Pinchgut Opera

September Newsletter out today

Liz has been talking to music and other community groups exciting them about Cavalli, L’Ormindo and Pinchgut. So we asked Liz to write a piece about Venice in the second half of the 17th Century, as Cavalli experienced it. Read it here and other articles..

Also in the September Newsletter, we are offering a special of past Pinchgut Opera CDs for only $30 each. I’ve received a number of enquires, and sales are going well – if not by the old fashion way!  I have not set up the direct transaction from our website as yet, so people have to call/email me for now (not great, but will be sorted I promise.). But I must say, it’s much more enjoyable talking to everyone about the recordings and L’Ormindo directly. Check out the shop here - and call me 02 9389 8117!

Yesterday, some of the Pinchgut people (Liz, Andrew) met with the City Recital Hall people to go through the L’Ormindo presentation. Lots of questions, including about the use of the space (foyer, dressing rooms, function spaces etc.). You’ll be in for an experience as soon as you walk in the foyer!

Anna

Erin’s Musical Choices & Ditties

Erin Helyard’s off to Washington today. With all the excitement about being chosen as the Westfield Concert Scholar in North America, interest was aroused in DC where he was asked to play at the Smithsonian to help inaugurate their new hall in a concert series next year on two instruments from the collection. “I'm pretty stoked as the two instruments that he is proposing are very important historic instruments (a 1794 Broadwood piano and a mid-century Schudi harpsichord).”

Back here, Erin answered some questions for 2MBS’s FINE MUSIC, just published, and thought that those that don’t get this fine read, should at least know what musical choices Erin makes (and one that he is forced to listen too..):-

What musical work are you listening to now and why? That would be a new recording of symphonies by Henri-Joseph Rigel, performed by Concerto Köln, one of my favourite ensembles. Rigel was an extremely interesting composer who worked in Paris in the late eighteenth century and Concerto Köln often record and perform fairly unknown composers, which is Pinchgut's artistic approach too.

If you could be a composer who would it be? If nineteenth-century culture hadn't split the roles of composer and performer, I could get away with saying "myself". Instead, I'll pick the ultra-modernist Helmut Lachenmann.

What piece of music do you wish you had composed? Percy Grainger's arrangement of Maurice Ravel's La Vallée des cloches.

Most significant influence on your musical life? That would to be my friend, the composer Stephen Yates. He showed me that there is more to the eighteenth century than just the music of the Western European classical canon.

Music that makes you smile? CATcerto by Mindaugas Piečaitis www.catcerto.com

Piece of music you wish you’d never heard and why? The four-note ditty (C-G-F-C) that announces to ‘tous les voyageurs’ that the Montréal Métro is suffering technical difficulties. It makes me associate perfect fifths with frustration and arriving late.

Erin will arrive back in Australia at the end of October for the the start of L'Ormindo rehearsals from 4 November. I look forward to hearing how he enjoys the lovely sounds on the Sydney System.

Anna

A Weekend of New Music

It was full of it. Halcyon’s “Willow Songs” on Saturday featured the premiere of Willow Songs by Andrew Ford (a song cycle on poems by Anglo-American poet Anne Stevenson) & works featuring the form of poetry, the haiku. Also on Saturday was “Conversations” by The Collective that included works by Aboriginal hip hop artist Wire MC, didgeridoo player William Barton and a new work premiered by Mary Finsterer. On Sunday evening I went to the performance of Synergy Percussion, under the direction of the new artistic director Timothy Constable performing with the amazing Swiss drummer Fritz Hauser. These ensembles have some of the finest chamber musicians around including Alison Morgan, Jenny Duck-Chong, Christina Leonard, Sophie Cole, Bernadette Balkus, Daniel Yeadon, and Claire Edwardes (with a few having performed with Pinchgut over the years). It’s wonderful to see such extraordinary high talent and hard work (with commissioning, admin, marketing – let alone rehearsing) that these guys do all themselves, with such success.

And a word on words - the hard copy Pinchgut September newsletter was posted today (thanks to our fabulous team of volunteers working hard over the weekend) and will be in your hands tomorrow - however for those clever, green folk - you will received your e-newsletter in the morning. Hope you enjoy!

Back to the 18th Century now, and off to see Opera Australia’s’ Così fan tutte tonight.

Anna

Photo of Pinchgut's 2007 Juditha Triumphans with Alison Morgan centre and David Greco and Philip Chu

What are you wearing this weekend?

Just in case you really want to impress – we have the perfect limited edition T-shirt on offer. Yep, this blog not only informs you what we get up too at Pinchgut, it helps with your wardrobe and arranges the weather (that’s Liz’s job). The Pinchgut T-shirts has just been printed with every season listed on the back and comes in a range of sizes (S-XL). Check it out here….

