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2MBS Fine Music Sydney Open Day Guest: Amelia Farrugia
One of our special guests for the 2MBS Fine Music Sydney 2023 Open Day is renowned soprano singer Amelia Farrugia who has captivated audiences with her stunning vocal range and emotive performances in some of the world’s most prestigious opera houses and concert halls.
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Jazz-in-Conversation: Bonnie Stewart
Each Friday at noon, Barry O’Sullivan invites a studio guest onto Friday’s A Jazz Hour, this week drummer, composer, improviser and educator, Bonnie Stewart.
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On this Day: March 30, 1897
Frederick Delius is widely regarded as one of the most influential British composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although he spent most of his life in France, his music was heavily inspired by his time in the United States and South America. In 1897, Delius composed his first opera, Koanga, which premiered at the Stadttheater in Elberfeld, Germany.
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Program Highlight: Evenings With The Orchestra Friday March 31, 8pm
During the early 1900s, England saw the rise of several provincial orchestras outside of London, Manchester, and Birmingham. These orchestras were often founded by local music enthusiasts and musicians who aimed to bring classical music to their communities.
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CD Review: Felicity Wilcox – Threading The Light
Felicity Wilcox’s major composition, the chamber opera Threading the light, was completed and recorded in 2012 as part of her PhD in composition. It has now been released, spurred on by its recent world premiere performance by The Cooperative at Pitt Street Uniting Church. Its title, and those of its four movements (Light, Water, Blood and Fire), reference the importance of ritual in transcending worldly concerns.
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Born On this Day – Barry Miles
Barry Miles is a jazz musician from Newark, New Jersey, who has made significant contributions to the jazz scene since the 1960s. Born in 1947, Miles grew up in a musical family and began playing piano at a young age. He was soon drawn to jazz music, particularly the music of bebop pioneers like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
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Coy Composers Round 7 – A Word Puzzle
These composers all born in March don’t want to celebrate their birthdays! Help find them so they get to enjoy a slice of cake.
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French Master par excellence
Former French Prime Minister Charles de Freycinet was walking amongst the urbane people of Paris when he recognized César Franck approaching at a fast trot, his uniform an oversized frock coat, grey trousers hoisted too high, top hat haphazardly brushed against the nap. The Prime Minister slowed to talk, but Franck, without breaking stride, called as he passed, “Will you come with me to Sainte-Clotilde? But don’t speak to me. I heard last night heavenly things, and I don’t want to forget them!”
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CD Review: Netzel, Sandström & Tarrodi: Piano Concertos
The Swedish pianist, Peter Friis Johansson, has combined with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra to bring us three premiere recordings of Swedish concertos, two modern, one from the early 20th Century. Most well-known of the composers is Sven-David Sandström, whose Five pieces for piano and orchestra dates from 2017.
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As It Happened: Abby, Andrew and also Arty
2MBS Fine Music Sydney has a commitment to supporting young Australian musicians. Listen in to Emergent Jazz (Saturday 25th at 7pm) for Abby, Andrew, and also Arty, as part of As It Happened – Live at Founders.
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What is The Wagner Tuba?
The Wagner tuba, also known as the Bayreuth tuba, is a brass instrument that was invented by Richard Wagner for use in his operas. It is a unique instrument that looks like a cross between a French horn and a tuba, with a conical bore and a wide bell.
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Born On This Day – George Benson
George Benson is one of the most influential and versatile guitarists in the history of jazz music. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 22 1943, Benson began his musical career as a young boy, singing and playing the ukulele. By the age of eight, he had already made his first professional recordings, and by the time he was a teenager, he had become a skilled guitarist, playing with some of the top jazz musicians of the time, one of which was Wes Montgomery.
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James Desmond Grant Cameron Pereth (1954 to 2023)
It is with a heavy heart that I write about the passing of James (Jim) Pereth. Jim was instrumental during our original mast installation at Governor Philip Tower.
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Jazz-On-Wednesdays: the magic of world jazz
Jazz-On-Wednesdays brings you the magic of world jazz. Listen to Jazz Sketches with Robert Vale at noon, and Planet Jazz with Xavier Bichon at 7pm.Jazz Sketches has the delights of…
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CD Review – Love Letters: Compositions For Solo Piano – Tim Bruer
Some purists prefer artists to stay in their lane, but often when they venture out of that tried and tested territory, we hear another side of their superb musicianship. Such is the case in the new recording of Sydney-based jazz pianist Tim Bruer.
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Born on this day – Josef Gabriel Rheinberger
Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (1839-1901) was a German composer and organist known for his prolific output of choral, chamber, and organ music. He was born in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, and showed musical talent at a young age, eventually studying at the Munich Conservatory where he later became a professor.
