Connery oam Constable Estate Vineyards Debby Cramer & Bill Caukill Mr John Cunningham SCM & Mrs Margaret Cunningham Greta Davis Lisa & Miro Davis Matthew Delasey Mr & Mrs Grant Dixon John Favaloro Mr Ian Fenwicke & Prof. Neville Wills Michael & Gabrielle Field Dr & Mrs C Goldschmidt Mr James Graham am & Mrs Helen Graham Akiko Gregory Edward & Deborah Griffith Janette Hamilton Dorothy Hoddinott ao The Hon. David Hunt ao qc & Mrs Margaret Hunt Dr & Mrs Michael Hunter Mr Peter Hutchison Michael & Anna Joel Anna-Lisa Klettenberg Mr Justin Lam Mr Peter Lazar am Associate Professor Winston Liauw Sydney & Airdrie Lloyd Carolyn & Peter Lowry oam 12 sydney symphony

13 Deirdre & Kevin McCann Robert McDougall Ian & Pam McGaw Macquarie Group Foundation Renee Markovic A Nhan Ms Jackie O Brien Mr R A Oppen Mr Robert Orrell Mr & Mrs Ortis Mr Andrew C Patterson In memory of Sandra Paul Piatti Holdings Pty Ltd Andy & Deirdre Plummer Robin Potter Pottinger Ernest & Judith Rapee Kenneth R Reed Patricia H Reid Endowment Pty Ltd Caroline Sharpen Dr Agnes E Sinclair Catherine Stephen John & Alix Sullivan The Hon. Brian Sully qc Mildred Teitler John E Tuckey Mrs M Turkington In memory of Joan & Rupert Vallentine Dr Alla Waldman In memory of Dr Reg Walker The Hon. Justice A G Whealy Ann & Brooks Wilson am Geoff Wood & Melissa Waites Mr Robert & Mrs Rosemary Walsh Mr R R Woodward In memory of Lorna Wright Dr John Yu Anonymous (14) Bronze Patrons $500 $999 Mr Peter J Armstrong Mr & Mrs Garry S Ash Barlow Cleaning Pty Ltd Mrs Margaret Bell Minnie Biggs Pat & Jenny Burnett Mr & Mrs Coates Dr & Mrs Hannes Boshoff Arnaldo Buch The Hon. Justice JC & Mrs Campbell Dr Rebecca Chin Mrs Sarah Chissick Mrs Catherine J Clark R A & M J Clarke Mrs Joan Connery oam Jen Cornish Mr David Cross Elizabeth Donati The Dowe Family Dr Nita & Dr James Durham Malcolm Ellis & Erin O Neill Mrs Margaret Epps In memory of Peter Everett Mr & Mrs Farrell Mr Tom Francis Tony Grierson Vivienne Goldschmidt Mr Richard Griffin am Ian R L Harper Ken Hawkings Mrs A Hayward Mr Roger Henning Harry & Meg Herbert Mr Joerg Hofmann Mrs Kimberley Holden Mr Gregory Hosking Alex Houghton Bill & Pam Hughes Beauty Point Retirement Resort Niki Kallenberger Mrs W G Keighley Mrs Margaret Keogh Dr Henry Kilham Chris J Kitching Mr Aron & Mrs Helen Kleinlehrer Mr & Mrs Gilles T Kryger Sonia Lal Mr Luigi Lamprati Dr & Mrs Leo Leader Margaret Lederman Irene Lee Anita & Chris Levy Erna & Gerry Levy am Mrs A Lohan Mrs Panee Low Dr David Luis Dr Jean Malcolm Philip & Catherine McClelland Mrs Flora MacDonald Mrs Helen Meddings Mrs Toshiko Meric P J Miller David & Andree Milman Kenneth N Mitchell Chris Morgan-Hunn Mrs Milja Morris Coffs Airport Security Car Park Dr Mike O Connor am Mr Graham North Dr A J Palmer Justice George Palmer am Dr Kevin Pedemont Dr Natalie E Pelham Lois & Ken Rae Renaissance Tours Anna Ro Pamela Rogers Lesley & Andrew Rosenberg Agnes Ross Mrs Pamela Sayers Garry Scarf & Morgie Blaxill William Sewell Mrs Diane Shteinman am Ms Stephanie Smee Ms Tatiana Sokolova Doug & Judy Sotheren Mrs Judith Southam Margaret Suthers Mr Lindsay & Mrs Suzanne Stone Norman & Lydia Taylor Dr Heng Tey & Mrs Cilla Tey Mrs Alma Toohey & Mr Edward Spicer Kevin Troy Judge Robyn Tupman Gillian Turner & Rob Bishop Prof Gordon E Wall Mrs Margaret Wallis Ronald Walledge Mr Palmer Wang Ms Elizabeth Wilkinson Audrey & Michael Wilson A Willmers & R Pal Dr Richard Wing Dr Peter Wong & Mrs Emmy K Wong Mr Robert Woods Mrs Everly Wyss Mrs Robin Yabsley Anonymous (15) To find out more about becoming a Sydney Symphony Patron, please contact the Philanthropy Office on (02) or philanthropy@sydneysymphony.com sydney symphony 13

14 SALUTE PRINCIPAL PARTNER GOVERNMENT PARTNERS The Sydney Symphony is assisted by the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body The Sydney Symphony is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW PREMIER PARTNER COMMUNITY PARTNER PLATINUM PARTNERS EDUCATION PARTNER MAJOR PARTNERS GOLD PARTNERS SILVER PARTNERS executive search REGIONAL TOUR PARTNERS MARKETING PARTNER Fine Music sydney symphony

15 ORCHESTRA NEWS AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2012 Photo: Keith Saunders Centre-front is the greatest seat in the house. LEADING A BUSY LIFE Our Concertmaster Dene Olding has a non-stop schedule, with only the occasional pause for breath. A simple warm-up interview question How has your day been? draws an unexpected response from Dene Olding, Concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony. I m sure my tombstone will read, Here lies a busy man. Busy doesn t begin to describe Dene s schedule. He s just come from the audition of a new member of the cello section, having led the orchestra in the previous week through Richard Strauss s fabulous but fiendish suite from Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, and is about to dash off for two weeks at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville, where he will perform in eight concerts with the Goldner String Quartet, a chamber group he co-founded. Phew! Recently, the Sydney Symphony has been in search of a second concertmaster, someone with whom Dene will share the role. It s very important to have concertmasters with the same musical philosophy about what the orchestra should sound like. Any change of leader means a change of gear, but in an ideal world, we should have people with a similar style of leading, and of a similar temperament. Then we can start to develop the sound of the string section for a more unified approach. You might have noticed Dene playing within the ranks of the First Violin section in some concerts recently. I m happy to say that so far I haven t been demoted! That was my choice. It s been useful and instructive to remind myself what it s like to sit in the back. And a delightful reminder of the honour and privilege of his usual chair. Centre-front is the greatest seat in the house. I feel sorry that the rest of the orchestra and public can t sit where I m sitting, where you really get the full impact! So how does Dene unwind? With martial arts, no less. I was a relative latecomer to Aikido, but it seemed to be tailor-made. The name Aikido translates to the way of the harmonious spirit. With my profession, I m not out there trying to break bricks. Aikido is about harmonising with an attack, and then neutralising it. As a philosophy, it fits well with music. Aikido s roots in jujitsu and Samurai sword technique also pay unexpected dividends. There are so many similarities in the way you hold the bow the grip is almost identical!

