So breath taking 2015

So awe inspiring The Song Company 2015

Let your imagination sing. As we enter our fourth decade, Australia’s most innovative vocal ensemble, The Song Company, continues to explore new territory and revisit the familiar.

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Our subscription series for 2015 blurs boundaries, both musical and geographical as we move from classical to jazz and back again, from Islam to Christianity, and between East and West. The centenary of Gallipoli offers an opportunity to examine Australia’s coming of age, and later political upheavals leading from suppression to liberation. There is a strong emphasis on Australian work and the work of a young generation of composers and musicians. The repertoire moves from the Czech Republic through Turkey and Italy to Australia as the six singers and guest artists examine the notion of transformation through a quiet revolution.

Susannah Lawergren: Soprano

Roland Peelman: Artistic Director

In Postcards from Prague, noted Australian jazz pianist and composer, Andrea Keller explores her Czech origins with a new work inspired by Milan Kundera’s best-selling novel of 1984, The Unbearable Lightness of Being set in the Prague Spring era of Czechoslovak history. Our Easter program features the haunting sound of the Turkish flute or ‘ney’ played by Oguz Mülayim in Lamentations for a Soldier as we mark the centenary of the Gallipoli landings. East and West blend harmoniously through the juxtaposition of Robert White’s beautiful setting of the biblical Lamentations with traditional Turkish sufi music.

Mark Donnelly: Baritone

Anna Fraser: Soprano

Featuring young Italian theorbo virtuoso, Simone Vallerotonda, A Night in Siena by Horatio Vecchi is one of the gems of the early 17th century. Composed as evening entertainment for the court of King Christian IV of Denmark, Vecchi’s work represents the various humours or human temperaments in a mix of serious and light-hearted madrigals.

Richard Black: Tenor

The year ends with The all-Leunig Song Almanac featuring songs, stories, drawings and poems for every month of the year. Twelve of Australia and New Zealand’s most exciting composers have been commissioned to write songs and stories for each month with the work of cartoonist, philosopher and social commentator Michael Leunig. Hannah Fraser: Mezzo Soprano Andrew O'Connor: Bass

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So spine

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tingling

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So spine tingling

Concert One

Postcards From Prague

Andrea Keller, raised in Sydney and now based in Melbourne, is one of the most original personalities to emerge on the Australian jazz scene over the last decade.

A poet at the keyboard and a magician with her regular band, Andrea’s work often takes its starting point from a classical source, more often than not triggered by a family story. Andrea has now set her sights on The Song Company family for a program that combines Janáček, the touchstone of all Czech music, with Martin Wesley-Smith.

The concert is rounded off with songs by the inimitable Iva Bittová, and a number of new songs by Andrea Keller written in Prague during the beautiful spring of 2014. Program Leoš Janáček (1854-1928) Folksong settings and nursery rhymes Iva Bittová Songs Martin Wesley-Smith (b. 1945) Selection of songs Andrea Keller New songs from Prague

21 February – 10 March

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So foot

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tapping

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So foot tapping

Concert Two

Lamentations For A Soldier With Oguz Mülayim, ney (Turkey) and Ekrem Mülayim, composer/performance artist (Australia) 11 April – 23 April

The haunting sound of the Turkish flute or ‘ney’ and the transcendental dance of the dervish form the anchor of our 2015 Easter program. East and West collide through the juxtaposition of Robert White’s beautiful setting of the biblical Lamentations and traditional music from the Sufi tradition going back to the central figure of Rumi (1207-1273).

Program Robert White (1538-1574) Lamentations for six voices

According to Rumi or Jalãl ad-Dín Muhammad Balkhí, music is the language of God and the ney represents a person who has reached perfection or ‘Insan-i Kamil’. As the ney suffers to produce a sound, a human also suffers till the breath of God vibrates in his or her soul. The dignity of human life is central to both Jeremiah’s Lamentations and Rumi’s thinking. At a time when we commemorate the tragic events at Gallipoli as well as the immense losses on the Western front 100 years ago, this message rings truer than ever, from both East and West.

Ekrem Mülayim New setting of Rumi verse Traditional Turkish sufi music

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So genre

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defying

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So genre defying

Concert Three

A Night In Siena

by Horatio Vecchi (1550-1605) with Simone Vallerotonda, theorbo/lute/Renaissance guitar 8 August – 23 August

For this all–Italian extravaganza we welcome a rising star of Italy’s early music scene: Simone Vallerotonda. Vecchi’s magnum opus is neither an opera nor a madrigal collection, yet this curious and hybrid work is one of the undiscovered gems of the early 17th century. Written for Siena’s Intronati, a very distinguished academy, the work represents the composer’s final artistic statement, a cornucopia of musical cameos, comic tricks and deeply touching moments of humanity.