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Tamara-Anna Cislowska & Gerard Willems Recital
From Beethoven to Gershwin, a spellbinding evening of illuminating solo’s and duets intertwined, performed on two grand pianos by Australian piano legends – Tamara Anna Cislowska and Gerard Willems in Recital.
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Focus on the Words
Angela Cockburn introduces a new series on librettists. Starting in January and running through to June, in the first week of the month Treasures of the Voice will feature a series about the librettists – the wordsmiths that create the stories and the dialogue that keeps an opera or a musical moving right along while still being singable for the performers.
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Highlights from a week of Fine Classics
Here is just a sample of this week’s Classical Fine Music: We feature the alumni of the Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin from Pachelbel to Schulhoff. Shine the spotlight on, 18th century Italian, Niccolò Jommelli and we continue to explore the performances of Andre Previn.
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International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (8 March) is a day for joining voices around the world and shout our message for equal rights: “Women’s rights are human rights!” Check out Jazz-On-Wednesday, Fine Music Magazine, Fine Music Afternoon, and Music of the Night.
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The female crescendo
Having gone to an all-girls’ school, I met a fair share of our species. Some were fierce, others mild and maternal. Pinned outside the philosophy club was a poster, known these days as a ‘meme’: I’m a female. Fe = Iron Male = Man Therefore, I am Iron Man. One doesn’t need to be a chemistry or Marvel Comics nerd to appreciate the mettle of women.
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CD Review – Paul Stanhope: Three Quartets – Australian String Quartet
The Australian composer Paul Stanhope is the focus of a new recording from the Australian String Quartet. Composed between 2008…
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At The Opera – Rivals in Love
Adriana Lecouvreur is a four-act opera composed by Francesco Cilea with a libretto by Arturo Colautti. The opera premiered at the Teatro Lirico in Milan, Italy, in 1902 and has since become a staple of the Italian opera repertoire. Adriana Lecouvreur tells the story of the titular character, a famous French actress, and her tragic love affair with Maurizio, the Count of Saxony.
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Wayne Shorter (August 25, 1933 – March 2, 2023)
One of America’s greatest jazz saxophonists, Wayne Shorter, has died at the age of 89 in a hospital in Los Angeles. Shorter played a central role in three of the most significant jazz groups of the 20th century: Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis’s quintet, and Weather Report. He also collaborated with musicians such as Joni Mitchell, Carlos Santana, and Steely Dan. Listen to our FineJazz tribute to Shorter on Friday Jazz Session at 7:00pm.
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Jazz After Hours
Late night Sundays and Mondays are special times of the week. From 10:00pm this week, Jazz After Hours brings you Eddie Bernasconi, and Ramsay McInnes. Catch the crew with jazz to engage, relax and refresh.
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Fine Music Jigsaw Puzzle
Enjoy recreating “The Garden Trio” with this 50 piece online jigsaw puzzle
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Aretha Franklin – An Icon
Born with an amazing voice, Aretha Franklin grew up surrounded by music, especially by her mother who was an accomplished piano player and vocalist. Franklin began singing when she was nine, and around this time began to learn the piano – by ear! Her life changed when she was 18 and she walked into New York’s Columbia Records to record with the Ray Bryant Combo. Even at 18 her voice was astonishing and powerful, although Columbia did not have any idea of her future. A year later in 1961, Franklin was declared ‘New-Star Female Vocalist’ in the DownBeat Critics Poll, a measure of general agreement for the jazz press.
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CD Review – Tim Bruer – Love Letters Compostions for Solo Piano
****Some purists prefer artists to stay in their lane, but often when they venture out of that tried and tested…
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A Life of Max Reger
The German composer and musician Max Reger was both a conservative and a visionary, looking back to the musical forms of the 18th century and forward to the harmonic adventures of the 20th. Reger inherited the gifts of his musician father, quickly developing an ambition to become a composer. This resulted from hearing Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and Parsifal during his first pilgrimage to Bayreuth.
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March – Notes from the Editor
The March issue of Fine Music Magazine features a celebration of the 150 anniversary, of the under-appreciated, Max Reger. We explore the diverse wealth of talented Australian female musicians and composers, in honour of International Women’s Day. There is even a poem exploring Bach’s The Art of Fugue…
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Stormy Monday: Fine Music Blues
Stormy Monday brings to Monday evenings two hours of the best of blues. Each week from 8:00pm, Austin Harrison and Garth Sundberg curate Sydney’s best blues program. Check in for their favourite gigs.
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Coy Composers Round 6 – A Word Puzzle
Can you help to find these composers who are all born in February before the month ends?
