new music

Davis + Lambourne + Wong: Heggie

Featuring Conservatorium staff and guest artists, this concert presents two works that bring attention to domestic violence, composed by award-winning American composer Jake Heggie.

Songs for Murdered Sisters (2020), with text by Margaret Atwood, will be re-imagined and interpreted by Melissa Davis (soprano), Victoria Lambourn (mezzo-soprano) and Jerry Wong (piano). To Hell and Back (2006), based on the Greco-Roman myth of Persephone, is a unique piece composed for two singers and a baroque orchestra. Sung by soprano Melissa Davis and mezzo-soprano Linda Barcan, this piece will be conducted by Stephen Grant and directed by Jane Davidson, who will thoughtfully combine elements of the present day alongside a Baroque timbre.

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Brown & Breen + Chindamo: Chindamo & Bernstein

URBAN EPISODES: A CLASSICAL-JAZZ FUSION

Join the Brown & Breen Piano Duo and renowned jazz pianist Joe Chindamo for an unforgettable classical-jazz fusion performance at Montsalvat!

The concert begins with the world premiere of Chindamo’s exciting new work for two pianos, Urban Episodes, and is followed by Leonard Bernstein’s virtuosic masterpiece Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. After interval, join Chindamo as he is inspired by the melodies you heard in West Side Story just moments before, and improvises live on stage.

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Rubiks Collective: Mazzoli, Eötvös, Komura, Cuong, Ojakangas, Lyle & Long

Rubiks takes you on a journey across the Pacific, celebrating their long-standing collaboration with USA new music laboratory Black House Collective. Featuring three world premieres commissioned by BHC, Futures Exchange pays homage to their creative partners in the US and Rubiks' formative roots as an ensemble.

Rubiks Collective is one of Melbourne’s most dynamic contemporary art music ensembles. It has been commended for “incredibly personal, strangely spiritual and ultimately deeply touching” performances (Limelight Mag).

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Ensemble Offspring: Clapham, Gifford, Henry, Wyatt, Avery, Simpson & Ross

NGARRA-BURRIA: "TO LISTEN, TO SING"

Ensemble Offspring’s performance in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall as part of New Music Days 2023 presents an ambitious First Nations showcase of new music, featuring an astonishing array of new and established voices.

Focusing on the emergence of First Nations composers in the classical music landscape, the program features notable composers Rhyan Clapham aka DOBBY, Brenda Gifford, James Henry, Aaron Wyatt, Eric Avery, Nardi Simpson and Mark Ross, curated by Chris Sainsbury and Claire Edwardes. A joyous evening of ambitious and ground-breaking music not to be missed.

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Croissants & Whiskey: tba

An unconventional blend of Harpsichord, G Violone, Baroque Viola and Recorders creates new and unexpected timbres, blending the sonorous with the sharp, and making the old new again. Performing both baroque and modern compositions, Croissants and Whiskey is currently commissioning new works from diverse Australian voices, including an upcoming recording of Elizabeth Younan's The Fertile Crescent for the ABC Composer Commissioning Fund.

Formed during 2020’s stage 4 lockdown, Croissants and Whiskey is named after the refreshing libations at those first joyous post-pandemic rehearsals. Joy Lee, Ryan Williams, Katie Yap, and Miranda Hill bring musicality, focus, and humour to their work, making any performance one not to miss.

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Ensemble Liaison: Young, Brahms & Piazzolla

LIAISON AND THE SEASONS

Described by Limelight magazine as a ‘national treasure’, Ensemble Liaison is one of Australia’s leading internationally acclaimed ensembles. Now in their 17th season, they are renowned for their captivating and engaging performances, recognised for imaginative and innovative programming, setting the trend for brilliant collaborations with leading artists.

With something for everyone, this program presents Johannes Brahms’ glorious Romanticism, a new Australian work written especially for the Trio, and a selection of their favourite ‘Seasons’ by Argentinian Tango master, Astor Piazzolla.

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Consortium of Viols: Lawes, Purcell, Sculthorpe, Kats-Chernin & Green

FANTAZY

Consortium unites a band of Australia’s finest viol players to explore the rich repertoire for viol consort. Drawing upon a wealth of professional experience in its players and a deep-shared love of the consort experience, Consortium enables Australian audiences to experience the beauty and crystalline purity of the traditional repertoire for viol consort alongside exciting avant-garde new music being written for this unique medium.

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ELISION: Bellamy, Cassidy & Lim

EXTINCTION EVENTS & DAWN CHORUS

Elision's performance as part of New Music Days 2023 presents virtuosic new sounds from one of the world’s leading new music groups. Featuring works by the inimitable Liza Lim, Mary Bellamy and Aaron Cassidy, this thought-provoking program explores pertinent environmental issues of our time, celebrating the world premiere of Aaron Cassidy’s new piano concerto.

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