Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

The Czech composer Josef Suk married Dvořák’s daughter Otilie, so that – as you can see in the program list – a composing son-in-law and his composing father-in-law begin and end the Australia Ensemble’s April program. That family connection (sadly severed by Otilie’s early death) is less important than the fact that that both composers declare in their very individual ways a profound love of the irresistible spirit of Czech musical and dance traditions. Dance and its instrumental distillations are key elements in this program. Ross Edwards communicates his audible pleasure in the kind of danceable impulse conjured up by offbeat accents and lilting syncopations. The Polish Witold Lutosławski, one of the composers recognised as masters in the annals of 20th century music, draws on his own national inheritance in his superlatively crafted Dance Preludes.

Performers: Australia Ensemble @UNSW: Ian Munro - Piano, Cathy McCorkill - Clarinet, Geoffrey Collins - Flute, Dene Olding - Violin, Dimity Hall - Violin, Irina Morozova - Viola, Julian Smiles - Cello. Plus guest artists: Shefali Pryor - Oboe, Robert Johnson - Horn, Andrew Barnes - Bassoon, Kees Boersma - Double Bass.

Featured non-Australian music: SUK, Piano Quartet in A minor; LUTOSLAWSKI, Dance Preludes (Third Version); DVORAK, String Quintet in G major

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on +61 2 9385 4874 or by email to australia.ensemble@unsw.edu.au

Featured Australian Works

Featured artists

• Performer Geoffrey Collins
• Performer Catherine McCorkill