16 From the Managing Director This year has already seen many wonderful musical experiences as part of our 80th anniversary year, and there are many more to come, not least when our artistic leader Vladimir Ashkenazy returns in October for concerts in preparation for our tour of major venues in China. Then in November, he will be back for Tchaikovsky s opera The Queen of Spades, which we ll be presenting in concert. This is a personal highlight of our season for me, and something I urge you not to miss. As I welcome you to this edition of Bravo!, we have just launched our 2013 season. Next year presents an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful musical partnership between the Sydney Symphony and Vladimir Ashkenazy. The programming includes many artists and friends he admires Pinchas Zukerman, Murray Perahia performing in recital, and Lisa Gasteen, to name but a few. It promises to be an outstanding season for your orchestra and audiences alike and I very much look forward to sharing it with you. RORY JEFFES Ask a Musician Nita Lawrie asked us a great question via Facebook: Why was the orchestra arranged quite differently on stage for the Tchaikovsky? (Absolutely fantastic concert btw.) Insider Tips For those who weren t there, in our performance of Tchaikovsky s Pathétique Symphony, the first and second violin sections sat left and right of the podium, with the cellos and violas in the middle in front of the conductor. (The double basses had moved to the left, behind the cellos.) It s often called an antiphonal arrangement. For some orchestras, it s their basic configuration. This layout is requested by our conductors from time to time, depending on the music we re playing. It was a common arrangement for orchestras right into the late 19th century, so there s a lot of music that would have been composed with this layout Just in time for our 2013 season launch, Box Office Steve shares some of his Top Tips for helping ensure a hasslefree subscription purchase. requests, it s important to let us know early and thus improve your chances of securing the seats you want. give us a clearer idea of where you want to sit. Also, in case your preferred seat isn t available, offering alternative options is helpful. don t have any particular seating preferences, try to avoid calling first thing on Monday morning, when we re super busy in the box office. renewal form means a shorter wait before you have your tickets in hand. trained staff join the box office team, and as we all know, it can take a little while to get into the swing of things. Your patience is truly appreciated! The US Consul General Niels Marquardt hosted a welcome for David Robertson, who will begin his tenure as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director in From left: Rory Jeffes, Orli Shaham, David Robertson, John Conde and Niels Marquardt. in mind. One practical result is that it gives listeners a kind of stereo effect between the first and second violins, and in some pieces this brings out the question-andanswer gestures in the music, for example the first movement of Brahms s Fourth Symphony. So it s not unknown for conductors to request this kind of arrangement for Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky, to name a few. By contrast, the Vaughan Williams Fantasia that began this concert called for a special layout of the strings, dictated by the fact that the orchestra is functioning as three ensembles in one. Photo: Ken Butti

17 Artistic Focus A SEASON IS BORN Our 2013 season has finally launched 28 conductors, 63 soloists and nearly 120 musical works coming together in 46 different programs On Wednesday 8 August we launched the 2013 season. And in homes across Sydney, excited concert-goers were tearing the wrapping from their season brochures to see what was in store. The first responses poured in. Explosions of delight as musiclovers spotted favourites. Murray Perahia boom! said one. Woah Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony! Always good when the SOH organ gets a chance to assert itself, wrote another. Tan Dun!! John Adams!! Flying Dutchman!! Verdi Requiem!! Britten s War Requiem!! Woohoo!! More than a few are looking forward to the third instalment of The Lord of the Rings, one of several special events supported by premier partner Credit Suisse. One fan spotted two of her favourite pieces Massively happy to be a subscriber! only to follow with Dang, neither of my favourites are in my series. Then another fan offered some advice: Why not opt for a Connoisseur s Selection and choose your own concerts? A local journalist got so excited she slipped into all-caps. ERIC OWENS! PINCHAS ZUKERMAN! JOHN ADAMS! MURRAY PERAHIA! THOMAS ADÈS! WU MAN! KRISTJAN JÄRVI! And once she d calmed down OK, Schreker and Mozart with Geoffrey Lancaster. That does it for me. So much goodness. Yes, a little program buried in the