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February 2013 MAGAZINE VLADIMIR ASHKENAZY The Mystery of Music CORRALLING THE MASSES Sydney Philharmonia Choirs THE MUSIC- MATH MYTH Simon Tedeschi MASTER OF MODERNISM - Elliott Carter BIRTH OF AN OPERA Un Ballo in Maschera FROM THE ROYAL OPERA LA BOHEME MARCH 1, 2, 3 & 6 www.palaceoperaandballet.com.au CONTENTS EDITOR’S DESK In our cover story there’s a classic master-meets- Vol 40 No 2 apprentice moment as Robert Clark endeavours 4 COVER STORY to find some insights into how the great Vladimir Vladimir Ashkenazy, Principal Conductor of Ashkenazy achieves what he does. Clark finds however, that the practice of making music in the the Sydney Symphony, talks with Robert Clark maestro’s realm is more spiritual than tangible. and ponders the mysteries of making music Just one month into the Wagner anniversary year 3 Simon Says and we appear to be pleasantly awash with all things 6 Brett Weymark Interview Wagnerian. In a one page special review, Randolph Magri-Overend lifts the lid on a commemorative 8 Un Ballo in Maschera – Solti Ring cycle 14 CD Box set limited edition and the Wagner Society in NSW unveils a Birth of an Opera packed calendar of events. 11 Presenter Profile – Tom Zelinka Over at the Sydney Symphony, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director designate David Robertson is set to mark the 200th anniversaries of Verdi and Wagner with two July 12 Young Virtuosi events - Verdi’s Requiem and a concert version of Wagner’s Flying Dutchman. 13 Meet Kathryn Selby These two concerts are among seven this year where the Sydney Symphony teams up with the Brett Weymark-led Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Writer Barry Walmsley 14 What’s On meets Weymark to talk about the season and he finds a deep thinker who is willing 16 Wagner Events Calendar to take risks. On air, you’ll find many hours dedicated to Verdi and Wagner including a new Fine 17 CD Reviews Music Network 10-part series designed to unravel the practical intricacies and cultural 21 Swinging on the Vine fascination related to Wagner’s epic Ring cycle production. The series, supported with funding from the Community Broadcasting Foundation and Hans Henkell, has its own 54 Directors, Committees, Staff blog where you can find more details - www.countdowntothering.com 55 Fine Music Friends Sascha Kelly chats with Tom Zelinka, one of the station’s top talents, who is drawing on a background rich in broadcasting knowledge to lead Fine Music into the digital future. 56 Crossword and Trivia Quiz And, Troy Fil pays tribute to master of American modernism, Elliott Carter, who passed away last year aged 103. The creative team behind Opera Australia’s Un Ballo in Maschera share insights into their ground-breaking production and we meet leading light of chamber Digital Channel – fine mus music, Kathryn Selby. On Fine Mus between noon and 4pm weekdays you’ll find new trial Happy reading, programs covering classical up to 3pm and Jazz in Concert until 4pm. Lizzie ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP Registered Offices & Studios: 87 Chandos Street, St Leonards 2065 Tel: 02 9439 4777 Fax: 02 9439 4064 Email: [email protected] Web: finemusicfm.com Facebook, Twitter and YouTube: finemusicfm Frequency: 102.5 Transmitter: Governor Philip Tower, Circular Quay. ABN 64 379 540 010 Art Direction: Shoebox Design [email protected] Printing: Megacolour, Unit 6, 1 Hordern Place. Camperdown, NSW, 2050 Advertising Enquiries: [email protected] Editor: Lizzie Herbert Subeditors: Chris Blower, Helen Milthorpe Contributors: Robert Clark, Judy Deacon, Troy Fil, Richard Gate, Lizzie Herbert, Kevin Jones, Sascha Kelly, Patrick D Maguire, Michael Morton-Evans, Randolph Magri-Overend, Derek Parker, Chris Shain (imagesforbusiness.com.au - St James’ photography), Simon Tedeschi, Barry Walmsley, Richard Wong. Subscribe to Fine Music Magazine: visit www.finemusicfm.com or email [email protected] ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP The views expressed by contributors to this magazine do not necessarily Promote your product and events to our discerning reflect or represent the views of the publisher, Fine Music 102.5. readership and 240,000 listeners every week. Cover image: Vladimir Ashkenazy, Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Sydney Email - [email protected], or call 02 9439 9025 Symphony. Image - www.keithsaundersphotography.com Tel +61 418497791 FINE MUSINGS FINE MUSIC USA AMBASSADOR Thanks to streaming on the internet, Fine Music 102.5 has fans and pen pals from around the world and one of the ‘faithful’ is honorary Fine Music Ambassador to the USA - New Yorker, Judith Byrnes-Enoch. Judith is pictured with daughter Hannah and