As a direct result of the subjugation of Siena by the Medici, all public gatherings were forbidden in the city between 1563 and 1603. The Intronati of Siena were thus forced underground. Their secret soirées took the form of intellectual contests and debates on the art of love, riddles and, as testified in Vecchi’s work, a 16th century form of theatre sports.

Dedicated to Christian IV, King of Denmark, Vecchi’s work carries the grandiose title of ‘The evening entertainment in Siena or the various humours of modern music’. The various humours or human temperaments refer to the catalogue of 14 serious moods represented as madrigals in the second half of the Veglie. The first half is a set of often facetious ‘imitation-games’ framed by the conceit of a chosen king who calls on his guests to show their acting skills. 14 The Song Company 2015

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So

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Leunig

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So Leunig

Concert Four

The allLeunig Song Almanac

To ring out the old year and ring in the new, we present 12 new songs and 12 stories, one for each month. 31 October – 8 November

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Twelve composers, each supported by a generous donor, have created with The Song Company a new musical almanac for Australia drawing on the words and works of one our most iconic public figures, Michael Leunig.

A wry observer of life, Leunig’s cartoons, stories, poems and drawings are never less than mirthprovoking. But as much as he is a superb humourist, first and foremost he is an observer, philosopher, commentator, historian of the absurd and catalyst for free thinking.

All stories and lyrics based on Leunig. Music by Katy Abbott, Tony Backhouse, Lyle Chan, Alice Chance, Drew Crawford, Robert Davidson, Gareth Farr, Ruth McCall, Kate Moore, Lachlan Skipworth, Mark Viggiani and James Wade.

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Performance Schedule Join us for a thought-provoking and entertaining pre-concert talk with our Artistic Director or Guest Director 30 minutes prior to each performance.

Postcards from Prague Guest Director & artist Andrea Keller, pianist

Blue Mountains

Canberra Includes one Sydney concert

Melbourne

Newcastle

Wollongong

Sydney

Lamentations for a Soldier

A Night in Siena

The all–Leunig Song Almanac

Guest artists: Oguz Mülayim, ney & Ekrem Mülayim, composer/performance artist

Guest artist: Simone Vallerotonda, theorbo, lute & renaissance guitar

28 February Saturday 3pm

18 April Saturday 3pm

8 August Saturday 3pm

31 October Saturday 3pm

Blue Mountains Uniting Church Blackheath

Blue Mountains Uniting Church Blackheath

Blue Mountains Uniting Church Blackheath

Blue Mountains Uniting Church Blackheath

N/A*

22 August Saturday 6pm

7 November Saturday 6pm

Wesley Uniting Church Forrest

Wesley Uniting Church Forrest

21 February Saturday 6pm Street Theatre

*Should Canberra subscribers wish to see this concert in another location, subscription prices will be honoured. Contact The Song Company directly to book.

N/A*

N/A*

*Should Melbourne subscribers wish to see this concert in another location, subscription prices will be honoured. Contact The Song Company directly to book.

*Should Melbourne subscribers wish to see this concert in another location, subscription prices will be honoured. Contact The Song Company directly to book.

23 April Thursday 7pm

20 August Thursday 7pm

5 November Thursday 7pm

Newcastle Conservatorium

Newcastle Conservatorium

Newcastle Conservatorium

Newcastle Conservatorium

22 February Sunday 3pm

19 April Sunday 3pm

23 August Sunday 3pm

8 November Sunday 3pm

Wollongong ART Gallery

Wollongong ART Gallery

Wollongong ART Gallery

Wollongong ART Gallery

Saturday 7 March 3pm or 7pm

Tuesday 14 April 7:30pm or Wednesday 15 April 7:30pm

Sunday 9 August 3pm or Tuesday 11 August 7:30pm

Sunday 1 November 3pm

Sydney Opera House Utzon Room

St Mary’s Crypt

Conservatorium of Music Verbrugghen Hall

10 March Tuesday 6pm

21 April Tuesday 6pm

Melbourne Recital Centre The Salon

Melbourne Recital Centre The Salon

26 February Thursday 7pm

Saturday 11 April 8pm Blacktown Arts Centre

Song Company Encounters Tickets Song Company Encounters are short, focused programs by The Song Company which allow subscribers in Sydney to hear a program of their favourite musical period as part of the subscription package. Purchase Song Company Encounters Tickets as part of your subscription package for $25/ticket. Performance times below. Please add ticket requirements to your booking form under the Calculate Your Payment section. Paradise Early Music Program 27 June Saturday 3pm Glebe Town Hall X Meets Y Contemporary Operetta 2 October Friday 7pm Wharf 4/5, Walsh Bay or 3 October Saturday 3pm Wharf 4/5, Walsh Bay