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Highlights from a week of Fine Music Mornings
Here is just a small sample from this week’s Classical Fine Music. Weekday mornings with Diversions in Fine Music, and Concert Hall.
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Nina Simone – Gifted and Black
Louise Levy looks at Nina Simone, on what would have been her 90th Birthday. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in 1933 in Tryon, North Carolina, Nina Simone came from a family filled with music. She was the sixth of eight children, and though her mother rarely showed any affection, she encouraged classical piano. By the time Nina had turned six, she had become the regular church pianist in Tryon.
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Hubert Clifford: A true pioneer
Paul Cooke surveys an early Australian symphonist Hubert Clifford’s Symphony 1940 was something of an anomaly among his compositions. While his…
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CD of the Week – Love Letters
Love Letters – Compositions for solo piano is an album of solo piano pieces by jazz pianist Tim Bruer. The compositions draw from jazz, classical and folk music, and whilst broadly lyrical, express a wide variety of moods and feelings. The pieces are fully scored, although a couple include some improvisation.
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Highlights from a week of Fine Classics
Here is just a sample of this week’s Classical Fine Music: Journey back to the splendour of the Court of Louis XIV, or delight in flute music of 19th and 20th Centuries, maybe even dare yourself to listen to Salieri’s Tarare.
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CD Review – Felicity Wilcox: Threading the light
Felicity Wilcox’s major composition, the chamber opera Threading the light, was completed and recorded in 2012 as part of her PhD in composition. It has now been released, spurred on by its recent world premiere performance by The Cooperative at Pitt Street Uniting Church.
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Jazz After Hours
Late night Sundays and Mondays are special times of the week, especially after 10pm. Last week, it was trumpeter Eddie Bernasconi, and producer Ramsay McInnes. From 10:00pm this week, it is Deborah Evans and Gail Monjo. Catch the crew with jazz to engage, relax and refresh. Or Listen Anytime.
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2MBS Fine Music Sydney – Showcase
2MBS Fine Music Sydney’s Showcase returns this Sunday from 3pm with highlights from our 2022 season, captured live in our Founders Studio.
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Highlights from a week of Fine Music Mornings
Here is just a small sample from this week’s Classical Fine Music. Weekday mornings with Diversions in Fine Music, and Concert Hall.
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Jazz On Wednesdays
Wednesdays bring you contemporary world jazz in two programs: Jazz Sketches with Robert Vale at noon; and Planet Jazz with Xavier Bichon at 7:00pm. From European,…
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Édouard Lalo – bicentenary
2MBS Fine Music Sydney has recognised the magnificence and import of French composer, Édouard Lalo, in a three-part broadcast of…
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February Fine Music Magazine
The February issue of our Fine Music Magazine features a tribute to Australian jazz and soul singer, Renée Geyer who passed away last month. Also in this edition Michael Morton-Evans traces the highs and lows of the prodigiously talented Strauss dynasty,
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Highlights from a week of Fine Classics
Here is just a sample of this week’s Classical Fine Music: There’s a celebration of the alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and a selection of works awarded a Rosette in the Penguin guide to recorded music.
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February Events In Sydney
Sydney siders are spoilt for choice this February, as the city is jam packed with live music events. Here are some highlights of what’s happening throughout the month.
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SYDNEY PHILHARMONIA CHOIRS
Please visit our sponsor, SYDNEY PHILHARMONIA CHOIRSYou might like to visit our other sponsors
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AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL OF CHAMBER MUSIC
Please visit our sponsor, Australian Festival of Chamber MusicYou might like to visit our other sponsors
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Highlights from a week of Fine Music Mornings
Here is just a small sample from this week’s Classical Fine Music. Weekday mornings with Diversions in Fine Music, and Concert Hall.
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CD of the Week – Binna Burra Dreaming
Composer Margaret Brandman’s works are celebrated for their melodic sensitivity and inventiveness. Her Binna Burra Dreaming album released on the Ambition label, presents finely-crafted gems for ‘cello with piano, superbly recorded in high definition…
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Highlights from a week of Fine Music Mornings
Here is just a small sample from this week’s Classical Fine Music. Weekday mornings with Diversions in Fine Music, and Concert Hall.
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Highlights from a week of Fine Classics
Here is just a sample of this week’s Classical Fine Music: From Silvestre Revueltas’s colour and romanticism of Mexico to posthumously discovered works of Florence Price, plus a celebration of Australian performers.
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Coy Composers Round 5 – A Word Puzzle
Can you help to find these composers who are all born in January before the month ends?
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Studio Guest Esther Song
On Thursday morning, Simon Moore spoke with soprano Esther Song, who will be playing the iconic role of Musette in La Bohème with Opera Australia during the second half of the run.
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Born on this day – Johann Christian Sinding (11/01/1856)
Christian August Sinding studied music in addition to his academic studies throughout his school years, taking violin with Gudbrand Bøhn and music theory with L.M. Lindeman, one of the most important musicians in Christiana (later renamed Oslo). In 1874 he followed the path of his famous countryman Edvard Grieg by going to Leipzig to study.
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Class Act: Encore!
In the midst of seasonal activities, did you catch Class Act: Encore! on new years eve? This broadcast featured a broad selection of previously unaired performances from the students at Fort Street High School; Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Sydney; St Joseph’s College; and Winmalee High School.
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CD of the Week – Pièces de Violle
In 1685, De Machy published his Pièces de Violle, the first and only one of its kind for unaccompanied viol in France. De Machy’s contribution may have been a modest start, a book of suites of dances, but his publication went on to spark a ‘quarrel’ between the other violists of the time about musical style, technique and composition for the instrument.
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CD Review – Rautavaara: Lost Landscapes
Lost Landscapes is the title of one of the last pieces composed by the Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara. It’s a violin concerto based upon reminiscences of places that were of great importance to Rautavaara’s creative journey in the mid-1950s.
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Fine Music Magazine – January 2023
January’s Fine Music Magazine features articles on The Bluesberries’ song for peace in Ukraine, anniversaries of Milt Jackson and Edouard Lalo and a preview of our Operatic offerings in 2023.
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A Fine Christmas
2MBS Fine Music Sydney wish you, your family, and your loved ones a joyous and tuneful Christmas. There are psalms and carols, symphonies and choral works, jazz and folk.
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Yuletide Jazz
Yuletide is a time of nostalgia, of celebration, of Christmas songs, and of lazing out after a gentle Christmas Day lunch. FineJazz on 2MBS Fine Music Sydney brings you Yuletide Jazz from noon on Christmas Day, with four of our presenters giving you a special musical treat.
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January Events In Sydney
2023 sees a full return to live performances throughout Sydney in a variety of settings, and January offers a wide range of events for you to experience.
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Highlights from a week of Fine Music Mornings
Here is just a small sample from this week’s Classical Fine Music. Weekday mornings with Diversions in Fine Music, and Concert Hall.
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2023 Ken Weatherley Jazz Scholar
Meet our 2023 Ken Weatherley Jazz Scholar, saxophonist, Chris O’Dea. Chris aims to use his scholarship to compose and record an album inspired by traditional jazz and Cuban ‘Son’
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Zodiac
Meet our 2023 Jazz Artists in Residence, Zodiac, a Sydney based quartet, comprised of 4 of Australia’s young emerging talents;. The ensemble is deeply rooted in the creativity and freedom of contemporary jazz.
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CD of the Week – As Beautiful As Day
Pianist Rodric White’s new album ‘AS BEAUTIFUL AS DAY’ Inspired by original music projects by Mike Nock, Chris Cody, and Paul Cutlan, Rodric decided to return to the studio to record a backlog of music written since his 2006 album THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY.
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The Nomad String Quartet
The Nomad String Quartet was formed in Sydney as the Ben Adler Quartet in 2021. Thus far, it has given over 120 concerts to more than 40,000 people across Sydney, playing music ranging from Vivaldi to Daft Punk, Mozart to Michael Jackson, Mendelssohn to Danish folk songs, Tchaikovsky to Hans Zimmer, Borodin to Anime soundtracks and more.
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2023 Stefan Kruger Scholarship
The judges for our 2022 Stefan Kruger Scholarship, Gerard Willems AM, Amelia Farrugia and 2MBS Fine Music Sydney Chairman, Michael Morton-Evans OAM, faced a difficult decision in picking this year’s scholarship recipient, pianist and composer, Xiaokang Zhang
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Highlights from a week of Fine Classics
Here is just a sample of this week’s Classical Fine Music: From Mendelssohn, Coward and Bernstein to a celebration of the tragically short life of Noel Mewton-Wood.
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CD Review – Estonian Premieres
One of Europe’s most vibrant musical cultures is that of Estonia, one of the Baltic states that gained independence after the breakup of the USSR.
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CD of the Week – The Outsider
The Outsider is Chris Cody’s new album for his all-star 8 piece band, ranging from jazz to gospel, infused with African and Middle Eastern grooves.
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Coy Composers Round 5 – A Word Puzzle
Can you help to find these composers who are all born in December in time for Christmas?
