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Keeping you in tune with music and the arts, with David Morriss
BRITTEN: The Sally Gardens - Janet Baker (mezzo), Geoffrey Parsons (pno) (BBC Legends BBCL 4117)
BAX: The Garden of Fand - BBC Phil/Vernon Handley (Chandos CHAN 10362)
BACH: Prelude & Fugue in C BWV547 - Marie-Claire Alain (org) (Erato 0630 15343)
MEHUL: Chant National for 3 choirs and 3 orchestras - Toulouse Capitole Chorus & Orch/Michel Plasson (EMI CDC 7 49470)
HANDEL: Trio Sonata in G minor HWV393, excerpts - Zefiro (DHM 88697 63023)
BESSER arr Besser/Prosser: Wellington Harbour - Jonathan Besser (pno), Christopher Prosser (vln) (KIWI CD SLD 114)
BARTÓK: Hungarian Sketches Sz97 - Chicago SO/Fritz Reiner (RCA 09026-61504)
FARQUHAR: Ring Round the Moon, Short Suite (3) - New Zealand SO/Kenneth Young (Continuum CCD 1073)
WALTON: The Quest - London Phil/Bryden Thomson (Chandos CHAN 8871)
Midday
London’s Royal College of Music renames its Masters in Piano Accompaniment to Masters of Collaborative Piano
1pm: Alfredo Bernardini and Alberto Grazzi: Ensemble Zefiro
The extraordinary colours of 17th and 18th century woodwind instruments have lent Italy’s Ensemble Zefiro a cult following. Founded by Maestri dei legni Alfredo Bernardini (oboe) and Alberto Grazzi (bassoon), this period-instrument ensemble have won numerous awards. They’re performing two programmes in New Zealand: the first features Handel, Fasch, Telemann, Haydn and Mozart; and the second is dedicated to Mozart. They are performing eight concerts nationally 10 to 22 August, beginning today at Wellington Michael Fowler Centre.
1.30 Gao Ping and Xiao Ma: A voice bridging China and the West
Composer Gao Ping and counter tenor Xiao Ma premiere their Orchestra Wellington commission Wild Cherry Tree tomorrow night. Gao Ping has written the five-movement symphony with songs especially for Xiao Ma, to give his three octave range a chance to shine. The pair tell Eva Radich how their shared Sichuan heritage has blossomed in this unique hybrid of Chinese and Western music.
China's first counter tenor Xiao Ma has a unique way of singing that is both Western and Chinese and reflects the shared Sichuan heritage he has with composer Gao Ping. They have come together to premiere their Orchestra Wellington commission Wild Cherry Tree this August. Gao Ping has written the five-movement symphony with songs especially for Xiao Ma, to give his three octave range a chance to shine, and we hear the magic of that voice turned to a Sinatra classic at the end of this interview with Eva Radich. "Its important to forget about your voice," Xiao Man tells Eva.
Xiao Ma was discovered by renowned Chinese bass Gong Dong-Jian in 2006, and made his debut the following year with Shanghai Opera as Cherubino in Mozart’s the Marriage of Figaro, which became a signature role. Xiao Ma’s bel canto repertoire includes Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Vivaldi and Handel arias. He is praised for his "bright, solid, yet flexible coloratura, seamless integration of chest voice and head voice, and rich music expressiveness."
Xiao Ma has given numerous recitals and appearances worldwide, and in 2012 made his New Zealand debut with a tour of 4 cities and 9 concerts. Here he is rehearsing the work of Jack Body with the APO in 2012.
Composer Gao Ping like Xiao Ma hails from Chengdu, Sichuan province. Receiving commissions and performances from around the world Beijing musicologist Li Xi’an has referred to Gao Ping as a leading member of the “sixth generation” of Chinese composers after the “fifth generation” composers such as Tan Dun and Qu Xiaosong.
In New Zealand, his music has been presented by Michael Houstoun, John Chen, Christchurch International Arts Festival, New Zealand String Quartet, and NZTrio. Gao was the recipient of the 2010 CANZ (Composers Association of NZ) Trust Fund Award.
As a pianist, Gao Ping’s repertoire is extensive and he has performed to acclaim all over the world, including with the NZSO and, below, with the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra.