eNEWS UPDATE JULY 2009

MELBA'S Federal Government funding renewed

The Melba Foundation is pleased to report that we have received ongoing funding in the May Federal budget, reflecting the Government’s confidence in our mission to support Australia’s classical musicians and orchestras and build on our unprecedented success in international markets.

We will now be able to bring more Australian artists to local and international audiences and extend our Emerging Artists program. Future projects will include recordings with:
 

	Sydney Symphony Principal Viola, Roger Benedict in music by Kœchlin and Jongen. Intensely dramatic and personal chamber music for viola and piano from two remarkable and unjustly neglected composers, one French the other Belgian. Standing aside from, though influenced by Wagner, Franck and the impressionists, but with no place among the shockingly new, these brilliantly gifted composers receive virtuosic performances from violist Roger Benedict and pianist Timothy Young.
	Celebrated Australian, and noted Russian music expert, pianist Leslie Howard records music of Rakhmaninov.
	Orchestra Victoria and exciting young French conductor Guillaume Tourniaire: Following their spectacular success with the world premiere recording of the Saint-Saëns opera Hélène these dynamic forces rejoin for ballet music from the operas of Saint-Saëns.
	Australian-born virtuoso violinist Ray Chen who at 20 has just won the International Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium makes his debut recording with music of Stravinsky.

A gathering of Melba Foundation supporters — with great music

Lady Primrose Potter [centre] with
Ian Potter Foundation governors, Dr P John Rose, AO [left]
and Dr Thomas H Hurley, AO, OBE [right]
 

The Melba Foundation held a function for supporters on 11 June. Founding Benefactor, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch was guest of honour and special tribute was paid to Lady Potter and the Ian Potter Foundation for supporting five recordings in our Emerging Artists Series. Violinist Kristian Winther, whose recording Tzigane was supported by the Ian Potter Foundation and pianist Timothy Young whose recording on the Melba label is soon to be released, gave an exhilarating performance of the music of Ravel.

   

Read about Kristian Winther's Tzigane Super Audio compact disc, a recording of the music of Maurice Ravel, with pianist Anthony Romaniuk and cellist Michelle Wood.

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NEW & FUTURE RELEASES

 
Coming in August from Melba
J. S. Bach Organ Sonatas, BWV 525–530
SACD MR301125
 

Brilliant Australian organist Christopher Wrench plays Bach Sonatas on the organ in the Garnisons Kirke, Copenhagen. Johann Nikolaus Forkel, 1802, in his survey of Bach’s life and work remarked: "One cannot say enough of their beauty".

Be sure not to miss Christopher Wrench’s recital including music from the CD at Ormond College Chapel, 49 College Crescent, Parkville, Victoria on Monday 27 July, 8pm.

Some recent reviews of Christopher Wrench’s performances: "In Dupré, Wrench proved himself a poet of the organ, in Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in a, a philosopher seeking the heavenly truths of the Thomas Cantor."
DIE WELT (Hamburg)

" ...a superbly intelligent and musical performance…This level of interpretation is rarely heard in concert, and not often via recorded medium." ORGANO PLENO

 
The Galant Bassoon
The music of Telemann, J. C. Bach and J. S. Bach
SACD MR301124
 

...featuring the distinguished bassoonist Matthew Wilkie, Principal Bassoon in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO), with Principal Double Bass (SSO) Kees Boersma and harpsichordist Neal Peres Da Costa. Matthew Wilkie brings a refined musical sensibility to this recording. He has an effortless technique and takes advantage of all the modern advances in musicology. With a gift for musical line and architecture—terms that are bandied around all the time—he is able to imbue this frequently cumbersome instrument with such grace and poetry. The Galant Bassoon offers music of elegance and sophistication for all lovers of baroque instrumental music. Out now in Australia. Other countries, August.

   

[L-R]Neal Peres Da Costa, Matthew Wilkie, Kees Boersma