Ironwood

Ironwood with Developing Artists Orchestra presents Hornsignal

2011-10-14T20:44:00.002+11:00

Ironwood presents
Hornsignal
Ironwood Developing Artists Orchestra
Directed by Neal Peres Da Costa, fortepiano
With Darryl Poulsen, natural horn

Sydney: Carriageworks, 7.30pm Saturday 15 October
Newcastle: Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, 2.30pm Sunday 16 October

Experience the magic and musicianship of the next generation of Australia’s hip musicians (that’s historically informed performance), in a concert of some of Mozart and Haydn’s most energetic and sparkling works; the restless energy of Mozart’s G minor Symphony 25, the crystalline clarity of fortepiano and orchestra in Mozart’s Piano Concerto K451, with Neal Peres Da Costa, soloist and director, and the blazing brilliance of the natural horn in Haydn’s Hornsignal Symphony.

Program
Mozart Piano Concerto No 16 K451 in D major
Haydn Symphony No 31 in D Major ‘Hornsignal’
Mozart Symphony No 25 K183 in G minor

Sydney
When: 7.30pm Saturday 15 October
Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh
Suggested Donation at the door $20. Bookings: Anna on 02 9389 8117

Newcastle
When: 2.30pm Sunday 16 October 2011
Where: Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, Church Street, Newcastle,
Tickets: $35 adults; $20 Under 30/Consession
Bookings: Anna ph: 02 9389 8117 or e: cenika.anna@gmail.com

Ironwood officially launch their Developing Artists Program, following successful seasons in 2010 & 2011 of performances for the Biennale of Sydney, Melbourne Recital Centre, St James King St, Sydney and a residency at Bundanon, NSW. This seasonal orchestra gives young career-cusp musicians interested in Historically Informed Performance (HIP) an opportunity to perform with professionals in both urban and regional venues. The program provides Australia and the Pacific region with a pre-professional link orchestra on early instruments in the tradition of the European Union Baroque Orchestra, and other programs run by Tafelmusik, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra. Ironwood gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the Bundanon Trust, rehearsal residency for this project, Carriageworks and the JUMP Mentorship Scheme, Australia Council for the Arts – Anthony Albrecht, (cello mentee) and Daniel Yeadon (cello mentor).

More details: www.ironwoodchamberensemble.com

Ironwood presents HORIZONS

2011-09-08T12:43:00.002+10:00

Concert 1. Melbourne: 7.30pm Friday 16 September, Richmond (private gallery)
Concert 2. Mornington Peninsula: 6pm Sunday 18 September, Main Ridge Estate, Red Hill

Join Ironwood in string quartet guise for an evening of visionary horizons. The program features Haydn’s Opus 20 - developing the equality of the voices in the classical string quartet in a new way for the 1770’s; Beethoven’s groundbreaking Op 18, as well as Melbourne composer Katy Abbott's “Vertical Horizon” for string quartet. The concert will be performed in the intimate surrounds of a private Richmond gallery and on the Mornington Peninsula’s Main Ridge Estate. Please join us for some wine, music and to discover new horizons of string quartet writing in the 18th, 19th & 21st centuries.

Haydn String Quartet Op 20 No 2 C major
Katy Abbott Vertical Horizon
Beethoven String Quartet Op 18 No 4 C minor

IRONWOOD are:
Rachael Beesley, violin
Julia Fredersdorff, violin
Nicole Forsyth, viola
Daniel Yeadon, cello

Ironwood is committed to exploring music of the baroque, classical and romantic periods on early string and keyboard instruments. Its members are some of Australia’s most respected early and contemporary chamber musicians. Ironwood complements their historically informed performances with new compositions and has produced recordings for ABC Classics and Vexations840. Ironwood are 2007 - 2011 artists in residence at the Bundanon Trust, NSW, and run a Developing Artists program for early music in Victoria and NSW.

HORIZONS

Concert 1: 7.30pm Friday 16 September
Venue: A private and interesting resident gallery in Richmond. Address provided at time of booking (or call Anna for any questions)
Tickets: $40 adults; $25 concession includes wine and nibbles.

Concert 2: 6pm Sunday 18 September
Venue: Main Ridge Estate, 80 William Rd, Red Hill
Tickets: $60 including nibbles. Main Ridge Wines will be on sale

Bookings: Anna Cerneaz on ph: 02 9389 8117 / 0412 093 063 or email: cenika.anna@gmail.com

Ironwood's April and May Concerts

2011-04-26T15:01:00.001+10:00

We hope you had a very enjoyable Easter. Following Ironwood’s wonderful performance of St Matthew Passion last week at the Melbourne Recital Centre, we are now preparing a special program with St James’ Choir in Sydney. We do hope you can come.

A ROYAL OCCASION I
The Choir of St James’ & Ironwood Chamber Orchestra (with Developing Artists)
Everyone loves a celebration, particularly British royalty - be it a coronation, wedding or birthday. In the first of two programs which showcase the milestones of composition for royal occasions past and present, The Choir of St James’ and Ironwood don their finery to mark the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton.
Saturday 30 April, 5pm and Thursday 5 May, 7pm
St James, King Street, Sydney
HANDEL Coronation Anthems (selected) and music by WALTON, PARRY and PURCELL
Director: Warren Trevelyan-Jones
More information HERE; Tickets & booking details: www.cityrecitalhall.com

Special Offer:- St James’ is offering a discount to their first two concerts in the St James’ concert series - for “Royal Occasion 1” (with Ironwood) and “Royal Occasion 2” (with the Sydney Youth Orchestra in June/July). If you book both concerts, then you will receive $10 off the 2 tickets ($5 off each concert). You must book via this link: http://www.cityrecitalhall.com/book/id/1080 or tickets can be purchased over the phone on (02) 8256 2222 or 1300 797 118. Or at the counter at City Recital Hall Angel Place Box Office. To view the Music @ St James’ 2011 brochure, click HERE

UTZON MUSIC SERIES
Ironwood have a special affinity for music from the classical period so their interpretation of Mozart’s String Quartet K428, the third of his set dedicated to Haydn, is most exciting. A quartet by the ‘Spanish Mozart’, Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga is not to be missed. A new piece by Australian composer Kevin March displays perfectly the breadth and accomplishment of the ensemble. Sunday 15 May, 5pm at the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House
ARRIAGA Quartet No. 3 in E-flat Major (1st movement only)
KEVIN MARCH Water Dreamers
MOZART Quartet in E-flat major, K428
Book Online Now: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

See you soon, Rachael, Julia, Nicole, Danny, Neal, Alice & Anna

Ironwood on ABC Classic FM today

2010-09-28T09:47:00.006+10:00

Tune in to ABC Classic FM at around 13.45 to hear Ironwood performing Mozart's sublime Clarinet Quintet with guest artist Nicola Boud. Program also includes Mozart's "Hunt Quartet" and Kats-Chernin's "Eliza Aria" arranged for String Quartet, as well as Paul Stanhope's Morning Star, and was recorded in January at this year's Peninsula Summer Music Festival on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
This concert will follow the Bach 'cello suites performed by our wonderful Danny Yeadon, so tune in to Christopher Lawrence at 1pm for two sublime concerts!

Recording sessions completed with Fiona Campbell and David Walker

2010-08-04T09:03:00.003+10:00

We finished the sessions on Sunday evening, and everyone has gone their separate ways. The sessions finished very well and the CD promises to be very beautiful. The release date is October at this stage. If you would like to be kept up to date about the release please join the Baroque duets facebook group.
In the meantime you can keep up to date with Fiona Campbell's movements on her website here, and David Walker's on his website here.

Recording with Fiona Campbell and David Walker for new label 'Vexations'

2010-07-30T09:31:00.002+10:00

Ironwood are currently in the process of recording a new album for a brand new label called Vexations. The CD will include some gorgeous duets and arias by Handel, Monteverdi, Steffani, and Cavilli, including many excerpts from l'Ormindo which Fiona and David and many members of Ironwood performed last year with Pinchgut Opera.
Yesterday was our first day of recording and the project got off to a beautiful start much to the delight of our fabulous producer Lyle Chan. Fiona Campbell and David Walker are in fine voice, and yesterdays Ormindo duets sounded amazing. Today we are on to something completely different! Handel arias! to be continued......

Water dreamers at Cockatoo Island

2010-07-24T23:00:00.008+10:00

Don't miss this exciting and eclectic program featuring the new work 'Water Dreamers' by Kevin March as well as the wonderful 'Sea Chronicles' of Paul Stanhope, for which the Quartet is joined by Jane Sheldon. These works are interspersed with Australian and English folk tunes creating a wonderful Juxtaposition of the old and the new just as the Sydney Biennale does in the historic atmosphere of Cockatoo Island.
Details can be found here. Please come and have a drink with us afterwards at the venue bar!

