Musica Viva 2010
BORODIN QUARTET
MOSCOW
Adelaide Town Hall
Wednesday 3 March at 8.00pm
| Ruben Aharonian | Violin |
| Andrei Abramenkov | Violin |
| Igor Naidin | Viola |
| Vladimir Balshin | Violin |
"I know of no other quartet in which the players efface themselves as selflessly as in the Borodin, as if each player were actively engaged in playing all the parts, not just the one under his fingers." The Globe and Mail, Toronto
Celebrating Musica Viva's 65th anniversary and opening its 2010 International Concert Season is one of the world's most illustrious quartets - the Borodin Quartet.
A living link to the legacy of the past century, the Borodin Quartet commands an incomparable position of authority in the string quartet world. Great quartets by the composers of their homeland Russia - Tchaikovsky, Borodin, Shostakovich and Prokofiev - will be performed by the Borodin's displaying their rich tradition and the unique "Russian school" of string playing.
"You have to be deeply in love with the string quartet as a form in order to live the life of a string quartet." Igor Naidin, Borodin Quartet
THE HARP CONSORT
EUROPE
Adelaide Town Hall
Thursday 20 May at 8.00pm
| Caitriona O'Leary | Voice |
| Steven Player | dance, baroque guitar, Dublin guitar |
| Ian Harrison | bagpipes, shawm, cornetto, fiddle |
| Jane Achtman | viola da gamba, fiddle |
| Michael Metzler | Viola |
| Andrew Lawrence-King | Irish harp, baroque harp, psaltery, director |
"Scintillating baroque.... serious fun" Sydney Opera House
One of the most vibrant and exciting early music ensembles to have emerged in recent years, The Harp Consort is formed around a diverse group of stringed and wind instruments. Players improvise on these instruments while dance adds a unique dimension of drama and comedy to the group's performances.
A blend of scholarship, instinct and a refined sense of rule breaking is typical of performances by The Harp Consort. On this tour, the group will take Australian audiences on an intriguing journey to seventeenth century Ireland with the music of Turlough O'Carolan, considered Ireland's most famous harpist and composer.
"What makes The Harp Consort special? Working with the cream of early music players, a performance aesthetic of lively entertainment - and the dancing of course!"
Caitriona O'Leary, The Harp Consort
PAUL LEWIS
LONDON
Adelaide Town Hall
Thursday 1 July at 8.00pm
| Paul Lewis | Piano |
"Lewis's unalloyed musicianship and overall mastery are worth their weight in gold; every bar declares his calibre and generosity of spirit." The Gramophone
"What do I like about being a pianist? The music. You have to be crazy about the music otherwise there is no point in doing this."
Paul Lewis
A record library in his Liverpool neighbourhood provided 8-year old Paul Lewis the opportunity to listen to Beethoven and Mozart for the first time. Largely self-taught until age 14, Paul was invited to participate in a masterclass, then lessons with the legendary Alfred Brendel at 20. Brendel had a profound effect on Lewis' musical development and understanding. "I wasn't a child prodigy, but guidance from Alfred Brendel helped to make up for lost time," he says.
Now recognised as the great Beethoven pianist of his own time, Lewis' recent recordings of the composer's complete sonatas have won him great critical acclaim. His Australian tour program features Beethoven's masterful 'Waldstein' sonata and classic works by Mozart and Schumann. "I want to convey what I love about the music, on whatever journey that entails..."
PAVEL HAAS QUARTET
PRAGUE
Adelaide Town Hall
Tuesday 27 July at 8.00pm
| Veronika Jaruskova | Violin |
| Eva Karova | Violin |
| Pavel Nikl | Viola |
| Peter Jarusek | Violin |
"Take note: this is one of the most polished and musically exciting young string quartets in the world today." Washington Post.
Violinist Veronika Jaruskova founded the Pavel Haas Quartet in 2002 because of her cellist husband. "I went to concerts of the Skampa Quartet, of which Peter was a member, and completely fell in love with the quartet repertoire."
Enticing Peter to join the group, the members named themselves after Pavel Haas, the brilliant Czech composer who was murdered in Auschwitz at the age of 45. "I think his music is very original - it's very difficult to say who is like Pavel Haas," says violist Pavel Nikl.
The Pavel Haas Quartet brings a feast of vibrant Czech music on its first Australian tour and performs a new work by Paul Stanhope, Musica Viva's 2010 Featured Composer. "We don't get to play contemporary music very often, but we enjoy it hugely when we do!"
"What I like about quartet life is that every day is different. I love the music of course, and the public. If an old lady comes and says that we make her happy, it's the most beautiful thing for me." Veronika Jaruskova, Pavel Haas Quartet
THE CHOIR OF TRINITY COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE
CAMBRIDGE
Adelaide Town Hall
Thursday 2 September at 8.00pm
| Stephen Layton | Conductor |
"Such a virtuoso and enthusiastic choir." Alan Blyth, former London music critic
Walk from King's College to the great court of Trinity College and you'll hear numerous college choirs along the way singing music from the fifteenth century to today.
Founded in 1546 by Henry VIII, Trinity College is steeped in a wealth of choral history and its Choir is among the cream of Britain's mixed voice choirs.
Under the direction of Stephen Layton, the Choir will showcase works by much-loved English composers alongside music by some of the most acclaimed composers of today. "The Choir only tours once a year. It is Australia this time and the students have struck gold - and I think they know that!"
"I believe very much in the British choral tradition and it really excites me to take that and share it with other people who may not have heard it."
Stephen Layton, conductor
ALINA IBRAGIMOVA & CÉDRIC TIBERGHIEN
MOSCOW & PARIS
Adelaide Town Hall
Thursday 14 October at 8.00pm
| Alina Ibragimova | Violin |
| Cédric Tiberghien | Piano |
"Both these players have the potential to conquer the world."
The Times, London
The electrifying duo of violinist Alina Ibragimova and pianist Cédric Tiberghien has swiftly secured its reputation as the most accomplished and popular of duos, their joie de vivre captivating audiences worldwide.
Russian-born Ibragimova is an artist of outstanding sensitivity and technical command. Tiberghien, born in France, has an impressive international career as a soloist and chamber musician. They have a unique approach to music, gaining inspiration from the contemporary visual arts, film and literature. "You can learn more about Bach from an avant-garde painting than from an historical treatise."
"It's a question of alchemy. We follow the same instincts... we trust each other, and it works!" Cédric Tiberghien.
ATOS TRIO
BERLIN
Adelaide Town Hall
Thursday 4 November at 8.00pm
| Thomas Hoppe | Piano |
| Annette von Hehn | Violin |
| Stefan Heinemeyer | Cello |
"What marks out the three trio members is the validity of a musical relationship that starts off with a thorough awareness of their interdependence." The Age
Watching the Atos Trio in conversation is like watching them play music. There's a physical ease between them, an unbounded joy in playing together, an unfussy closeness and an endearing capacity to spark off each other's humour. And there is respect. Small wonder that this ensemble has garnered swathes of rave reviews and competition awards.
On its first Australian tour, the Atos Trio will perform masterworks for piano, violin and cello alongside a trio by Musica Viva's Featured Composer Paul Stanhope.
"We always sit down and think about our performance - is it really good? Can we put even more emotion, more work and more love into the music? Combine all of this, and a sparkle springs to the public," says cellist Stefan Heinemeyer.