below she corresponds with presenter Maureen Meers who dedicated a couple of special music pieces to celebrate a family wedding. Dear Maureen, What a delightful friend you are! I have missed many of the jazz team’s programs over the last few weeks due to my now familiar technological black holes. Very sad loss indeed but it does make me even more appreciative when one or two of the 2MBS jazz programs sneaks through. One of these, I am thrilled to say, was your fabulous and thoughtful tribute that began with the Saratoga Drag and ended with Golden Wedding. How incredible of you! And, however did you find an old-time, big band song with Saratoga in the title!!! “Wedding” was probably not so easy either but “Saratoga” astonished me. You gave me a good chuckle at Crouching tiger what was probably a tense pre-wedding time period. How to say thank you for that personal touch of yours - but thank you none the less. At the wedding itself,there was so much love and laughter in the air along Tan Dun’s Martial with hugs and smiles galore. In classic style, the sun poured through just in time following a wet and wild morning. The historic building with its vaulted and stained glass colors was stunning. In terms of music, there was a lot of rock from the 80s for some reason, Bach Arts Trilogy and Vivaldi were played during dinner while later, my son and I danced to a Van Morrison classic: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You. A very moving and The big orchestra meets the big screen joyful occasion. Later on, when the older crowd had toddled off, I am told that in a concert trilogy based on Tan Dun’s other genres appeared. All tastefully done! epic film scores forHero , The Banquet We can probably live for years on the memories alone but the photos will and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. be a blast to see. I pass along two for now and perhaps more when the professional photographer’s work comes our way. For now, a picture of the Tan Dun conductor TWO NY Ambassador with part of the family and a photo of my daughter with CONCERTS the bride, my new daughter-in-law. 22 & 23 February 8pm ONLY! Sydney Opera House Book Now! Tickets from $35* sydneysymphony.com or call 8215 4600 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Tickets also available at sydneyoperahouse.com 9250 7777 | Mon-Sat 9am-8.30pm | Sun 10am-6pm Finally, in terms of jazz [programs]…what fun! Just as with guitar jazz, I wouldn’t choose Latin Jazz on my own but now, with your help, I truly * Booking fees of $7.50-$8.95 may apply. Pre concert talk before both performances. enjoyed it. A good teacher opens eyes and ears of her disciples! Fondly, Judith 2 Music FM 102.5 fine Simon says: DISPELLING THE MUSIC-MATHS MYTH Geometry, calculus, algebra, “ “arithmetic, you name it, I hated it.. My paternal grandmother, like many of her generation, was an immigrant. A Berliner born into the prosperous middle class, she fled Germany with her family when her parents saw the writing on the wall. The other side of my family were not so lucky, but that’s another story. Ruth settled in Australia, met my grandfather and slowly began to build a life in this oasis that was so far from the ravages of Europe, a new life that signified both emancipation and a sacrifice. In time, she became a maths teacher and a very good one. Like my father, she cultivated a perfect synergy of didacticism and empathy. One could not help but learn from her. Her readiness to help coupled with an unswerving logic and infinite patience inculcated in her students a strong grasp of the subject that would remain with them for the remainder of their lives. That is, until I came along. In school, when I wasn’t playing piano, I did well and even achieved some academic honours, especially in the “humanities”, where I excelled. The problem was maths. I just couldn’t hack it. Simon Tedeschi. Geometry, calculus, algebra, arithmetic - you I am dreadful at maths and I am a musician. was just pushing the button no more intuitively name it, I hated it because I wasn’t good at That combination, like a sensitive-fishwife than a gerbil on a spinning wheel. It felt good it - or maybe it was vice versa, but I didn’t/ or a ballerina-lumberjack, is supposedly not to be told I was a genius, but that feeling don’t care and thus the cycle repeated itself in possible. But here I am, proof in the flesh. I was quickly dispatched when John Howard perhaps the only modular thinking I will ever want to dispel the whole ‘music-maths’ myth introduced the dreaded GST and I had to work understand. once and for all. Please let me qualify this out what 10 percent was. Don’t even tell me When iPhones came in, I further - I am good at the maths in music, if about carbon tax.