Ironwood in rehearsal for the Cabinet of Curiosities

2010-07-16T22:33:00.003+10:00

Ironwood and their developing artists are in rehearsal for their concert this Sunday at Cockatoo Island as part of the Sydney Biennale. The program includes Concerti Grossi by Geminiani and Handel as well as CPE Bach's Cello concerto in A minor, performed by Anthony Albrecht and the first movement of the Concerto RV 208 in D major 'Grosso Mogul' by Vivaldi played by Tim Willis, all conducted by the ever inspiring Neal Peres da Costa and tutored by members of Ironwood, Nicole Forsyth, Daniel Yeadon and Julia Fredersdorff.
Don't miss out on what promises to be a wonderful concert full of energy and inspiration, in a truly unique setting!
More details here.

17th Biennale of Sydney

2010-07-09T13:21:00.006+10:00

Ironwood, in association with the 17th Biennale of Sydney, present 3 performances this July

Ironwood with Developing Artists presents "A Cabinet of Curiosities"
Sunday 18 July at 3pm, Biennale Performance Space (building 74)
Cockatoo Island, Sydney

Ironwood with Jane Sheldon, soprano “Water Dreamers”
Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 July 2010 at 3pm, Biennale Performance Space (building 74)
Cockatoo Island, Sydney

One of Australia’s most vibrant ensembles, along with developing artists from their education program, will perform 3 concerts in July. The concerts will be a musical-visual exploration around the coves, cliffs and songlines of harbours native and foreign. New Australian and old colonial compositions will be played on instruments of the 18th century, integrated with Cockatoo Island’s own layers of time, and the Biennale’s multi-media works by Australian and international artists.

On Sunday 18 July, Ironwood and the Developing Artists from their highly successful Education Program will form a small orchestra, performing works Geminiani, Handel, Vivaldi, Purcell, CPE Bach and other bizarre curiosities of the baroque.

Australian singer Jane Sheldon will join the string quartet on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 July, to perform the world premiere of ‘Water Dreamers’ by Australian/US composer Kevin March and ‘Sea Chronicles’ by Paul Stanhope.

Tickets $10
60mins with no interval.
Bookings (advised) or pay at the door: 02 9389 8117
Cockatoo Island hosts 120 works by 56 artists and is just 20 minutes by free ferry from the Commissioner's Steps, Circular Quay West. Full ferry timetable available at bos17.com.
The last few weekends have been very busy on the Island, so it is advisable to book your tickets and aim to get to the ferry departure point early.
So come for the day, take a picnic and enjoy some wonderful music.
www.ironwoodchamberensemble.com
www.biennaleofsydney.com.au

We look forward to seeing you there!
Rachael, Julia, Nicole, Danny, Neal & Jane.

Bundanon 10

2010-07-02T11:40:00.000+10:00

Bundanon 9

2010-06-30T18:47:00.002+10:00

Bundanon 8

2010-06-30T18:44:00.002+10:00

Bundanon 7

2010-06-30T18:42:00.001+10:00

Bundanon 6

2010-06-30T18:41:00.002+10:00

Bundanon 5

2010-06-30T18:39:00.002+10:00

Bundanon 4

2010-06-30T18:37:00.002+10:00

Bundanon 3

2010-06-30T18:35:00.002+10:00

Bundanon 2

2010-06-30T18:31:00.002+10:00

Bundanon 1

2010-06-30T17:21:00.006+10:00

BEAUTY & THE BAROQUE

2010-05-31T15:49:00.007+10:00

3:00pm, 6 June 2010
St. Patricks Cathedral, Parramatta

CONDUCTOR: Max McBride
GUEST DIRECTORS: Ironwood with Rachael Beesley

Program:
GABRIELI, Canzona
BACH, Partita No.3/Sinfonia from Cantata No 29
BOZZA, Jour d’été à la Montagne
STRAVINSKY, Concerto in Eb Dumbarton Oaks
BACH, Suite No.4 BWV 1069

Get to know the SYO’s talented young musicians a little better with their kaleidoscope of performances celebrating the true genius of Gabrielli, Bach and Bozza - with a little Stravinsky on the side. Presented in one of Sydney’s most beautiful churches, the SYO will harness the architecture and acoustics to bring this music into being – just a glimpse into the musical beauty of our musical heritage.

“I played Bach very regularly during the composition of the concerto and I was greatly attracted to the Brandenburg Concertos. Whether or not the first theme of my first movement is a conscious borrowing from the third of the Brandenburg set, however, I do not know. What I can say is that Bach would most certainly have been delighted to loan it to me; to borrow in this way was exactly the sort of thing he liked to do.”
IGOR STRAVINSKY

Single Tickets
Adult $42
Concession $32
Child $17 (5 - 18yrs)
Family $95 (2 adults and 2 children)
Student Rush $15

Bookings
All bookings are through City Recital Hall Angel Place via the following methods;

Phone (02) 8256 2222
Online Click here
In Person 2 Angel Place, Sydney

Via Crucis - A different Easter celebration

2010-03-30T18:30:00.001+11:00

Arvo Pärt celebrates his 75th birthday in 2010 – not that anyone should need an excuse to perform such breathtakingly beautiful music! ‘Tintinnabulation’ is the technical name, but the technique, inspired by the clear, pure sound of ringing bells, offers a listening experience unlike any other. It may be Sydney outside, but in Verbrugghen Hall, you will be far away in a place of uttermost calm. The program also features the Australian premiere of Scotsman James MacMillan’s Tenebrae Responsories, inspired by the strikingly dramatic harmonies of Renaissance master Carlo Gesualdo. And then it seemed only fair to let Gesualdo speak for himself…
The program also features the Australian premiere of Scotsman James MacMillan’s Tenebrae Responsories, inspired by the strikingly dramatic harmonies of Renaissance master Carlo Gesualdo. And then it seemed only fair to let Gesualdo speak for himself

Sydney Chamber Choir & Ironwood
Conductor: Paul Stanhope

Saturday 3 April 7.30pm (Easter Saturday)
Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music Macquarie Street, Sydney

ARVO PÄRT Berlin Mass
CARLO GESUALDO Selections from the Tenebrae Responsories for Easter Saturday
JAMES MACMILLAN Tenebrae Responsories – selections (Australian premiere)
JOSEPH HAYDN Consummatum Est from The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross
ANTONIO LOTTI Crucifixus a 8

Tickets are $45 full, $30 concession.
Book online http://www.stickytickets.com.au/2916/Sydney_Chamber_Choir_Via_Crucis.aspx
Or call Anna on ph: 0412 093 063 or email: cenika.anna@gmail.com

Haydn The Bold, Haydn the Beautiful

2010-03-15T09:16:00.003+11:00

Don't miss our very first concerts of our 2010 series, entitled 'Haydn The Bold, Haydn the Beautiful'- Love and Loss; Storm and Stress; Classical Symmetry and the emergence of Romantic Spirit.

This is the story of Haydn’s little heard Opus 20 quartets and his later regal Opus 77 quartets, with the beautiful textures and warm sounds of gut stringed instruments. Visit an age of eighteenth century elegance and intrigue with twenty-first century time-travellers Ironwood. We take you on a dramatic musical journey in a program which includes a beautiful miniature by Boccherini, and a world premiere by Australian composer Damian Barbeler, Silk Panels for gut stringed instruments of the classical age.

Concert dates:
Sydney: Monday 15 March 2010
Melbourne: Thursday 25 March 2010

Rachael Beesley and Julia Fredersdorff, violins; Nicole Forsyth, viola and Daniel Yeadon, cello

Program:
Boccherini String Quartet
Haydn String Quartet Op 20 No 3 in G minor
Damian Barbeler Silk Panels (World premiere)
Haydn String Quartet Op 77 No 1 in G major

Sydney: 8pm Monday 15th March 2010
The Barnet Long Room, Customs House, Circular Quay, Sydney
Tickets: $38 Full; Conc & Under 30: $25
Bookings: (02) 9389 8117 / 0412 093 063 or www.ironwoodchamberensemble.com

Melbourne: 7.30pm Thursday 25th March 2010
Fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Tickets: $38 Full; Conc & Under 30: $25
Bookings: (03) 9662 9966 or www.fortyfivedownstairs.com

“...fantastic. This ensemble is quite something!” Canberra Times, March 2009
“This may sound like the name of a rock band, but Ironwood consists of gifted musicians,
each of whom are specialists in period performance practice” The West Australian March 2009
“…obvious enjoyment, fine musicality, in perfect balance...” Australian Stage Online 2009

Ironwood Early Music Summer Workshop

2009-10-12T20:39:00.008+11:00

Ironwood, in conjunction with the Peninsula Summer Music Festival, presents

Early Music Summer Workshop
3-9 January 2010
SHOREHAM, MORNINGTON PENINSULA VICTORIA

Ironwood Chamber Ensemble, in conjunction with the Peninsula Summer Music Festival, present a Early Music Summer Workshop amongst the beaches and the vines of the Mornington Peninsula.

In the tradition of the best European summer festivals and accompanying summer schools, the Early Music Workshop will offer emerging and professional musicians the unique opportunity to develop their skills by working with international-standard performers in an inspiring natural environment.

The week-long workshop will include daily individual masterclasses, chamber music, orchestral sessions and a Cocktail Concert series at sunset, for students of Baroque violin, viola and cello, viola da gamba and harpsichord.

A brand new series of lunchtime lectures on JS Bach, performance practice, improvisation, 'Flow-In-Performance', and music on the Peninsula in earlier years will be open to the public as well as workshop participants.

Participants will learn and perform alongside six international-standard early music practitioners:

Rachael Beesley, Julia Fredersdorff (violin)

Nicole Forsyth (viola)

Daniel Yeadon (cello/gamba)

Neal Peres da Costa, Donald Nicolson (harpsichord)

Workshop participants will also experience the Peninsula Summer Music Festival, attending performances by Daniel Yeadon, Neal Peres da Costa and (for a change of pace!) multi-award winning jazz vocalist Michelle Nicolle.

Situated at picturesque Shoreham on Westernport Bay, the workshop offers both residential and day participant options, plus a 2-day or full week option.

A beautiful venue right on the beach, fabulous tutors, great music-making and great food, between the beaches & vineyards of the Mornington Peninsula. What more could you ask of a musical summer holiday?

Further details, pricing or to register your interest, please call Anna Cerneaz on (02) 9389 8117 orcenika.anna@gmail.com or click here to download an application form.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Julia, Rachael, Nicole, Danny, Neal, Donald & Anna

Adelaide Chamber Players & Ironwood Review

2009-04-20T20:11:00.003+10:00

Elder Hall, Adelaide Friday 17 April

THIS bright bunch of busy young professional string players about town have been together since 2007, playing music they love whenever they can.

The concert topped off several days' rehearsal guided by Ironwood, one of the country's newest high-profile baroque groups who are equally youthful and brimful of vim and vigour. The result was an energetic, disciplined and colourful presentation in which baroque good manners were liberally laced with infectious enthusiasm.

Guest baroque trumpeter Martin Phillipson had a ball with his piccolo trumpet in Molte's 1st Concerto and fascinatingly toned bigger brother in Torelli's Concerto - both in D, of course. The picks of the bunch were L'Estro Armonico Concerto and Corelli's Concerto Grosso Op 6 No 4.

The Advertiser, Adelaide
Written by Rodney Smith
20 April 2009

Musica Viva Tour Retrospective

2009-04-15T22:16:00.004+10:00

Ironwood and the Adelaide Chamber Players

2009-04-15T21:44:00.003+10:00

Barely having touched the ground after our exciting and well received tour with Miriam Allan for Musica Viva, we set off for Adelaide to start rehearsing for a wonderful collaberation with The Adelaide Chamber Players. The ensemble was formed by Heather Lloyd who played with us in our first ever festival series back in 2006 in Sydney. Comprising mostly Adelaide based players from the Adelaide Symphony and some of Adelaides best chamber music ensembles, The Adelaide Chamber Players have proved to be an energetic and open minded ensemble and an absolute joy to work with. Ironwood have been invited to direct a program of concerti grossi including the works of Handel, Vivaldi, and Corelli. If you are in Adelaide or surrounds we would love to see you at the concert in Elder Hall on Friday the 17th of April at 7pm.

Bookings through BASS: phone 131 246 or visit
www.bass.net.au (booking charges apply)

Miriam Allan & Ironwood Sydney Review

2009-04-08T22:42:00.004+10:00

City Recital Hall, Sydney Monday 6th April

FINELY TUNED AND UTTERLY LOVELY

IT IS hard to imagine an ugly sound ever coming from Miriam Allan. Even if she were yelling at the dog, it would be sweet and persuasive. Singing Purcell and Handel, the noise she makes is consistently lovely. So lovely that it is almost a relief when she takes up the microphone and cracks a couple of jokes about last week's power outages, which were responsible for this concert being rescheduled. She is human, after all.

Miriam Allan and Ironwood, an ensemble of some of Australia's leading baroque specialists, have been touring Australia for Musica Viva with a program celebrating the music of Henry Purcell (born 1659) and George Frideric Handel (died 1759).

It is a finely tuned offering, in every sense of the word. The first half is a beautifully constructed medley of Purcell's theatre, dance and vocal music, full of the theatrical spirit of the masque. Fairest Isle from King Arthur is delivered with warmth and a stately lilt, the chaconne from The Fairy Queen drives the action forward with infectious enthusiasm, and in Music For A While Allan creeps in, reedy and mysterious, before letting the richer tones of her voice resonate.

Throughout the proceedings the classy continuo team of Kirsty McCahon on bass, Neal Peres Da Costa on harpsichord and Daniel Yeadon on viola da gamba provide the musical lifeblood of rhythm and bass.

The second half is all Handel's, starting with a seamless performance of his Trio Sonata in G Major, Op. 5 No. 4, followed by Silete Venti. Despite this being a sacred cantata, the performers maintain a strong sense of drama; Allen's first utterance, "Silete" or "silence", is arresting, while the aria Date serta fades tantalisingly to nothing. It is only in the final Alleluia that Allan unleashes a few overtly virtuosic flourishes: the entire concert has been a display of vocal and instrumental virtuosity, but the standard of perfection is so consistent that it never draws attention to itself. This is setting a high bar indeed.

Sydney Morning Herald
Written by Harriet Cunningham
8 April 2009

Miriam Allan & Ironwood Canberra Review

2009-04-01T22:36:00.005+11:00

Llewellyn Hall, ANU, Canberra, 12th March 2009

PURCELL AND HANDEL IN HARMONY

SOPRANO Miriam Allan and the Ironwood ensemble performed works by Henry Purcell (1659-1695) and Geroge Frideric Handel (1685-1759). The first half of the concert was a collection of Purcell's songs - he was a master of the genre. They are beautifully balances: consonance and dissonance, light and shade, and the parts within the ensemble are all in elegant proportion. Allan's voice was lovely, crisp and clear, with a briliant upper register. The second half was all Handel, and began with Ironwood playing the Trio Sonata in G major. It was fantastic - this ensemble is quite something.

Music has to move forward, to draw you along with it. In baroque music this is done with a particular emphasis on harmony (rather than melody). So the performance of this style is all about weight, landing on the harmonies to give emphasis and provide the music with a sense of dynamism. Ironwood are, to say the least, very good at it. Their level of communication was also a joy to watch - particularly between cellist Daniel Yeadon and harpsichordist-extraordinaire Neal Peres Da Costa. This continued with Allan's return for Handel's Silete Venti.

The evening ended with the encore Oh! had I Jubel's lyre from Handel's Joshua - the words appropriately continue, "or Miriam's tuneful voice". It was performed beautifully.

The Canberra Times
Written by Harry White
19 March 2009

Miriam Allan & Ironwood Adelaide Review

2009-04-01T22:25:00.004+11:00

Adelaide Town Hall, Thursday 26th March

SOPRANO Miriam Allan, instrumental septet Ironwood, music by Purcell and Handel and the Adelaide Town Hall - all made for each other.

Allan's voice, sweet, pure, childlike in its flexibility, with just the merest touch of vibrato, is the perfect vehicle for baroque music.

Over a full hour of Purcell songs and dances, largely drawn from his operas and masques, Ironwood's Rachael Beesley and Julia Fredersdorff (violins), Nicole Forsyth (viola), Kirsty McMahon (double bass) Daniel Yeadon (cello, gamba), Neal Peres Da Costa (harpsichord, chamber organ) and Kirsten Barry (Baroque oboe, recorders) were as one.

Action and intimacy alternated in a program so carefully planned, so beautifully performed, so authoritatively delivered even the audience obeyed every signal.

Music for a While wrenched both the soul and the gut and Fairest Isle, Dryden's salute to England in better times, sparkled especially brightly in a glittering spread of jewels.

Then it was Handel's turn to be celebrated. Ironwood took every trick played by this eminently tricky composer in his Trio Sonata in G minor op 5 No. 4, five movements related to popular dance forms.

Although his cantata Silete Venti is textually sacred, the fine print and the music are frankly secular. With utmost good taste, Allan occasionally let fly with a spectacular vocal ornament, as if bubbling over with happiness.

The encore must be noted. Allan learnt Oh Had I Jubals' Lyre from Handel's oratorio Joshua when she was just nine.

The Advertiser
Written by Elizabeth Silsbury
31 March 2009

Miriam Allan & Ironwood Melbourne Review

2009-04-01T21:46:00.005+11:00

Melbourne Recital Centre, Saturday 28th March

WHAT A sensuous and spiritual treat to be ensconced in the new Melbourne Recital Centre with its fine acoustics, listening to these young but virtuoso exponents of baroque music perform works by Purcell and Handel.

The timber-lined Elisabeth Murdoch Hall has been designed with chamber music in mind, and the experience of listening to soprano Miriam Allan and the seven-piece chamber ensemble Ironwood was intimate and intense. The instrumentalists are all Australian musicians, who have worked here and overseas and have performed together as Ironwood since 2006. Miriam Allan is also Australian, born in Newcastle, and has been developing her remarkable voice, initially as a protégé of Dame Emma Kirkby, in England and Europe. Their Melbourne concerts are part of a national tour, a homecoming for Allan, who has worked with every member of Ironwood on various projects.

The first half of the programme consisted of a unique selection of songs and dances by Purcell (1659-1695), most of them from his semi-operas The Fairy Queen, The Indian Queen and King Arthur. The selection imitated a masque, or ceremonial entertainment, typical of the composer’s time. Purcell’s secular songs were mostly composed for plays but, on the whole, only the songs have survived. Allan’s interpretation spanned a variety of emotions, and the acoustic qualities of the hall allowed her and the players to drop back at times to the barest pianissimo.

Allan’s voice is light, eminently suited to the chamber format, with a clear and ringing higher register but with an emotional depth and warmth that reaches across to the audience. The ensemble of two violins (Rachael Beesley and Julia Fredersdorff), viola (Nicole Forsyth), double bass (Kirsty McCahon), oboe (Kirsten Barry), cello and viola da gamba (Daniel Yeadon), organ and harpsichord (Neal Peres Da Costa), played with obvious enjoyment, fine musicality and in perfect balance.

The musicians are all early music specialists and use gut strings on period and modern instruments. Daniel Yeadon played a viola da gamba for Purcell and a cello for the Handel. Neal Peres da Costa played a small organ and an exquisite eighteenth century French double manual harpsichord.

The second half was devoted to the music of Handel, firstly the instrumental Trio Sonata, which Ironwood played with great dynamics, and lastly the cantata Silete Venti, a sacred piece sung in Latin. Allan returned to the stage for this work and made a dramatic vocal entry in the first recitative: Silence, winds! Her voice was assured, with exquisite passages of coloratura in the arias and a joyous sense of reverence. The ensemble played with equal passion and intricacy.

An encore was demanded and Allan introduced it with charm and self-deprecation. It was ‘her’ song, allocated by her father: Handel’s Miriam’s Tuneful Voice!

Australian Stage Review
Written by Carol Middleton
30 March 2009

Musica Viva tour part 2

2009-03-29T11:25:00.001+11:00

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

2009-03-26T12:10:00.002+11:00

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

2009-03-22T20:11:00.003+11:00

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!

Bundanon 5 week 3

2009-02-19T20:49:00.005+11:00

The beginning of our third week saw many departures. Rachael had to leave on Monday to celebrate her Mothers birthday in Melbourne, and Lisa went back to Sydney on Tuesday to celebrate her own birthday with her family. And then there were three!

Nicole, Julia and Danny spent Tuesday morning looking at the enormous collection of works by Arthur Boyd, his family and Entourage, including Sidney Nolan, John Perceval, and Charles Blackman, and there is even a piece by Picasso. We were also able to flick through the archives including letters and sketch books, which was a fascinating insight into the mind of Arthur Boyd. He has left such an incredible gift for the Australian people. Bundanon and Riversdale are a testament to the forsight and intelligence of this man, and as a result artists and musicians are able to enrich themselves not only by immersing themselves in the incredible landscape of the area, but also through access to the wonderful collection at the homestead and in the art center.
Julia (yes, ANOTHER Julia), one of the curators for this amazing collection,showed us a painting that is a kind of collaborative joke by Arthur Boyd, and Sidney Nolan, but signed with the name of Brett Whiteley! Just the kind of thing that composers also get up to when they are partying together...
On Wednesday we thought we might get a visit from Peter Garrett, Federal Minister for the Arts, who was planning to visit both Riversdale and Bundanon while he was in the Illawarra. Unfortunately he didnt make it all the way down to Bundanon but we had fun trying out some string trio music just in case; lots of early classical composers, and the formidable Mozart Eb Major Divertimento. We had a visit, instead,from the art students of SCECGS Redlands, who were staying at Riversdale for a Yr 11 art camp. They did lots of sketches of us (we tried not to pull too many faces!)
Later that arvo we went for a fantastic walk back along the driveway of Bundanon, along the river, and went a bit snap happy with our cameras as the light was so beautiful. You can see some of the results above.
Heather, one of Ironwood's younger musicians, turned up on Thursday, especially to discuss Ironwood's mentoring project in April with the young artists of Adelaide Chamber Players (link??). We will be working with them for a week,on music of the baroque era, culminating in a concert in Adelaide's Elder Hall on April 16. We had a very good planning brunch at Hyams Beach Cafe, and sampled all their different ways with eggs...
In amongst the playing and planning this week, we also discovered a bit more of Bouderee National Park, and did the walk past Murrays Beach, and around Governors Head. Spectacular views back along Jervis Bay and St Georges Basin, and we found some excellent, tasty, spicy sausages for the BBQ at Huskisson butcher on our way back to Bundanon!
Kirsty turned up again on Saturday, and we did our final bit of playing,had lunch for the last time on the Musicians Cottage verandah,and walked around Bundanon, this time the Cedars walk, looking at the amazing rock and tree outcrops, and savouring our last bit of silence for a while. We celebrated our last evening at Bundanon with a glass of french champagne and a final evening stroll around the homestead.

So,at the end of the residency; as they say 'tired but happy' we all say thanks to Bundanon Trust and all the staff there, for an incredible place and opportunity to 'be' with our artform - music, mainly, but also words, movement, and visual art - to explore and to 'play' in all senses of the word, in a childlike and in a serious manner, with ideas and music. Bundanon is a unique and special place, for artists, and for all Australians. As I drove out of the gate on Sunday, I said my usual little 'Thanks Arthur' in my head. We'll be back. Thank you!

Our next posts will be about the recording we're currently finishing with Diana Doherty, oboe, and on our Musica Viva National Tour with Miriam Allan, soprano. Til then, happy Bundanon dreaming....

Bundanon 4

2009-02-18T20:39:00.005+11:00

Dudes!
Welcome back after a week of non stop awesome action here at the Bundanon dude ranch!
To pick up where we left off, we spent another day with Kevin March, finetuning bits of his new quartet, and demonstrating bits of it in front of a wonderful visiting school group from Illawarra Grammar School, who were spending the week at a creative arts camp over at Riversdale. They were mostly music students, who asked a lot of fabulous questions, and drew visual responses to Kevin's new work. Sadly, we said goodbye to Kevin on Wednesday morning, at a VERY chilly Moss Vale Station on the way to Melbourne (the coffee was awesome - try the Post Office cafe near the station...)

We said hello to another composer from Sydney, Damian Barbeler, who arrived on Wednesday afternoon, with another quartet hot off the press.
On Thursday we tried out Damian's new piece, which is influenced by japanese silk screens, Telemann, and Messiaen. That evening we had a very amusing YouTube night, down in 'Julia & Rachael's house' (Sherman & Gonski kitchen), and we thoroughly recommend the following links:
Dudley Moore's Beethoven Parody
What's Opera Doc? (warner bros - Elmer & Bugs)
The Cat Concerto (Tom & Jerry)
The Fast Show - 'Black' (very appropriate for an artist's camp!)

On Friday, we had to go into Nowra for various medical appointments, so we detoured via a walk along Seven Mile Beach, followed by a swim, and an awesome amount of shopping, the proceeds of which were donated to the Victorian Bushfire Red Cross Appeal. Friday night saw the arrival of the masses, so we had a rather spectacular BBQ on the Musicians Cottage verandah (Nic, Danny & Neal's house), which ended in a fire blanket being thrown over the rather 'age-ed' BBQ....We salvaged all the chops and snags though!

Over the weekend, we had various people here,for lots of different planning things - Cath, Malcolm, Rob& Megan, on an administration front, Neal to cook awesome scrambled eggs with salmon, along with tutorials on Brahms, Kirsty to say 'awesome dude' and play awesome cello, and Sophie, who joined the 'I slept on the verandah' club (other brave members Danny, Adrian & Nic), and painted beautiful watercolours from the same verandah, while planning her film...

On Saturday night Cath and Malcolm cooked a huge and yummy meal of lasagne and for dessert, stewed fruit and semolina. Kirsty decorated the barn (normally our rehearsal space) with lots of candles, and we all sat round eating and gasbagging.
Lisa started a gorgeous painting of the Single Man's Hut, one of her favourite places at Bundanon. We finished the evening with a fun filled read through of the Ravel String Quartet, a very interesting exercise on gut strings!

We thought you might like to see some photos of Danny & Kirsty playing duets, taken through the window in the Barn. 'Framing' the view in a picture, or photo, was important in Arthur Boyd's working process. Have a look a some of his paintings, and see if you can spot this.

On Sunday night most of our guests had to return to Sydney for the beginning of the working week (hard for some!) so we went and had a farewell meal at Berry Pub. It was quite a strange experience to stray so far afield after 1 and a half weeks on a farm!