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Born on this Day: Chuck Mangione (29 November, 1940)
For more than five decades, Chuck Mangione’s love affair with music has been characterized by his boundless energy, unabashed enthusiasm, and pure joy that radiates from the stage. Mangione first attracted attention with his brother, Gap, in a mainstream jazz band, The Jazz Brothers, in which he played trumpet much like that of the man who he refers to as his musical father-Dizzy Gillespie. In fact Dizzy gave Chuck an ‘updo’ horn just like his own.
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Support for the Young: work-experience
2MBS Fine Music Sydney has a goal focussing on young musicians and composers. This is expressed through our awards and scholarships, and two of our programs. Listen to Emergent Jazz to hear our Year10 work-experience students discover jazz.
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Focal Point 24.11.22
A regular exploration of folk, classical, world and jazz on the rise and causing waves around the globe.
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Highlights from a week of Fine Music Mornings
Here is just a small sample from this week’s Classical Fine Music. Weekday mornings with Diversions in Fine Music, and Concert Hall.
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Born on this day – Manuel de Falla (11/23/1876)
Part Impressionist and part neo-Classicist, Manuel de Falla is difficult to peg, but he is widely regarded as the most distinguished Spanish composer of the early 20th century. His output is small but choice and revolves largely around music for the stage.
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CD of the Week – Dancing Waters
Anoesis’ album of original compositions ‘Dancing Waters’ aims to recognise the natural beauty of Australia and its history. ‘Dancing Waters’ was produced through the 2MBS Fine Music Jazz-Artist-in-Residence program.
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Jazz After Hours
Late night Sundays and Mondays are special times of the week. Jazz to engage, to relax and to refresh. From 10pm this week, Sunday (20th) brings Lerner and Loewe with Jeannie McInnes, while Monday(21st) brings Cuban jazz with Eddie Bernasconi.
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Fine Music Showcase
On Sunday Special Sunday 13 November, Julie Simonds presents Fine Music Showcase, an exciting program of vibrant and varied music recorded live in our Founders’ Studio by 2MBS sound engineer Jayson McBride. Listen back, Listen Anytime
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Highlights from a week of Fine Music Mornings
Here is just a small sample from this week’s Classical Fine Music. Weekday mornings with Diversions in Fine Music, and Concert Hall.
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MBS Network National Young Virtuoso Award Final
Experience the virtuosity and excitement online of some of Australia’s brightest young stars of classical music at the MBS Network National Young Virtuoso Award Final on Sunday 20 November via digital stream.
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Born On this Day – Frédéric Kalkbrenner (8 October, 1785)
Friedrich Wilhelm Michael Kassel, to give his full and un-Frenchified name, was one of a number of remarkable demon pianists who flourished, mostly around Paris, in the early couple of decades of the Romantic era in music. He wrote a large quantity of music, mostly flashy and some of which is still played.
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Highlights from a week of Fine Classics
Here is just a sample of this week’s Classical Fine Music: Explore Italy through Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn and Walton or refresh your soul with Zelenka’s Missa sanctae Caeciliae.
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Highlights from a week of Fine Music Mornings
Here is just a small sample from this week’s Classical Fine Music. Weekday mornings with Diversions in Fine Music, and Concert Hall.
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2MBS Fine Music Sydney – Showcase
2MBS Fine Music Sydney’s Showcase returns this Sunday from 3pm with 4 stunning performances captured live in our Founders Studio.
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Inaugural Award Most Promising Young String Player
The Sydney String Centre and the creation of the AwardThe Sydney String Centre partnered with Sydney Eisteddfod to create this…
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A Fine Selection 036
Our weekly Spotify playlist A Fine Selection, features the very best in folk, jazz, classical and world sounds emerging from around the globe.
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Born on This Day – Babs Gonzales (28 October, 1919)
Hipster troubadour poet, author, street preacher and hustler. Beloved of the Beatniks and the cool jazz crowd, Babs Gonzales was a man as colourful as the clothes he wore.
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Class Act – What a showcase
Class Act: Sat 29th. We are committed to promoting Australian musicians, with a focus on the young. Class Act samples the abundance of new musical talent in our NSW schools
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Highlights from a week of Fine Classics
Here is just a sample of this week’s Classical Fine Music: Dvorak and Josef Suk; graduates of the Juilliard School of Music; and Tasmanian composers.
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Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival
The Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival returns for its 11th year for a week-long celebration (27 October to 5 November). Four headline shows, plus a stack of club gigs across eight venues.
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Focal Point 26.10.22
A regular exploration of folk, classical, world and jazz on the rise and causing waves around the globe.
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CD of the Week – The Golden Age Project
Award winning saxophonist Nick Russoniello teams up with specialist historical string players for this ground-breaking new album: The Golden Age Project…