Blue Mountains Chamber Concerts

Hans-Dieter Michatz - recorder
Maria Lindsay - violin
Annika Stagg - cello
Monika Kornel - harpsichord

The Italian, German, French and Dutch Baroque are represented in this feast of 17th and 18th century music. Central to this program is the Baroque chamber music form, the trio sonata. Enjoy the craftsmanship of some of the masters of the form such as Bach, Vivaldi, Telemann, and Corelli but also some slightly less well known names such as the blind carillon player, van Eyck, Boismortier and Royer. There are also some examples of what was a common practice in the Baroque, that of writing sets of variations based on popular tunes. Van Eyck used an international hit song of the time, “Amarilli mia bella,” by the madrigal composer, Giulio Caccini, and Vivaldi employed “La Folia,” a melody made famous by Corelli but probably originating in Portugal. This melody was used by many Baroque composers and also as recently as Rachmaninov who evidently thought that Corelli had composed it.
 
Corelli: Trio Sonata no. 5 in A minor
van Eyck: Variations on 'Amarilli mia bella'
de Boismortier: Sonata in G major for cello and harpsichord
de Boismortier: Trio Sonata in E minor
Telemann: Trio Sonata in A minor Sonata for recorder and obligato harpsichord
JS Bach: Duet in G major for recorder and violin
Royer: La Marche des Scythes
Telemann: Fantasias for solo recorder
Vivaldi: La Folia

Concert 2: Four Seasons - New Sydney Wind Quintet
Sunday 20 April, 2.30pm
Venue: Uniting Church, Blackheath

Bridget Bolliger - flute
Alexandre Oguey - oboe
Andrew Bain -horn
Frank Celata -clarinet
Matthew Ockenden - bassoon

This program provides ample evidence for why the wind quintet is one of the most vibrant and expressive chamber music combinations. One can take delight in this broad spectrum of music including the irresistible enthusiasm of Australia’s own Percy Grainger, the 19th century Italian Flute virtuoso, Giulio Briccialdi, the elegance and panache of the 20th century French master, Jean Francaix, and the Argentinean bandoneonist and composer who revolutionised the tango by bringing it to the concert stage and incorporating classical and jazz elements, Astor Piazzolla.

Grainger: Lisbon
Briccialdi: Quintet in D major op. 124
Francaix: Quintet no. 1
Piazzola (arr. Ulf-Guido Schafer): Estaciones Porteñas

Concert 3: Utopia -Song Company
Sunday 4 May, 2.30pm
Venue: Uniting Church, Blackheath
Works by Hildegard von Bingen, JS Bach, Nigel Butterley, Terry Riley, John Lennon

Concert 4: Contrasts
Friday 18 July, 8.00pm
Saturday 19 July, 2.30pm
Venue: Werona, Blackheath

Catherine McCorkill -clarinet
Maria Lindsay -violin
Josephine Allan -piano

Bela Bartok’s Contrasts, commissioned by swing legend, Benny Goodman, in 1938, has become one of the classic works of 20th century chamber music. Drawing on his native Hungarian heritage, but also using Rumanian, Bulgarian and Greek elements, Bartok created a superbly crafted masterpiece, highlighting the respective qualities of the instruments to perfection. Also to be enjoyed in this program is music from “Les Six” composer, Darius Milhaud, the 19th century romanticism of Schumann and Saint-Saens, and Peter Sculthorpe’s Kakadu National Park inspired Dream Tracks. Don’t miss this event of musical contrasts.

Milhaud: Suite op. 157b
Schumann: Fantasy Pieces op. 73
Sculthorpe: Dreamtracks (1992)
Saint Saens: Havanaise op. 83
Bartok: Contrasts Sz. 111

Concert 5: Kakadu and Beyond -ApolloTrio
Friday 29 August 8.00pm
Saturday 30 August 2.30pm
Venue:Werona, Blackheath

Works by Mozart, Faure, Beethoven, & Alkan
Maria Lindsay -violin,Thomas Tsai -cello, Daniel Herscovitch -piano

Concert 6: Suite but Franck
Friday 17 October, 8.00pm
Saturday 18 October 2.30pm
Venue: Werona, Blackheath

Works by Stravinsky, Mozart, Chausson, & Franck
Maria Lindsay -violin, Josephine Allan -piano

Concert 7: Folk Music -A Different Take
Sunday 23 November 2.30pm
Venue: Uniting Church, Blackheath

Works by Grenfell, JS Bach, Edwards, Ricketson, Koppel, Abe, Pirchner, Corea & Piazzolla
Claire Edwardes -percussion, Maria Lindsay -violin

Concert 8: 12 Days of Christmas -Song Company
Sunday 14 December 2.30pm
Venue: Uniting Church, Blackheath
A witty and wicked program of songs, carols and stories from around the world.