Bundanon 3

2009-02-09T22:13:00.004+11:00

Greetings from Composition land.
We have spent most of today trying out the first draft of a new quartet by the composer Kevin March. It is entitled Water Dreamers and has a lot of lovely new sounds.
We won't tell you all about it because we want to save some surprises for the premier which will probably be in melbourne as Kevin lives in Victoria.
Needless to say we had a lot of fun and talked about various articulation choices, and how to make fancy fruit desserts. Kevin treated us to some of his favourites from his home town Michigan
Julia and Danny did a bushwalk in the afternoon down to Steamers beach in the Booderee National park and came across a strange wooden shelter and a ball that looked an awful lot like wilson.....
Nicole and Lisa were lucky enough to have the whole of Nowra pool to themselves and swam several thousand kilometers.

Bundanon Adventures 2

2009-02-08T22:46:00.005+11:00

Hi Everyone, Nicole & Julia here, posting from a MUCH cooler Bundanon. The temperature has dropped about 10 degrees this afternoon, making sleeping a much more pleasant prospect.

Last night didn't get much below 30 degrees, so the residents of the Musicians Cottage (see photo?) decided to sleep al fresco, on the verandah, much as our grandparents would have done in country Australia in the early twentieth century. Danny, Adrian (our visiting choreographer & Pilates instructor), and Nicole braved the mozzies, the enormous flies and the wombats to achieve a much improved night's sleep. We awoke to the sound of the bulls in the lower paddock, Elton & Bruce, bellowing good morning at their girlfriends' in the paddock opposite. They certainly weren't a patch on Elton John and Bruce Springsteen;)

Adrian, who now works for the Sydney Dance Company, has been here chatting about improvisation, in both music and dance, and taking Pilates and stretch classes for us. Very important for musicians bodies (and highly beneficial for all, no matter what profession!). We had a fabulous class last night in the somewhat cooler evening air on the front lawn of Bundanon - a bit like 'Bikram' pilates/yoga, where everything stretched further in the heat!

We farewelled Daniel on Saturday, who explained his PhD research project to us, which involves writing journals and video diaries on our rehearsal and performance process, and have welcomed Kevin today, one of the composers writing for us along the songlines of water. We are very excited about exploring the first draft of this new quartet with him tommorrow.

In between, we thought we might leave you with some fantastic photos Lisa took this afternoon at Bouderee National Park, images of water which seem to be becoming a bit of a theme of our residency

Peninsula Summer Music Festival retrospective

2009-02-05T23:38:00.005+11:00

Bundanon Day 1

2009-02-05T23:21:00.006+11:00

Try and guess what this is management speak for:

Meaningful interaction with the environment and dialogue with the local/indigenous surroundings in order to facilitate enhanced artistic expression.....

We will give you a hint...see above!!

We didn't spend all day at the beach however, we have practiced, Lisa has been doing some work on her picture book, and Daniel is going to explain his research project to us.

We went to Riversdale today to meet the other artists in residence, who are multimedia artists working as a group called the 'Thinking through the body lab'. They have an interesting blog.

Bundanon Residency 2009

2009-01-31T13:40:00.004+11:00

G'day everyone. Ironwood is off on their (almost) annual excursion to Bundanon, artist Arthur Boyd's magic gift to all Australians, and artists of all stripes (and spots;)

We will be in residence there from February 3 - 22, working on lots of different things. We plan on a couple of sessions a day including rehearsing programs for the rest of 09, trying out some exciting new works with composers Kevin March and Damian Barbeler, reading our way through lots of chamber music, and planning lots more concerts, workshops and adventures in between.

You can find out more about Bundanon at www.bundanon.com (follow the link down the side of this blog). Bundanon was one of the homes of the Boyd family,and is where Arthur Boyd painted many of his most famous works - things like Pulpit Rock, and the flametrees, and the rocks by the riverside are all things you can see as you walk around Bundanon.As well as being an artist-in-residence complex, Bundanon is also a working beef cattle farm, with a prizewinning herd of Brangus cattle..that's a cross of Brahman and Black Angus cattle breeds, for all those city dwellers out there;)

For anyone interested in reading more about Arthur Boyd and the amazing Boyd family, Darleen Bungey's new biography about Arthur Boyd is great reading, and Brenda Niall's comprehensive family biography 'The Boyds' is fabulous to get an overview of the Boyd family and how they influenced each other artistically.

We'll try to update our blog regularly during the residency so you can read and see more of what we get up to....Hope you can visit our blog often!
Until next week,
Best summer residency wishes from Nicole & Ironwood(with their Akubra hats and RM Williams boots on!)

Peninsula Summer Music Festival

2008-12-23T23:28:00.003+11:00

It is almost that time of the year again, and the 2009 Peninsula Summer Music festival is going to be even bigger and better!
Ironwood features in a big way this year, with two concerts of very different repertoire.
Ironwoods first festival concert, called Viennese Soirée at 5pm on the 31st of December at Main Ridge Estate celebrates the new year with a fun filled program of works ranging from Mozart to Strauss Jnr to welcome the new year Viennese style. This is an interesting program for Ironwood, along side regular repertoire such as works by Mozart and Haydn, we will be exploring the vast amount of Viennese repertoire written in the early to mid 19th Century including works by Johann Strauss Jnr and Senior, Joseph Lanner, and Johann Schrammel.

Here is an excerpt from the program notes explaining these Viennese gems:
The early nineteenth century saw Viennese dance music gaining enormous popularity. Despite what we are used to hearing today, the first compositions were intended for small chamber groups in intimate settings. Joseph Lanner, along with Johann Strauss Sr were known as the original ‘Waltz Kings’ of Vienna. They began their careers as violinists in a string quartet playing in cafés, restaurants and parties. Lanner found much success as a composer, as did Strauss, and their friendship unfortunately transformed into rivalry. Lanner was equally as popular as Strauss in Vienna, and his Steyrische Tänze of 1841, based on folk melodies from the Austrian province of Steyermark (Styria), are amongst his best loved compositions.
Strauss Sr’s Bajaderen waltzes were composed in the peak of his popularity in 1832 and were dedicated to the crown prince of Spain. The melodies are based on Auber’s opera The God Brahma and the Bayaderes.
Johann Schrammel and Johann Strauss Jr represented the next generation of Viennese composer/performers. The former founded the famous Schrammel Quartet with his brother Josef. Their music, based on the folk melodies of old Vienna, became known as ‘Schrammelmusik’ and became famous throughout Europe. Johannes Brahms held Schrammel’s music in the highest regard and was often found in the audience at their public concerts. Kunst und Natur is based on ‘Wien bliebt Wien’ (Vienna is always Vienna) and was one of his most famous marches.
Johann Strauss Jr. was of course the most successful and celebrated composer of mid 18th Century Vienna. He started his career like his father as a chamber musician and before he had reached the peak of his fame, in 1852 when the Annen Polka was composed, he was writing for a relatively small group of instrumentalists. It was first performed in a bandstand in the Prater in Vienna during the festival of St Anne on the 26th of July 1852.

It has been fun putting a quirky program like this together and we know we are going to have a ball playing it!
If you would like a sneak preview, we will be playing some of these works during the ABC live broadcast this Sunday afternoon the 28th of December at 3pm in the Iwaki Auditorium, Melbourne. Please feel free to join us as entry is free, and or tune in your radio to 105.9 ABC Classic FM.

More soon about the other exciting concert Ironwood is playing in the Festival!

Ironwood Live and Unplugged!

2008-12-19T13:49:00.006+11:00

Sunday 28 December 2008
3.00pm Sunday Live
With Colin Fox

LIVE BROADCAST
Direct broadcast from the Iwaki Auditorium, ABC Southbank Centre, Melbourne
Ironwood Chamber Ensemble
Rachael Beesley, violin
Julia Fredersdorff, violin
Nicole Forsyth, viola
Deirdre Dowling, viola
Nils Wieboldt, cello
Program includes:
Mozart String Quintet in C minor and a selection of shorter pieces anticipating celebration of the New Year!
Concert-goers in Melbourne are welcome. Please be seated by 2.50pm as the performance begins promptly at 3pm. Entry is free.
Producer: Haig Burnell

