Musica Viva tour part 2

We have just left Perth, bound for Adelaide after a really nice concert in the Perth Concert Hall. It was really nice to be over to the west of the country, especially as we have so many friends and colleagues living there. We were warmly greeted by said friends at stage door following the concert and got to have a brief catchup, but perhaps too fleeting. Such is the life of travelling minstrels!!
We really enjoyed the acoustic at the Perth Concert Hall, it is still one of the most enjoyable, even as a small group. We are waiting with bated breath to try out the new MRC though, having heard so many mixed reports.
Nicole was keen to try out the ocean on the other side of Oz, and went for a swim with Danny & Kirsty at Cottesloe beach. For someone from the eastern side of Australia, it is amazing to watch the sun go down over the water. Sculpture by the Sea was on at Cottesloe, something which happens in Sydney as well, and will happen later this year in Copenhagen too. Art works are installed along the beach or waterside paths and the public wanders amongst it. A blend of man made and natural beauty - perfect!
We are sitting on the plane salivating in anticipation for tonight's dinner, as some of us are going to The Grange restaurant, in Adelaide, to try out a degustation menu, conceived by Cheong Liew, chef extraordinaire. he combines french haute cuisine with asian influences. Adelaide is very much a 'foodie' city, being perfectly situated between wine growing regions and the sea.(are we sounding like we are obsessed by food, wine and coffee, as much as music?!)

Latest Nationwide Ironwood Coffee Ratings

Since we have the opportunity whilst on tour to sample caffeinated beverages in each city, we thought we would use the occasion to scientifically and systematically test what was on offer.
We decided it is probably sage to start with the worst coffees...For Julia, the worst by far has been the coffee she had in the Brisbane botanic gardens. It was sort of watery, way too hot and a rather disturbing greyish colour....euuuww!!!
Nicoles worst coffee so far was in Perth at a Café in St Georges terrace (not wishing to name names, but rhymes with home). She later described the experience as 'a rollercoaster adventure for the stomach for the three subsequent hours'. Kirsty also had the malchance of experiencing coffee from the same establishment. However, Kirsty may not be a reliable witness, as she was seen to consume instant coffee (that DIRTY word) back stage in Newcastle out of sheer desperation. Julia decided that Kirsty could no longer be considered a Melbourne native.
The best coffees so far (and it should be mentioned that we have not played in Melbourne or Adelaide yet) have been at King street in Perth opposite a very nice shoe shop. Julia and Nicole were very impressed with their lattes here, and the avid Tea drinkers, Miriam and Kirsten were delighted to find that they also had leaf tea on the menu served in TEACUPS!

Musica Viva Australian Tour

Phew! Nicole here, writing from amongst a whirlwind of washing, bits of music everywhere, and much administration - the usual surroundings of touring.

Ironwood is smack bang in the middle of its first Australian national tour for Musica Viva Australia (our national chamber music promoters). We are touring with Australian soprano Miriam Allan, doing a program of Purcell and Handel, both anniversary boys this year.

We have already played in Canberra, Brisbane, Newcastle (Miriam's home town), and Sydney (the first concert here, one more to go). You can find all the dates and times in a previous blog below or on the Musica Viva website. Tommorrow we fly to Perth,for a concert on Tuesday 24th March, Adelaide with a concert on Thurs 26th March which will be broadcast and streamed live on ABC Classic FM, Melbourne Saturday 28th, then Sydney Monday 30th, and Melbourne again Tuesday 31st.

We've loved playing in all the different halls around Oz so far, and it's always interesting to adjust to each different acoustic (and humidity, with early instruments!). Coffee, breakfast, swimming pools and op shopping also feature as parts of the day on Ironwood's tours....Canberra wins so far for airport early morning coffee (all those caffienated pollies), and Brisbane for its hotel swimming pool, complete with resident ducks.

More soon, from Perth!