Who stopped the music?
May 26th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
The parlous state of music in public schools means not only are our children missing an important dimension in life, but they miss out on something that promotes brain function and social skills. China and Venezuela understand the value of music very well, and so do Australian parents, but our politicians are tone deaf. Reporter: Stephen Crittenden
A link to the Radio National show from 2009 examining this important question can be found here
link to “Who stopped the music?”
Support your local Divas!
May 25th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
West Australian Opera choristers Penny Shaw and Fiona Cooper Smyth, otherwise known as Divalicious, are through to the semi finals of Channel 7′s ‘Australia’s Got Talent’. Watch them compete on Wednesday 30 May and SMS “Divalicious” to 1977 8888 to vote them through to the finals. Voting lines open 7.30pm 30 May and close 10am 1 June (SMS votes cost $0.55). 
Perth on a Tuesday night in Autumn
May 23rd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
As I headed home on a crisp autumn night from His Majesty’s Theatre (The Maj) I spied activity through the window at the Ellington Jazz Club. I’d just played some exciting and uplifting scores with the WASO for the WA Ballet as part of a show called “Diamonds” and didn’t feel like heading straight home.
Kat Tonkin, the Ellington’s charming manager on duty last night greeted me warmly at the door. I ordered a Squires cider off the tap and leant against the beautiful copper-topped bar.
The atmosphere was simply electric. Jazz students and regular customers filled the place. Tenor sax giant Jamie Oehlers was in blistering form and his young protégés hung on his every phrase and nuance. What a treat. On a Tuesday night, here were some of Perth’s top jazz musos tearing the place apart. (I mean this figuratively, not literally. It may be a Northbridge night club, but here it’s all about the music).
SO glad I stopped by.
The musos last night.
Tal Cohen- piano
Jamie Oehlers- saxophone
Nick Abbey- bass
Bronton Ainsworth- drums
You can catch Nick Abbey tonight.
You can catch Jamie and Tal with Emmy and Grammy award-winning bassist Bob Hurst on the 30th and 31st of May
Even though they’ll only be tearing the place apart in a figurative sense next week, the Ellington may still need to replace some of the furniture after the gigs 
Here’s a taste of the quartet from the Jazzaziz Vol 5 CD Launch at the Art Gallery of WA last year. Of course, video clips are never a substitute for actually being there…
Norwegian Piano Comedian dynamo comes to Perth
May 14th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
GROVE CLASSICS 2012
The GROVE Library and Community Centre and Cappuccino Concerts are excited to announce that the annual Grove Classics Concert Series is back for another season of live music!
The unique series of musical performances is intended to raise awareness of classical music and to bring professional classical music to more diverse and younger audiences while setting very high professional performance standards.
The highlight concert of the series will be Norwegian award-winning composer, classical pianist and stand-up comedian Aksel Kolstad. “The New Norwegian Victor Borge”, Aksel Kolstad is coming to Australia for the very first time to join the Grove Classics Concert Series 2012!
Grove Classics Concert Series 2012 commenced on Sunday 6th May 2012 in the state of the art innovative ‘The Grove’ Centre, one of WA’s most environmentally sustainable public buildings with an excellent acoustic space created in the library.
Discarding the pomp and ceremony often associated with classical music, Cappuccino Concerts are all about celebrating the musical arts for the appreciation and enjoyment by one and all. The Grove Classics Concert Series is a great opportunity for people from all walks of life to be introduced to classical music, in the exquisitely designed surrounds of The Grove Library.
When: Sunday May 27th 2012 commencing at 4:30pm
Where: The Grove Library, 1 Leake St (cnr Leake St & Stirling Hwy) Peppermint Grove WA 6011
Tickets and bookings: please visit www.cappuccino-concerts.com.au or
contact The Grove Library on (08) 9286 8686 or email info@cappuccino-concerts.com.au
(Tickets: $36/$32, Friends of the Grove Library $30, Standing/ student rush $10.
Complete 4 Concert Package $120). ALL EVENTS INCLUDE TASTING OF LAMONT’S FINE WINES.
Louise Mackay (cello) and Emily Green-Armytage (piano) performing at the Grove Classics concert series.
Marc-André Hamelin
September 28th, 2009 § 1 Comment
Marc-André Hamelin – Piano recital
University of Western Australia
Octagon Theatre
Sunday 27th September 2009
In Perth for his performances of Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Marc-André Hamelin completed his Australian tour with a recital at the University of Western Australia’s Octagon Theatre. Perhaps due to the long weekend and another similarly-timed concert, a disappointingly small audience were treated to a remarkable display of “extreme virtuosity” and sublime musicianship by the French-Canadian pianist, now a resident of Boston.
Berg’s Sonata Op.1 evidenced a succinctness and clarity of line and phrasing, a brilliant foil for Liszt’s richly virtuosic Sonata in B minor. Dazzling virtuosity in the latter was always a servant to the music, never its master.
The second half opened with a selection from Debussy’s Preludes book 2 followed by recently completed works penned by the soloist himself. “La puerta del vino”, “les fées son d’exquises danseuses”, “les tierces alternées” and “feux d’artifice” are flights of fancy and delicacy and were a sheer delight in the hands of such mastery. The ensuing works by Marc-André Hamelin’s own hand were from his twelve etudes in all the minor keys. Commenced some 20 years prior, the last of these (number 11) was actually completed during his stay in Perth. No. 8 ‘Erlkönig’, No 2. ‘Coma Berenices’, No 7. ‘After Tchaikowsky’, and no. 12. ‘Prelude and Fugue’ drew on on Mr Hamelin’s formidable breadth of understanding of the solo piano tradition, whilst paying homage to the aforementioned influences. The most recently-completed etude was not performed at this concert but Mr Hamelin promised an airing on a subsequent visit.