Musical Mayhem

2008-11-23T19:11:00.006+11:00

Apologies to all our readers for disappearing on you;we all got a bit busy in the last month or two...Here's a selection of what Ironwood have been up to:
Last week, Julia, Rachael & Valmai played with Salut in Sydney and Canberra, doing a program in which Mr Handel himself introduced and spoke about his music.
Julia also did two concerts with Latitude 37 in Melbourne and Flinders.
Danny, Alice, Neal & Nicole played a concert with Romanza at the Art Gallery of NSW which was all about the 'stylus phantasticus' - Biber, Schmelzer, Muffat, Buxtehude & JS Bach.
Lots of the Ironwood Workshop participants have been involved in concerts at Sydney Conservatorium of Music - a project about gesture in the cantatas of Scarlatti, directed by musicologist Allan Maddox, and the Early Music Ensemble's semester 2 concerts, directed by Neal, and tutored by Danny & Nicole - the last one being a big French program with Rameau, Lully,& De Lalande.
Nicole & Danny helped to direct some very succesful baroque & new music concerts with MLC School Burwood, with Genevieve Lacey, recorder, as soloist. The Chamber Orchestra of students aged 10-17 played Telemann, Biber, & JS Bach in one concert; and premiered a new piece by Australian composer Damien Barbeler, along with works by Elena Kats-Chernin, Ives, and student composers in the other www.mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Danny & Alice have been touring Australia with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, playing Prokofiev's Classical Symphony, Beethoven 8, and the Brahms Double concerto.
Nicole has been richocheting from one end of the repertoire to the other - a world premiere of Nigel Butterley's latest work with Halcyon....and then to the Elgar Festival with Sydney Symphony conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy.
In between, she's been jamming in session recordings for new films 'Australia' and 'Mao's Last Dancer'. Mao's Last Dancer is the inspiring autobiography of dancer Li Cuxin, who grew up in rural poverty in China, & became a soloist with the Houston & Australian Ballet Companies.
Danny has been back to the UK to play with John Eliot Gardner's English Baroque Soloists (and got his own standing ovation at the Proms!), Neal has been turning his PhD into a book & Julia has made the big move back to Melbourne. Rachael has been very busy in Australia and Europe; she's about to lead Pinchgut Opera's new production of Charpentier's David & Jonathan (THEIR blog ) and is going to guest lead Australian Brandenburg Orchestra in 2009 as well.
PHEW!! you'd think we'd need a rest now, but next week we all begin work at Pinchgut Opera on David & Jonathan, as well as starting rehearsals for Ironwood & Latitude 37 for the Peninsula Summer Music Festival at the end of the year. Danny disappears back to work with EBS for a little while, and then we all meet in February at Bundanon for our next residency...
We'll keep updating during Pinchgut with more adventures (and hopefully a bit of summer surfing in Sydney between rehearsals...)
Nicole

Musica Viva Tour

2008-10-08T10:30:00.004+11:00

Ironwood are pleased to announce a tour with Miriam Allen in March next year presented by Musica Viva. The dates are as follows:

Miriam Allan, soprano with Ironwood

-Canberra March 12 7pm Llewellyn Hall, ANU
-Sydney March 14 8pm City Recital Hall, Angel Place
-Sydney March 30 7pm City Recital Hall, Angel Place
-Brisbane March 18 7pm Conservatorium Theatre, Southbank
-Newcastle March 21 7.30pm Concert Hall, Newcastle University Conservatorium
-Perth March 24 7.30pm Perth Concert Hall
-Adelaide March 26 8pm Adelaide Town Hall
-Melbourne March 28 8pm Elisabeth Murdoch hall, Melbourne Recital Centre
-Melbourne March 31 7pm Elisabeth Murdoch hall, Melbourne Recital Centre

For more information click here

Les Vingt-Quatre Violons du Roy

2008-09-03T04:52:00.006+10:00

I have recently been playing in a very interesting project in France. It is a reconstruction of the 24 violins of Louis XIV, in which 12 instruments have been specially constructed to play the three inner parts, those of Haute Contre (slightly bigger than a violin), Taille (slightly bigger than a viola), and Quinte (a very big viola comparable to a viola da spalla, supported by a tie around the neck). These instruments all have the same tuning as a viola (ADGC). See the three types of instruments pictured below.

The upper (dessus) part was played on violins, and the bass line on Basses de Violons. In the second half of the 17th Century, the modern violin string family had not yet been standardised and the shape and form of instruments was still highly experimental all over Europe. The title of 24 violins, therefore, does not refer to violins as we know them in modern times, but to the violin family to which all of these instruments belong.

The orginal configuration of the 24 violins was 6 dessus de violons (violins as we know them), 6 Basses de violons (which are like big cellos tuned a tone lower) , and 4 of each of the inner parts which are varying sizes of 'viola like instruments'. This was then complimented by recorders, oboes, traverso flutes, and bassoons as well as theorbos and harpsichord to complement the Basso Continuo group.

The orchestra in the above mentioned form existed in Versailles for no more than 80 years during the middle baroque period, mostly during the reign of Louis XIV. The result of the influence of Jean Baptise Lully, the court composer and musical director from the early 1650s until his death in 1687, the orchestra was created specifically to perform the operas, ballets, and comédie- ballets that Lully wrote. He sometimes performed as a violinist, and, like the King, also as a dancer, but mostly directed the orchestra beating time with his long staff (the famous one that ended up causing his death when he stabbed himself in the foot with it, and it became gangrenous).

The music that Lully wrote during this period revolutionised composition in France, and was to be of considerable influence elsewhere in Europe. Not only was his exploration and expansion of dance forms highly inventive, but his ability to apply the French language to music in such a sensitive way had a massive impact on operatic style, resulting notably in a new style of recitative, closer to recitative accompagnato, rhythmically guided by the language itself.
The instrumentation of the 24 'violins' permitted Lully to write music which was incredibly rich in harmony, therefore creating a full, resonant and extremely powerful texture.

BUT to get back to the subject Julia!.....The interesting point of this project is that in recreating instruments which are designed for the exact tessitura of the parts they are required to play, the resulting sound is so powerful and balanced, that there is absolutely no comparison with the modern day viola (no matter how beautiful their playing is!!). The inner parts are harmonically the most interesting parts in any of Lully's works, and hearing them so clearly is pure joy! Of course, I am not saying that these instruments are BETTER than the viola (that would be asking for trouble), but just more suited to this repertoire. Nevertheless, the problem is that these instruments are unsuitable for playing any other types of music, therefore not really the type of instrument that most people could afford to invest in for such a limited repertoire. Buying a bow for a specific repertoire such as early italian playing, or classical playing is one thing, buying an instrument for 80 years worth of repertoire is ANOTHER!!!

It is fortunate that the French are so proud of their culture, and that the government funded Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles can see the benefit of an endeavour such as this. I feel very lucky to be part of it.

Wildflowers & Walking

2008-08-25T23:12:00.003+10:00

Images by Lisa Stewart

It's almost Spring down here in the southern hemisphere. I've got lots of musical things I could tell you about, but will save them until I can show you all some photos as well. In the meantime,I'm adding some outside, spring pics & I urge anyone who lives in Sydney to make a visit to Muogamarra Nature Sanctuary on the next couple of weekends. Just out of Cowan on the Old Pacific Highway.

A very special place, Muogamarra is only open for a few weekends each year, in spring, as it designed to preserve northern Sydney bushland without too much human trampling. The wildflowers are all in bloom and are spectacular; heaths, grevilleas, and even red waratahs. The first time I have seen NSW's state floral emblem growing in the wild!

The Spit to Manly walk is also good for wildflowers,and views of course, and has just been included in a huge new survey of Sydney's coastal and harbour walks..see www.walkingcoastalsydney.com.au Fabulous - you can download all the maps from here.

Happy walking and wildflower viewing!

Time for a change...

2008-08-22T03:07:00.006+10:00

So it's that time of year (in the Northern Hemisphere at least!) to update, organise and renew in readiness for the new academic year.

So here's my offering, a new website!

www.rachaelbeesley.com

I've also updated the Ironwood website and Facebook Ironwood group page, so feel free to check them out!

www.ironwoodchamberensemble.com

Rachael:)

My new baby!

2008-08-19T15:50:00.003+10:00

Boxes and the Bach Archives

2008-08-10T21:03:00.007+10:00

Whilst trying to fit my whole life into 12 Boxes to put on a ship pending my imminent relocation to Australia, I had a lot of time to listen to music, and found myself flitting between myriad styles from Jazz, to Indian wedding music, to electronic, to Chanson Française to the Beatles, to Bach Archives. So it wasn't a trip down memory lane just because of the stuff I was packing, but also for my lucky ears. I love rediscovering old favourites, they become all fresh and shiny once again, yet they will always have that air of nostalgia about them, no matter how long it has been since they saw the inside of my stereo.

I was talking to a friend about one of my all time favourite CDs, and we both agreed that it has to be one of the most beautiful recordings ever made. EVER! Definitely a desert island disc this one.....

It is a collection of works written by members of the Bach family that belonged to and greatly influenced Johann Sebastian Bach. J.S Bach treasured this collection, and took the time to correct some errors, complete missing parts and to write cover pages for some of them.

The large majority of works on this disc are by Johann Christoph Bach, eldest son of Heinrich Bach and uncle of Johann Sebastian. J.S. Bach particularly appreciated the works of his uncle and had performance materials made to perform many of them in church in Liepzig. The Lamento Ach, daß ich Wassers gnug hätte is absolutely exquisite. Listen to this with the translation and make sure you have a box of tissues in close proximity. The most well know of Johann Christoph Bach's compositions is the stunning cantata Meine Freundin, du bist schön, which has a gorgeous chaconne with a beautiful, virtuosic obbligato violin line.

The CD also features the work of Johann Christoph's younger brother, Johann Michael Bach, also a prolific composer and organist of the castle chapel in Arnstadt, then later in Gehren, as well as a motet by Georg Christoph Bach, the brother of Johann Ambrosius (Johann Sebastians Father) based on Psalm 133, and composed for Georg Christoph's birthday in 1689, when both of his brothers came to visit him in Schweinfurt, where he was Kantor.

To have an insight into the musical language of J.S Bach's forefathers is already fortuitous...and the interpretation here is remarkable. The instrumental playing is amazingly expressive, and the singers communication of the text is stunning. Language is so all important in regards to the interpretation and performance of Baroque music. The repertoire of the 17th Century in particular is a style in which instrumentalists must strive to represent the spoken language as well as the musical language of the composer. Obviously when it is your mother tongue it is much more straightforward and in the end, that is what makes this recording so perfect. Here, every single musician understands and FEELS the text. In addition to this, their interpretation has a wonderful spontaneity, that is so often missing because of the cutting and pasting aspect of recording these days.

Funnily enough I am about to perform a cantata of another Bach family member, Johann Nicolaus Bach who was the son of the Johann Christoph Bach that I mentioned above) at the festival Bach en Combrailles in the Auvergne. I will probably run into a certain Rachael Beesley while I am there as well :)

Let's Get Physical

2008-08-02T23:20:00.002+10:00

No, not the old Olivia Newton - John video clip! Although that might be a good jumping off point for improvisation...

Nicole here, reporting from various excursion around Sydney's current dance and theatre performances, exploring and building some ideas about how our music making might be expanded, well, physically.

First off, the Australian Theatre for Young People ATYP presented Meryl Tankard's work "VX18504" at the very funky Carriageworks VX18504 was Meryl Tankard's father's service number, and the work looks at all sorts of conflict, personal, at school, and at war, using a variety of spoken, & danced techniques. It was an amazing night from some extraordinary young performers. I got into the final performance - lucky me.

Earlier this week, I went to see a new collaboration between the Sydney Theatre Company and the National Institute of Dramatic Art NIDA directed by Nigel Jamison, who has been known for his work in the physical theatre area for some years, in the UK and Australia. "Gallipoli" is an epic ride through one of Australia's most iconic, and most contested bits of history. This work was a stunning combination of song, contemporary war commentary from historians such as Charles Bean, monologues, and movement, all workshopped by the performers over several months. Go and see it while you can, if you are in Sydney.

In the last couple of weeks, I've also been to see a much more experimental wing of the Sydney Theatre Company; their 'Wharf2Loud' program, which is all new work. "Manna" the work I saw, explored sound in theatre, using newly composed song, soundscapes and folk song. The actors sang most of their parts, and did some of the wierdest bits of cooking I've ever seen on stage!

During our residency at Bundanon last year, we had Adrian Burnett come in to give us some movement & pilates/yoga workshops. Adrian is a freelance choreographer, who has an extensive career in dance, including being a soloist with the Australian Ballet for a number of years. I dont think any of us are about to grace a stage in ballet shoes, but we learnt a lot from Adrian (including which muscles hurt the most, at seven in the morning!), and it's all contributing to a greater awareness of what we do on stage as musicians.

All very interesting and inspiring and causing my little brain to whirr furiously...Stayed tuned..or should that be 'hold that pose'? ;-)

Inspiration

2008-07-24T14:15:00.008+10:00

The Red Tree, The Coronation of Poppea, The Band's Visit and Mamma Mia! So what do all these things have in common?? Well they all made me laugh, cry, sing and sigh! I think it's always good to take time out from our own performing world to find inspiration from other artists and art forms.

So what's this all leading up to? Well a few months packed full of concerts in festivals throughout Europe! Bach in the Bach & Combrailles Festival, Berlioz, Rimsky-Korsakov, Gershwin and Tschaikovsky in the Festival Berlioz, the Festival de Musique La Chaise-Dieu and the Musikfest Bremen with Anima Eterna, Bach in Zermatt with Capriccio Stravagante, Schutz in the Schutz Festival, Den Haag and Schenk in the Berlin Tage fur Alte Muzik with La Suave Melodia plus a few days of teaching in between at the KonCon in The Hague!

Then it's back to OZ for another exciting season with Pinchgut, Salut! and Convivio and then time for the Peninsula Summer Music Festival with Ironwood!! Yeah:)

Rachael

Master of the Great Wardrobe!!

2008-07-21T07:25:00.000+10:00

Check out the hilarious sign they had in the toilets at the theatre in Graz! - Julia

La vie bohème

2008-07-21T05:59:00.000+10:00

Julia Reporting:
8am this morning - whilst sleepily piling myself and my obedient orange suitcase into the Frankfurt airport shuttle bus, it occurred to me that a musicians life is a little like a game of pinball, we just get pushed (or bus'd or plane'd or train'd) around from place to place. But this mornings trip was different....I was finally travelling back to Paris after well over 2 months of living out of a suitcase. Ironically, after dreaming about unpacking my suitcase for so long, I just can't face it tonight and itis sitting on the floor of my apartment looking heartlessly abandoned and suspiciously full!
Even though it is a difficult lifestyle at times, it has it's equal share of benefits. Following the Concert in the beautiful city of Graz, where I stayed in the hotel with the funny pillows (see this post), we went on to do a couple of concerts with the wonderful soprano, Roberta Invernizzi. We played a program of Bach and Handel in two amazing locations, the Aldersbach Klosterkirche (see photo above) near Passau in Bavaria - a very good example of Baroque architecture (albeit RATHER over the top), and the next day did a 6 hour journey up to Eisenach where we played in St Georges Church. Eisenach was the birth place of J.S Bach. His father was the organist at St Georges Church, and J.S Bach was also baptised there. It was really exciting to be in the church where the young Bach would have spent so much time in his early years...but WE didn't have much time to spend and unfortunately we left for Frankfurt almost straight after the concert, so no time to look at the Bach house and museum (sniff).
We arrived at our hotel last night at midnight, celebrated the birthday of a colleague with a couple of bottles of champagne in the dodgy hotel bar before the detestable sound of my alarm mercilessly wrenched me out of my much needed sleep just a few hours later...what made it easier was the prospect of coming home to my own apartment, my own bed, my own space, a bit of home cooking, and no more weird pillows or buses, or planes for another 3 weeks...I am spending my holidays AT HOME!!!

Flora plans....

2008-07-17T23:11:00.000+10:00

Well, the concerts in this season might be over, but the planning for next year, and the years beyond never lets up. We pretty much know what we'll be up to in 2009 - there's another residency at Bundanon, some more workshops and LOTS of concerts(hint: we're travelling further in Australia than we have so far...). We'll tell you in a more formal announcement very soon. In the meantime, we CAN tell you that the first workshop will be May 27 - June 5, at the Boyd Education Centre, Bundanon, NSW. We'll have brochures and hopefully an online application up by the end of the year. You can always check out what is happening at the amazing Boyd property at www.bundanon.com.au

We thought we should introduce our 'Ironwood at Bundanon mascot', Flora (photo above). Flora is some sort of very pink monster,complete with fluffy skirt and handbag, and she's come along on all of our Bundanon adventures so far. We found her in the toyshop at Berry, the gorgeous little town near Bundanon. She watches over all our rehearsals, and likes to get around all the important jobs at Bundanon.

The photos are of us on the Writer's Cottage Verandah during our 2007 residency, and Flora getting around Bundanon, and the Shoalhaven River at Bundanon. All the photos were taken by Lisa, who is doubly talented - an artist and violinist.

Game, Set, Coffee????

2008-07-17T22:36:00.000+10:00

For the last two weeks, Ironwood have been in the recording studio- the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Eugene Goosens Hall, on a variety of projects, which we'll tell you about in due course. Julia had to go back to Europe last week - see the post about Austrian pillows (below), and Lisa joined us - adding to the coffee fans in the studio.

Recording is such a different thing from rehearsing and playing concerts. We all like to have our 'creature comforts' with us in the studio,to help our concentration. I like having a coffee first up, to sip as we go through our first takes in the morning, and lots of bananas or apples. Later on, when we're going over & over things, it degenerates into lollies (that's candy for our US readers & sweets for the UK ones...)- particularly red snakes, milkbottles, green frogs & chocolate (any sort, I'm not fussy!). Danny has been known to eat quite a bit of the chocolate as well,(when he's not being virtuous & sticking to his training diet) and you can usually find a strong cup of tea under his music stand.

Julia and Rachael, however, got themselves so organised during this recording! They had a table between them, on which they'd set up bottles of water, fruit, a thermos of tea, and chocolate, as well as all their spare strings, rosin & other string playing paraphenalia. We thought they looked like two tennis players, sitting there sipping their water between takes (or sets), so here's the picture above.

I guess you could say that recording runs on caffiene and sugar mostly, so now I know everyone's coffee order, I thought I might give you all a little guessing game - "Match the Musician to their Coffee Order" The musicians: Rachael, Julia, Lisa, Nicole, Danny. The coffees: Skim Cappucino, Soy Flat White, Green Tea, Flat White (no skim, no soy, no decaf, just coffee!), Soy Latte.