Enough of the promo…. today was a media day for me. There will be lots (and lots, I hope) of coverage in the next few months, and magazines/radio programs/TV are at a critical point for us to make a splash as they requires a longer lead time than newspapers, weeklies etc.. A few things on the boil (with deadlines this weekend) are: -

• A competition in the November edition of Vouge Living (make sure you get a copy – wherever you are in Australia, the world), should be page 3 and our partner Radisson Plaza Hotel have come to the party big time! More info later.
• Erin Helyard has been writing a script for a 1.5 hour radio program for 3MBS-FM (broadcast on the 25 Oct) and most likely 2MBS-FM about a comparison of the Raymond Leppard recording of L'Ormindo to the Les Paladins, Correas 2007 recording as a case study to track the historiography of the Early Music movement. Erin has put so much work into it and can’t wait to hear it with the musically examples..
• Fine Music November cover story will be about some of L’Ormindo fabulous women singers…

So look smart and be informed!

Anna

Music, Family and (lighting) Creation

Bernie Tan-Hayes will be L’Ormindo's lighting designer and is credited for creating the beautiful lighting on all past Pinchgut productions. We are pretty lucky too, as his talented wife is also part of the Pinchgut family and has helped us along the way -including creating the special mood under a whale skeleton for the launch last July (check it out here).

Bernie emailed from Brisbane about his current activities and what he is doing up until he starts designing for us in November:-

“I am currently sitting in yet another hotel! This one is in Brisbane as I am working on a show call Miracle in Brisbane, which is an adaptation of a piece by Giorgio Battistelli called Miracolo A Milano. It is directed by Rhoda Roberts and designed by Stephen Curtis. Did I mention it's very hot! This is not helped by the fact that I've just come from 3 weeks in NZ putting together a Eugene Onegin for New Zealand Opera. It was a truly wonderful experience and had some spectacular voices including William Dazeley as Onegin, Anna Leese as Tatyana and Roman Shulackoff as Lenski (director - Patrick Nolan designer - Genevieve Blanchett)…. I will be going straight from Brisbane down to Wellington to do the transfer from Auckland, which will complete a stellar two months away! … I am dearly looking forward to getting home and also starting work on what has become an annual ritual of music, family and creation.”

We look forward to having you home too Bernie!

Bernie will then be doing what he has done in the past productions. He will sit through many of the rehearsals, following the score & listening to the director while plotting the lighting that he will use – a very creative process. I’ll be sure to ask him before opening night how many lighting cues there will be...

Anna

Photo of Bernie by Bridget Elliot

Never Seen Before

This is what Sydneysiders woke up to this morning – something never seen here before!  (And you thought I was going to carry on about how the upcoming production of L’Ormindo will be the first time Sydneysiders have a chance to discover…)

It was Sydney’s worst dust storm with a plume covering 600 kilometres “dumping up to 75,000 tonnes of dust per hour ..”. It was really amazing to look out the windows and at first not to think there was a bushfire next door. Sydney airport, the traffic system were crippled, but with dust over (and in) everything, we plough on!

Our friends at the Italian Cultural Institute invited us to tonight’s opening of the Italian Film Festival featuring a film of course, Vincere, and then a reception afterwards with the Italian community – who we are working closely with to generate lots interest in L’Ormindo. So off to dust off the frock..

Anna

Photo is from my friend Leta Keens of Elizabeth Bay this morning – no sepia tones used!

Sunny September Spring

We had our regular Pinchgut meeting this morning at the “office” (the STC Wharf café) with the team, John, Liz, Ken, Alison, Andrew and myself in another 30 degree day. There was a lot to go over for L’Ormindo with some clever problem solving - including a beautiful musical solution to a pitch challenge - but the exciting news was that we finalised the opera today for next year. We will be letting you know in the L'Ormindo program come December (sorry!). Well, at least you can have a preview of what this year will look like - Andrew and I put the finishing touches to the Window Display in Ash Street after the meeting.. check it out at the next concert you attend at the City Recital Hall. The photo is of the other window display highlighting the past 8 years of Pinchgut.

We have been working on the September newsletter, which will be out next Tuesday to our subscribers both hard copy and email. It’s now at the printers for the hard copy ones (need to do this to reach everyone!) and looking fabulous. Liz continues to add people to the mailing list it seems she meets ”on the street”. I got one to add today from a bloke that trimmed her trees. So if you come across an enthusiastic woman that will not let you go until you have heard about the joys of Pinchgut, then that’ll be Liz. In any case, it’s not that hard to be persuaded - with the music, the line-up, the look of L’Ormindo - it will be that good.