City Recital Hall Angel Place Tuesday 3 November 7:30pm Riverside Theatre Parramatta

Subscription prices valid only to 1 December 2014. Single tickets available from 1 December 2014. 20 The Song Company 2015

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How to Book

Subscription Booking Form

1. Single tickets (after 1 December 2014) Canberra Sydney Street Theatre City Recital Hall Angel Place thestreet.org.au cityrecitalhall.com 02 6247 1223 02 8256 2222

1. Pricing

Melbourne Melbourne Recital Centre melbournerecitalcentre.com.au 03 9699 3333

Sydney Opera House sydneyoperahouse.com 02 9250 7777 Parramatta Riverside Theatre riversideparramatta.com.au 02 8839 3398 Blacktown Arts Centre artscentre.blacktown.nsw.gov.au 02 9839 6558

• Up to 25% off single ticket prices • Bring a friend for $25 to two subscription concerts

Subscribe & Save

• We’re offering all subscribers the opportunity to receive three complimentary issues of Limelight Magazine, an essential guide to the world of classical music. Resubscribers after this introductory period will be eligible for a special discount rate. T&Cs apply. Please visit: www.limelightmagazine.com.au/content/terms-conditions • Be the first to purchase Song Company Encounters tickets. Seating is limited for both events • Invitations to subscriber-only events including open rehearsals in Sydney • Offers and discounts from other arts organisations

Adult

Concession

Under 30

Student

Sydney (4 concerts)

$220

$200

$140

$75

Melbourne (2 concerts)

$100

$90

$66

n/a

Canberra (3 concerts)

$150

$125

$95

$45

All Other Locations (4 concerts)

$200

$165

$125

$65

2. Calculate your payment Number of subscriptions ____ subscriptions at $_________ ____ subscriptions at $_________ Bring a friend @$25/ticket (not available in Melbourne) I would like to bring ____ friend(s) to Lamentations for a Soldier I would like to bring ____ friend(s) to Night in Siena __ I would like to receive a complimentary three issue subscription to Limelight Magazine

$__________ $__________ $__________ $__________ $0

Song Company Encounters @$25/ticket Paradise _ ___tickets X Meets Y _ ___tickets (indicate attendance date ____________ )

$__________ $__________

I would like to make a tax-deductible donation to The Song Company Foundation Trust (receipts will be issued).

$50

Booking fee

$5

Total Due

$__________

3. If attending in Sydney, please indicate your desired performance times 2. Subscription: Complete and return the detachable postal subscription booking form. See form for mailing details. Prices include GST. Booking fees apply. Concession applies to Australian Social Security and Veterans Affairs Pensioners only. Student concession applies to Australian full-time students. To obtain a concession, a copy of valid ID must be submitted with booking form.

Postcards from Prague

A Night in Siena

[ ] Saturday 7 March 3pm

[ ] Sunday 9 August 3pm

[ ] Saturday 7 March 7pm Lamentations for a Soldier

The all-Leunig Song Almanac

[ ] Tuesday 14 April 7:30pm

[ ] Sunday 1 November 3pm

[ ] Wednesday 15 April 7:30pm [ ] Saturday April 11 8pm

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[ ] Tuesday 11 August 7:30pm

[ ] Tuesday 3 November 7.30pm 23

Acknowledgements

4. Your contact details Title:

The Song Company would like to thank all our generous sponsors for their ongoing support and gratefully acknowledge the vital role each plays in our continued development.

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The Song Company receives around 35% of its annual funding from Government sources, with the balance made up from box office income, sponsorship, and individual donations. Corporate and private support is critical to our ongoing artistic growth. Please consider making a gift to support the work of The Song Company. To discuss how you or your business can contribute to The Song Company, contact Irene Hendricks on (02) 8272 9500 or email [email protected]

Address: Postcode: Email: [ ] Opt in to receive enewsletter

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Acknowledgements *T  he Song Company Pty Ltd is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, and the NSW Government through Arts NSW.

Special mention

6. Post your completed form to us: Don't forget to include your proof of status if necessary

Sydney, Blue Mountains/Western Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle & Wollongong *The Song Company Pier 5, The Wharf, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay, NSW 2000 Melbourne *Melbourne Recital Centre 31 Sturt Street, Southbank VIC 3006

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Enquiries For any enquiries please call The Song Company (02) 8272 9500 or visit www.songcompany.com.au Follow us on

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