A coffee to anyone who can correctly match the drinkers with their coffees....

Austrian Pillows

2008-07-16T05:24:00.000+10:00

Hi, Julia here...I am back in Europe now, and on tour with a bunch of Italians, which means good food, lots of laughter, and very noisy bus trips which never arrive on time. This post has nothing to do with music...Having just arrived in Graz this afternoon, I just wanted to share with you the astounding presentation of pillows at our hotel. They look a bit like fortune cookies...and yes that is just one pillow on each bed...as if making a bed was not complicated enough already!

ABCapers

2008-07-09T23:27:00.000+10:00

Ironwood are currently in the throes of recording a CD for ABC classics at the moment... information shall be forthcoming closer to the release date, but in the meantime we wanted to give a sneak preview of what happens BEHIND the scenes, or in this case when B1 and B2 have had a very LONG day down in the depths of Goosens Hall....

Latitude 37 Launch Concert

2008-07-03T20:52:00.000+10:00

Last night was the launch concert for Julia Fredersdorff's new trio Latitude 37. Formed with former Den Haag Conservatorium colleagues Laura Vaughan (Gamba) and Donald Nicolson (Harpsichord), Latitude 37 explores the wide range of trio sonata repertoire from the baroque period. Their first concert combined repertoire from two centuries and 3 countries including works by Selma, Buxtehude, Marais, Telemann and the fantastic 5ème Pièce de Clavecin by Rameau.
Much to everyones delight the response to the concert was very enthusiastic and Dante's upstairs in Fitzroy was packed out with an audience of over 100 people! Rachael was there to give her support and her glowing and encouraging smiles were much appreciated by the group! Everyone stayed to celebrate the occasion afterwards chatting over a glass of bubbly.
Tomorrow ABC radio are recording the program for broadcast and we will be sure to keep you informed once a broadcast date and time have been determined.
It was great to see such a response to early music in Melbourne, may this trend continue!!Thanks to all those who came to support the group, it is always nice to see friendly faces in the audience.

A Little (Beachside?) Romance

2008-07-02T00:33:00.000+10:00

Ironwood is busy rehearsing for its' next lot of concerts - Brahms String Sextet G major; a Georges Onslow String Quintet & a Mendelssohn 'Capriccio' - a lovely little fragment for string quartet. Quite a departure from the last couple of weeks of classical and modern repertoire.

Great fun, and great to explore all the portamento, shifting and vibrato of the 19th century. Ironwood this week is made up of Alice Evans & Lisa Stewart (violins); Nicole Forsyth & Valmai Coggins (viola); Danny Yeadon & James Beck (cell0).

We have two concerts in this series - Thursday 3 July at Elizabeth Bay House and Saturday 5 July 5.30 for 6pm at North Head, Manly in the Former Artillery School Ballroom,Sydney Harbour Trust, North Head Sanctuary. Elizabeth Bay House is sold out, but if you'd like tickets for the North Head one, ring 0419 484 323 to reserve one, or at the door on the night.

Lisa took the photo above, which looks toward Fairy Bower and Shelley Beach, Manly, just below North Head. Paradise, eh? Next concert series on a tropical island, perhaps?....

Sunday Live ABCFM 29th June

2008-07-02T00:12:00.000+10:00

It's been a busy month for us....Last Sunday saw Sydney Conservatorium Early Music Ensemble do a concert for ABC Classic FM's show 'Sunday Live' - broadcast right round Australia on radio, and streamed on the ABC's website http://www.abc.net.au/, live from the Verbrugghen Hall at Sydney Conservatorium ('The Con').

Lots of the musicians playing had also been involved in the Ironwood Winter Workshop,either as guest players or as well as being students at the Conservatorium. The program was an all JS Bach one, including two cantatas and Brandenburg 3. Neal Peres da Costa is the intrepid director of EME, as it's locally known; tutors Danny Yeadon, (cello, above left)Nicole Forsyth & Alice Evans also played in the concert.

So it was yet another musical reunion for many people...finishing up with drinks at the local pub. Essential for any end of semester concert!

B Minor Mass

2008-06-25T00:04:00.000+10:00

Not strictly an Ironwood event, but lots of us (and Ironwood course members) are playing for Sydney Philharmonia Choirs concert of JS Bach's B minor Mass this week in Sydney's Angel Place Recital Hall.

It was a reunion of sorts from the workshop - the whole second row of firsts & seconds had been at the course! Tonight we've been rehearsing with the full choir and soloists Sara Macliver, Tobias Cole, Tobias Cole , Paul McMahon, Andrew Collis.

David (2nd Bassoon) has been trying to fake Nicole (viola) out by putting his instrument up too early - a common orchestral trick& one which causes fits of giggles...The violas & the bassoons are honorary 'deskies' (that's stand partners to you guys from the USA). We often sit in the same section of the stage in a baroque orchestra. Julia says that bassoons & violas tend to have the same low IQ - we wont say anything about 2nd violinists, will we Julia?!....Neal(harpischord) has been very well behaved, and not displaying his vampire teeth too often...(only on very dissonant chords...).

Pekka Kuusisto (violin, Finland) is in Sydney doing recitals this week for Musica Viva (our national chamber music promoter) & Danny (Ironwood's cellist) has been listening to his concert tonight, on a rare night off from playing. Pekka is a fabulous improviser; those who haven't heard him yet should look up the documentary film '4' (director Tim Slade, producer Joanna Buggy) - Pekka is the solo violinist for Vivaldi's 'Winter' concerto. Danny & Neal feature in the 'Summer' section of the film, which was shot in Northern Australia.

Melbourne Concert

2008-06-24T23:49:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone,
Well, we've done our marathon travel weekend, complete with delayed flights. Julia is keeping a photographic record of every delayed flight (oops, I was just about to write 'fright'....;) she has to get. Just as well we had our laptops with new wireless 'dongle' connections to keep us amused & to play on YouTube. 50 points to the techhead who can tell us where the term 'dongle' originated.

We drove from Melbourne Airport to Sorrento; and Nicole displayed new talents- eating singapore noodles with chopsticks (no less!) while driving. (yes, we all got there in one piece).

St Johns Sorrento is a pretty little church built in 1874, and is a well known Victorian venue for chamber music. There was a fantastic friendly audience, mostly locals we think, who welcomed us very warmly, on quite a cold evening. ABC Classic FM recorded our concert, and we will let you know the likely future broadcast date.

After the concert, Danny navigated along dark rural, kangaroo-ridden roads, to 'Chez Fredersdorff' where Julia's dogs Billy & Milly greeted us. (Along with the open fire & much champagne & blue cheese). We all collapsed well after midnight..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

How to play the violin

2008-06-20T10:22:00.000+10:00

Hi to all.
Whilst waiting for our delayed flight to Melbourne we found this very instructional video clip on the net. Useful information for all violinists.....
We also found some good coffee in Sydney Airport at Gourmet Cellars Wooohoooo!
Oh and a special thanks to all those who came to our concert at Vaucluse House last night. It was really nice to have you in the audience.

Dancing with Strangers

2008-06-18T23:33:00.000+10:00

Ironwood are busy rehearsing for concerts which will take place tomorrow at 6.30pm in Vaucluse House in Sydney and at 8pm on Friday at St Johns Anglican Church Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
It was a case of no rest for the wicked for us, as we have barely had time to rest after the Early Music Winter Workshop, but the rehearsals are going well and the concerts should be great. On the program; Mozart and Haydn Quartets K80 in G major and Opus 54 no 1 in G major, as well as Paul Stanhopes Dancing with Strangers, based on the based on the literary work of Inga Clendinnen, and Enyato I by Ross Edwards.
Hope to see you there!

Early Music Winter Workshop

2008-06-16T21:40:00.000+10:00

Ironwood have just returned from Riversdale, the location of their first Early Music Winter Workshop. We were thrilled by the fantastic response from students from all over Australia who brought their wonderful personalities, energy and enthusiasm to this unique place. We enjoyed a week of Chamber music and lessons, culminating in daily cocktail concerts, and were lucky enough to fill in the extra time with art classes, yoga, flow classes or simply chilling out looking at the stunning view.
Meanwhile the chef extraordinaire, Andreas Lippa, was to totally spoil us all with his wonderful cooking….it really was a week to remember for tutors and students alike.One of the most impressive things being that every single student blossomed both personally, and as musicians. We feel very touched by the dedication and passion that each student demonstrated, and are amazed at the transformation that happened in everyones playing over a relatively short period.
Ironwood are already planning for next years workshops and will keep everyone up to date. In the meantime, please feel free to send any feedback etc that you may have in response to this workshop. Thanks to all involved for a wonderful week.

Welcome!

2008-06-16T13:39:00.000+10:00

Welcome one and all to the new Ironwood blog. We will be writing regular reports about our touring schedule, concerts, education programs and residencies, as well as keeping you up to date with the movements of each member of the group, and any interesting information about historically informed performance practice.
First on the agenda will be a post about our recent Early Music Winter Workshop. Watch this space!