Anna

L'Ormindo Window Display

Andrew and I spent a good deal of Friday doing a terrific window display in Ash Street, the groovy alleyway behind the City Recital Hall, Angel Place  - where the City of Sydney is trying to ramp up the competition (or perhaps, catch up) with Melbourne on the front of intimate dining & drinking experience.

The drawings are of the costumes of the characters in L’Ormindo that designer Adam Gardnir has created. So if you want a sneak preview of how L’Ormindo will look in December - go and check out this little exhibition. It’s only on for 2 weeks, till about the 4^th October.

Me, not being a very good help to Andrew.                     The finished display

And the crowds enjoy...

When a day comes together

Today it hit 33 degrees, 13 above average, AND the surf was good. Doesn't get much better than that. Except when you’re driving around Sydney in an un-air-conditioned car attending a series of meetings. One being at the STC Wharf café – a Pinchgut “office” (another, a Bondi café early this morning).  Still, it is convenient having such public “offices”.

Whist meeting with Alison & Liz regarding future Pinchgut projects, Andrew happened to walk by and was then able to pack my car with goodies for a Pinchgut window display in the Angel Place alley-way (more tomorrow), and then Neil Fisher walks by and we were able to connect briefly with him about his work for us for L’Ormindo. (Neil is technical manager with the amazing Bangarra Dance Theatre, who are currently presenting a beautiful production called Fire – A Retrospective.) All very productive. Pinchgut is run mostly online using macs (we tried to get Macintosh to sponsor us without success), and also by coffee…. Hence, we are able to have our Sydney waterfront “office” whenever we choose to meet face to face. Perfect. Like today. 

Anna

The Bondi office

Seeking Guidance

After some feeble attempts to get back riding the waves since my return from OS a few weeks back, I decided to seek guidance from a pro and took a surfing lesson at Bondi early this morning. After 90mins out the back with the scary boys on fiberglass - and feeling confident under the wing of Leo – I’m springing to my feet (or attempting too) a lot better.

I then spent the rest of the morning with another pro. Craig Thurmer is the Box Office Manager at the City Recital Hall, and certainly knows his business (and everyone else’s). The hot topic in music organisations is the concern with developing the audience and the constant concern that the world is changing around us. By “developing”, I mean 2 things – both increasing the numbers and increasing the understanding and appreciation of the music/opera.

People generally avoid opera or classical music performance as they don’t understand it or realise that it’s fine to experience the music in whatever way they want to. Finding ways to connect people to these performances, making them feel welcome and somewhat informed is really at the heart of building audiences.

Craig and I talked about practical solutions for Pinchgut and the City Recital Hall given the resources that we have, to help build our audiences and reach out to those that should know about us. These are exciting times for us -never before has there been the breadth of tools, knowledge and skills to promote what we do with very limited resources (eg. online areas such as this fab blog!). However, online is only one way – finding every path to reach everyone that maybe interested in L’Ormindo must be explored. The punters are ALL: - If the audience is not considered in every discussion, nor forms the foundation of every action or decision by an arts company – then it will be on a lonely, short road.

Expect my call soon if you have not booked yet!

Anna

Photo: The talented & clever Craig in his Entertainment Room.

Great Aussie Works

I went to the Art Galley of NSW today to met Craig Brush, who currently heads the AG Society which presents the annual Resonate Concert Series in the stunning Old Court wing among works by Aussie greats - Tom Roberts, Frederick McCubbin, Arthur Streeton & George Lambert.

Erin Helyard and Alison Johnston (from our fab artistic team) have been working to finalise the program and line-up the Pinchgut’s Resonate concert which will be held on Sunday 15th November. The program will feature arias and duets from L’Ormindo and some stunning instrumental pieces of the period. So it’s a great chance to get a taste of the main event in December! The Art Gallery concert is held during the rehearsal period for L’Ormindo, so it’s a busy time and a great experience for the Pinchgut team to connect so directly with audiences before the Opening on the 2 Dec.. So come along and hear, then meet some of the singers and players over a drink in the stunning foyer of the Art Gallery.  There are still some seats available, and I’m pretty sure it will sell out. Craig has offered Pinchgut subscribers the AG Society's discounted price of $65. It includes complimentary drinks, sandwiches, and viewing of the Dobell Drawing Prize (Call 02 9225 1878 to book and say you’re a Pinchgut person).

I also meet with Alison and production manager Andrew this afternoon to get the run down on the design. Andrew had the model box and I could really see how the City Recital Hall will be transformed into a magical place come December. It really is going to be something very different for Pinchgut. Director Talya and designer Adam has come up with something that will look timelessly beautiful. Here is a pic of Andrew today at the Wharf café at The Rocks (one of few Pinchgut “offices”) with the model box that, sadly, gives nothing away!

Anna

A Major Birthday

Soprano Jane Sheldon who will be singing the part of Nerillo in L'Ormindo, has been working on a very important project of her own in the last few years.

2009 is the bicentennial of Charles Darwin’s birth and 150 years since the first publication of the Origin of Species - one of the most important scientific works (and beautifully written) of all time. Jane, and philosopher of science Peter Godfrey-Smith, commissioned the “The Origin Cycle” to celebrate this occasion. Jane and Ensemble Offspring will perform the work among the exhibits of the Australian Museum on the 19^th November. The premiere was in Boston last April (read review here) and other performances are in San Francisco, US and Halifax, Canada in October, and the ANU in Canberra on the November 13.

The work, for soprano and chamber ensemble, are fragments of Darwin’s great book set to music by Australian composers Elliott Gyger, Elena Kats-Chernin, Kate Neal, Barry Conyngham, Rosalind Page, Paul Stanhope, Nicholas Vines, and Dan Walker. Jane says about the work: - “The passages chosen encompass the entire work, capturing the many facets of a Darwinian view of nature and summarising what Darwin called the ‘one long argument’ contained in the Origin. They include the passages introducing his most famous and enduring images – the ‘tree of life’ connecting all species, the vision of nature as a surface into which wedges are unceasingly struck, and the book’s final invocation of ‘grandeur in this view of life’.”

Sounds good? Hear Jane in The Origin Cycle AND as Nerillo in L'Ormindo

Anna   

Photo of Jane Sheldon in last year's David & Jonathan. Photo credit: Sarah Puttock

Giving & Receiving

Going through the backlog of emails and getting on top of things today, I came across the results of some fundraising events that Pinchgut supports. Many (well, nearly all..) arts organisations need to supplement their income via fund raising activities and we occasionally give a couple of tickets (at a cost to us) to these very worthy organisations to help them with their causes. Much like our splendid raffle at our first ever (fun) fundraising event in July, check out it out here..

Our friends at 2MBS-FM had their annual “radiothon” last week and I have been delighted to be receiving the calls from those that won our opening night L’Ormindo tickets - so supporting this fine (volunteer-run) station and us. We also gave a couple of tickets to be auction to “Room to Read” for their Wine Gala and I received a thank you with a note explaining that the money raised is being used to fund projects in Nepal, Vietnam and South Africa, “giving children the lifelong gift of eduction”. They raised enough money to fund 2 schools, 2 libraries, 25,000 copies of bilingual children’s picture books and 300 years of girls scholarships. Amazing stuff! It was co-hosted by Pinchgut’s favourite wine legend (and important website for those interested in all things worth living for) Jancis Robinson.

So if you want to support a worthy cause, give what you can no matter how small you think it is (really), volunteer to do a little work for them, buy a ticket to something different & interesting (L’Ormindo’s a good start..) - and drink well.

Anna

Returning to Spring

I’ve just returning to Sydney, and although a little jetlag was delighted to step into the same temperature and the smell jasmine.

Last week I was in Bamberg, Germany. It’s an incredibility beautiful fairytale town – and a real living atmosphere with lots of young people, Kellars (beer cellars), cultural activities and café etc.  Wolfgang Fink is the GM & Director of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra and it was terrific to see him, Aimee Paret and family again. They said that from the population of ~70,000 in Bamberg, there are over 6000 subscribers to the Orchestra, nearly 10% of the population. Wouldn’t that be a great statistic to have for Pinchgut (or any cultural organisation for that matter)? In any case, L’Ormindo ticket sales have remained strong in the last month and still looking towards sell out houses! Wolfgang, Aimee and I also attend an opening night performance in nearby Coburg by baritone Thomas Hampson accompanied by Wolfram Rieger (Australian Geoffrey Parsons was Thomas’s accompanist until he died). It was an terrific program of Schumann, Liszt and Mahler at the (really) stunning Landestheater.

I also went to the SommerBallet in Copenhagen before I left at the Bellevue Teatret. The theatre has an open roof in summer and was designed by the Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, who also designed the nearby waterfront (including this lifesaving tower), residential apartments, restaurant in the 1960s – the really first architect to design for a community in this way. The ballet featured superb live percussionists on stage. And of course, I also visited the amazing Copenhagen Opera House…

So ploughing through some backlog –ready to reach 10% of Sydney for Pinchgut!

Anna