Tinalley String Quartet presents Through Nature to Eternity

Published by: PBP | 27-Apr-2016
TINALLEY STRING QUARTET PRESENTS THROUGH NATURE TO ETERNITY. Featuring guest artist singer/songwriter Lior with a reimagining of Compassion for Quartet and Voice by Nigel Westlake, works by Ravel, Dvořák, Barber and the world premiere of Song Cycle written by Ade Vincent and Lior. MAY 2 & 3 Sydney Opera House, MAY 4 Melbourne Recital Centre
Venue: Sydney Opera House (Utzon Room), Melboure Recital Centre (Elisabeth Murdoch Hall)
Address: Sydney Opera House - Bennelong Point, Melbourne Recital Centre - Southbank
Date: Sydney - 2 & 3 May, Melbourne 4 May
Time: 7.30pm
Ticket: Syd: Adults $60 · Concession $50 · Under 30 $30 Melb: Adults $50 · Concession $40 · Under 30 $30
Buy / Ticket: www. sydneyoperahouse.com and www.melbournerecital.com.au
Web: www.tinalley.com.au
Tinalley String Quartet, one of Australia's finest and internationally recognised chamber ensembles presents their first program for the 2016 season, Through Nature to Eternity with special guest artist, ARIA awarded singer/songwriter Lior.

Made up of Adam Chalabi (1st violin), Lerida Delbridge (2nd violin), Justin Williams (viola) and Michelle Wood (cello), Tinalley String Quartet has been inspired to move in a new direction in 2016, presenting programs that merge the classical world of the string quartet with new commissions and collaborations. The concert experience of Through Nature to Eternity is true to this path, drawing on the richness of tradition, yet reaching out to the modern world and challenging the senses.

Opening with Ravel's effusive String Quartet in F Major, one of the genres most beloved works, the program takes shape of a musical narrative of love, loss and compassion with the world premiere of Song Cycle by Lior and Melbourne composer, Ade Vincent. This composition features the words of Dylan Thomas' Do not go gentle into that good night and Hazel Hall's Hours. The Quartet then explores echoes of love cherished, tormented and forgotten in three of Dvořák's rousing love songs from his collection of rarely played Cypresses.

Lior takes centre stage with the achingly beautiful My Grandfather from his album Scattered Reflections, a deeply personal song referencing his grandfather's escape from Polish concentration camps and ensuing life as a Russian sniper.

Barber's haunting Adagio from his String Quartet Opus 11, a work now associated with times of mourning, is brought to life by Tinalley in its original form for string quartet. Concluding the evening is a reimagining of Sim Shalom from Nigel Westlake's Compassion, written in collaboration with Lior for the Sydney Symphony in 2013. This performance offers audiences a more intimate musical experience of the work that draws from the rich worlds of Islam and Judaism. It is in essence, a collection of profound and poetic messages inspiring the idea of compassion between human beings.

"I have been a great admirer of the Tinalley String Quartet for many years and have had the privilege of previously working with some of its members on my own album recordings. Coupled with the opportunity to write with such a fine young composer in Ade Vincent on a song cycle, as well as performing a string quartet adaptation of a movement from my recent collaborative work with Nigel Westlake - 'Compassion' - this concert is personally a very appealing event to be a part of, " said Lior.

Lerida Delbridge, 2nd Violinist of the Tinalley String Quartet first worked with Lior in 2004:"I first met Lior when I recorded one of the string lines for his song, 'This Old Love'. At that moment, I knew that here was a musician with a uniquely beautiful voice and the rare ability to capture raw emotion in song. I have had the privilege of working with Lior many times for various music festivals and recordings, but this is the first time that we have worked together from a 'classical' point of view! Given his stunning work with Nigel Westlake in Compassion, I can't wait to see this beautiful project come to life".

Performances in the intimate surrounds of the Utzon Room at the Sydney Opera House on May 2 and 3, and the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall at the Melbourne Recital Centre on May 4, offer the opportunity to experience an evocative evening of music making with TInalley String Quartet and the truly remarkable voice of Lior.

PROGRAM:

Ravel String Quartet in F major
Ade Vincent/Lior Song Cycle (World Premiere)*
Dvorak Cypresses 2, 3 & 4 for String Quartet
Lior My Grandfather
Barber Adagio from String Quartet Opus 11
Nigel Westlake/Lior Sim Shalom from Compassion for String Quartet & Voice#
*Commissioned by Melbourne Recital Centre
# Commissioned by Julian Burnside QC

EVENT DETAILS:

Sydney

2 & 3 May 2016, 7.30pm Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House
Bookings - 02 9250 7777 or sydneyoperahouse.com
Cost - Adults $60 · Concession $50 · Under 30 $30

Melbourne

4 May 2016, 7.30pm, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre
Bookings - Ph. 03 9699 3333 or melbournerecital.com.au
Cost: Adults $50 · Concession $40 · Under 30 $30

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Australia's Tinalley String Quartet has established itself as one of the finest string quartets of its generation. Awarded First Prize at the 9th Banff International String Quartet Competition and Grand Prize at the 2005 Australian Chamber Music Competition, the Quartet has performed throughout Europe, America, Canada and Australia to critical acclaim. International highlights have included appearances at the Vienna Musikverein, Berlin Konzerthaus, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Bremen Die Glocke, Frankfurt AlteOper, as well as in Paris, Hamburg, Nurnberg, Luxembourg, Baden-Baden, Utrecht, Vancouver, Calgary, San Jose, San Francisco, San Diego, Toronto and New York.

In Australia, the Quartet has appeared in recital for the Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House, Musica Viva Australia and at the nation's premier festivals including Perth International Arts Festival; Canberra International Music Festival; Huntington Festival; the Port Fairy Festival and the Melbourne International Arts Festival. Tinalley's CD release of Haydn's Opus 20 Quartets in 2014 garnered international praise, UK's Strad Magazine singling the recording out as 'recommended' listening, describing the performances as "technically assured, warm-toned, beautifully blended and ideally balanced"¦ they characterise Haydn's differing moods with sharp insights, relish his developing dramatic language and make telling use of silence as an expressive device".

GUEST ARTIST: LIOR

Lior is one of Australia's most successful singer-songwriters, renowned for his beautiful voice and songs that radiate truth and sincerity. He burst on to the Australian music scene in 2005 with his stunning debut album 'Autumn Flow'. Recorded and released entirely independently, the album became one of the most successful independent debuts in Australian history. A swag of accolades followed, amongst them three ARIA nominations including Best Male Artist. Lior has since released a further four albums, and has toured extensively both in Australia and internationally.

In 2013, Lior collaborated with renowned composer Nigel Westlake in writing a song cycle for voice and orchestra. The work titled "Compassion" consists of original melodies and orchestration set to ancient Hebrew and Arabic texts, all centered around the idea of compassion. The work was premiered with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House in late 2013 and subsequently went on to tour nationally with all the major state orchestras, including a performance at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in early 2014. A recording of "Compassion" was released in 2014 and went to #1 on both the Classical as well as Classical / Crossover charts. Lior and Nigel went on to win the ARIA for "Best Classical Album" in 2014.

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