Mozart in the City series, but promising to be one of the jewels of the season with some scrumptious music and a truly inspiring soloist. This is why the season brochure rewards a thorough reading. The warhorses will leap out at you Carmina Burana, Bruch and Mendelssohn violin concertos, Dvořák s New World Symphony or Respighi s Pines of Rome. But then there will be the treats, the rarities and the new creations to look forward to as well. Perhaps that piece you love despite its not being famous has been included in the wider constellation of works, as our artistic planner Peter Czornyj calls it. Threaded through the season are the connecting themes. Perhaps you ve noticed a lot of Britten and Wagner as well as Verdi s concert hall masterpiece. There s a reason: 2013 is an anniversary year for all three. Next year is also the centenary of the notorious premiere of Stravinsky s Rite of Spring, and we celebrate that with a spellbinding program of Stravinsky and Mendelssohn. Above all, our 2013 programming acknowledges the remarkable musical relationship the orchestra enjoys with Principal Conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy. There are concerts featuring some of his favourite composers, and two high-energy programs with Pinchas Zukerman (pictured). We ve put our energy into creating a season that offers a wealth of choice and we sincerely hope will bring you a year of delight. You can request a brochure via our website: or by calling (02) Impatient music-lovers can view the brochure online at: bit.ly/2013onlinebrochure The Score Dancing Moon Goddess This October, saxophonist Amy Dickson must become the universal Moon Goddess incarnate, according to Ross Edwards, who has written his latest concerto for her. Full Moon Dances requires her to effect a series of onstage apotheoses, by adorning herself in a variety of heavenly costumes. Amy, who became close friends with the composer after she was named ABC/Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year in 2004, said it was a dream come true when he offered to write the concerto for her. Ross Edwards is well-known for his use of special lighting, choreography, costume and other seemingly extra-musical visual accompaniments all part of his vision to restore the ancient, elemental associations of music with the mysticism, ritual and dance of a primal humanity. Amy worked directly with Ross and his family in the design of the costumes, which include a halo manufactured by Sydney milliner Suzy O Rourke. She says that with Ross s conception in mind, and arrayed in her celestial regalia, she finds it very easy to assume the goddess-like role he describes: Serene and mysterious, she nonetheless has the power to unleash ecstasy and terror beyond the bounds of reason. Dancing with the Saxophone Verdi, Edwards and Ravel s Bolero Fri 5 Oct 8pm Sat 6 Oct 8pm Mon 8 Oct 7pm Full Moon Dances was commissioned by Andrew Kaldor and Renata Kaldor AO with the support of Symphony Services International.

18 Education Focus Photo: Jo Gilbert Marwood Masterclass Our Fellows recently surprised violinist Anthony Marwood on his birthday, which he had generously given over to leading a masterclass. We played the three opening notes of Beethoven s Septet, said Viola Fellow Neil Thompson, and then launched into Happy Birthday. It definitely caught him by surprise! Putting laughter aside, the real work started. Anthony immediately focussed on the dramatic aspect of Beethoven s music. The musicians also worked on a Grand Septet by Berwald. At one point Anthony was gesturing for us to bring out its theatrical strains, and it suddenly dawned on me that he hadn t brought his instrument with him. And yet, he was leading the masterclass so effortlessly without it! It was a really inspiring and nourishing session. with birthday cake at the end to reward hard work, naturally! We gratefully acknowledge the supporters of the Fellowship program: Kim Williams AM & Catherine Dovey, Robert Albert AO & Elizabeth Albert, June & Alan Woods Family Bequest, Paul & Sandra Salteri, Mrs W Stening, Bruno & Rhonda Giuffre, Tempe Merewether OAM, Neil & Sandra Burns and premier partner Credit Suisse. Your Say Bruckner s Symphony No.8 was superbly performed by the SSO and Lothar Koenigs [21 June]. It was very evident that the orchestra and conductor at their first concert together had mutual respect and the result was beautiful, emotional, professional, and simply overwhelming. The brass and horns did an outstanding job with what must be one of the most taxing pieces of music for them, and the strings were relentless, sweeping, sweet, and everything that is beautiful. Congratulations to my favourite orchestra and Lothar Koenigs who must return on a regular basis. Richard Fay I must confess to a certain bias in favour of Vaughan Williams Fantasia. Let s put it this way if it could cook, I would marry it. Even allowing for that, I thought the Sydney Symphony s performance [7 July] was quite special. The Adès Violin Concerto was refreshing and approachable, and Tchaikovsky s Sixth Symphony had all the excitement of a first performance. I have a very good feeling about the Sydney Symphony s future under the direction of David Robertson. David Potter Richard Gill taught me music at Marsden High School in 1961/2 and I loved it. He sat down at the beginning of one lesson and played the Moonlight Sonata without any music wow. He had us close our eyes, listen to classical music and make up our own story according to the music we heard great. He composed the school anthem. Thank you Richard Gill. Judy Crofton We like to hear from you. Write to yoursay@sydneysymphony.com or Bravo! Reply Paid 4338, Sydney NSW Touring Focus China The Phoenix China is emerging, says ABC Classic FM presenter Damien Beaumont. Industrially and financially, of course, but also culturally, which is most exciting. In October, the Sydney Symphony will set course for China, for a six-concert tour conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy. Our programs will include Shostakovich s Tenth Symphony, which was completed after Stalin s death in 1953, and Dvořák s Cello Concerto, a showpiece for soloist Jian Wang. Coinciding with the orchestra s tour, Damien will be leading a 15-day Renaissance Tour, which will take in several performances at the Beijing Music Festival, visits to Shanghai and Hangzhou, and a trip to the Great Wall of China. He ll be in the audience when we perform in the Bird s Egg the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Hearing our beloved Sydney Symphony in an ambassadorial role will be a real highlight. For more information about Music Lovers Renaissance Tours, visit bit.ly/renaissancetourschina2012 Proud sponsor of the Sydney Symphony in their 80th year of timeless entertainment

19 CODA THANK YOU We are extremely grateful to the many donors who responded to our recent end-of-financial-year appeal. This support will enable us to achieve our growing educational and orchestral goals and provide you in the audience and many music students throughout NSW with exciting and fulfilling musical experiences. These can range from supporting our more ambitious large-scale productions such as operas in concert to the annual development of student and teacher training resources. And of course, your support is welcome throughout the year. For more details, visit our website or feel free to contact us at or (02) WELCOME TO A NEW FACE IN THE ORCHESTRA We re delighted to welcome Justin Williams to the position of Assistant Principal Viola. Justin was previously a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and is also an active chamber musician and a founding member of the Tinalley String Quartet. BRASS EXHIBITION Living brass legend, Australian trombonist Michael Mulcahy, will take time out from his regular gig with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to direct the Sydney Symphony Brass Ensemble for a performance at the Sydney Opera House on Friday 14 September. The Sydney performance will be preceded by a tour to Armidale, Port Macquarie and Grafton at the end of August. Regional and metropolitan audiences will enjoy the talents of these fabulous musicians in a concert that promenades from the high Renaissance to high Romanticism and on to music of our own time and place, including music by Elena Kats- Chernin. The program culminates in Elgar Howarth s spectacular arrangement of Mussorgsky s Pictures at an Exhibition. FREE LUNCH time concerts in the city. In August and September you can enjoy two lunchtime performances by our musicians. Entry is by donation. Wed 29 August, 1.15pm St James Church Sydney Symphony Fellows. The program will include Mozart s Oboe Quartet and Franz Hasenöhrl s witty chamber version of a Richard Strauss tone poem: Till Eulenspiegel einmal anders! a frolic for five instruments. Wed 19 September, 1.15pm St James Church Sophie Cole (violin), Rosemary Curtin (viola) and Leah Lynn (cello) The program will include Ravel s Sonata for violin and cello. BRAVO EDITOR Genevieve Lang BRAVO EDITOR Genevieve Lang SCORE CONTRIBUTOR Douglas Rutherford sydneysymphony.com/bravo sydneysymphony.com/bravo SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE TRUST Mr Kim Williams AM [Chair] Ms Catherine Brenner, The Hon Helen Coonan, Mr Wesley Enoch, Ms Renata Kaldor AO, Mr Robert Leece AM RFD, Mr Peter Mason AM, Dr Thomas Parry AM, Mr Leo Schofield AM, Mr John Symond AM EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT Clocktower Square, Argyle Street, The Rocks NSW 2000 GPO Box 4972, Sydney NSW 2001 Telephone (02) Box Office (02) Facsimile (02) All rights reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the editor, publisher or any distributor of the programs. 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