centenary The Centenary Celebration of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Wednesday 6 May 2015 | Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Presented by the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Sydney Opera House The Con has been the focal point of Sydney’s cultural history since its modest beginnings in the old Government House stables to its development into a world-class music institution. The palace for horses is now a palace for music. Foreword Minister for the Arts, Senator In training and inspiring each new generation of young musicians, the the Hon George Brandis QC Sydney Conservatorium of Music has developed a well-deserved I am pleased to welcome you to reputation for nurturing talent. The tonight’s celebration of the Centenary high quality of this institution’s of the Sydney Conservatorium of musicians will be evident in tonight’s Music, one of Australia’s oldest and performance of Leonard Bernstein’s most prestigious music schools. MASS, a work requiring a great deal of technical skill and musicality. Music is an integral part of the society in which we live, and it As the Minister for the Arts, I am contributes to our sense of self extremely proud of the achievements and cultural identity. As a society, of the Sydney Conservatorium Australians recognise the value of of Music and its commitment to music and appreciate the richness musical excellence and academic and joy that it brings into our lives. accomplishment. Australia’s musicians are among I acknowledge the hard work, talent the best in the world and graduates and dedication of the students, from institutions such as the Sydney staff and alumni of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music form an Conservatorium of Music. It is a integral part of the Australian arts remarkable achievement to reach sector. The Sydney Conservatorium a Centenary, and I wish the Sydney of Music boasts a long list of notable Conservatorium of Music every educators and alumni, who success in the years to come. contribute to our international reputation for artistic leadership and musical excellence. The University of Sydney The great philosopher Plato believed that music should be central For 100 years, the Sydney Conservatorium Music has been to education: ‘Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the central to Sydney’s musical and creative life. The richness mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.’ it brings to the University community and beyond is both indisputable and invaluable. For 100 years, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music has been inspiring amazing musicians, who take their art out into the To quote the late, great Leonard Bernstein: ‘the life of the world and bring that life and soul to all of us. spirit precedes and controls the life of exterior action; … the richer and more creative the life of the spirit, the healthier and The Con’s list of famous alumni is incredible: from Richard more productive our society must necessarily be.’ Bonynge to Richard Tognetti; from James Morrison to Simone Young; from Iva Davies to Yvonne Kenny. And countless others. His passion for harmony and understanding was the driving force behind all that Bernstein accomplished. I have no doubt that on the Concert Hall stage this evening we will witness the birth of careers for many outstanding and The Sydney Conservatorium of Music has aptly chosen, for its talented artists. Tonight’s brilliant students will also go into the 100th birthday concert, Bernstein’s MASS – a masterpiece classrooms and teaching studios of the future, carrying the torch whose complexity mirrors that of society; it was written by a for music and leading the way in bringing wings to the mind. Jewish man, based on the Christian liturgy, in memory of a murdered President and in order to champion peace. Indeed, I am both humbled and delighted to be Chancellor of a University ‘go in peace’ are its final words. that encompasses such magnificent talent. Congratulations to all our students, staff, alumni and supporters. On behalf of all at the University, I thank the Conservatorium for the past 100 years, and look forward to the next. Go in Belinda Hutchinson AM peace; go in harmony. Chancellor The University of Sydney Dr Michael Spence Vice-Chancellor and Principal The University of Sydney s 1910 The State Conservatorium of Music 1910 1913 The Austral String Quartet, 1910 (from The Francis Greenway designed officially opened in 1915 with Henri left to right): Cyril Monk, Alfred Hill, stables were renovated into the Verbrugghen appointed first Director. Gladstone Bell and Anton Tschaikov. new Verbrugghen Hall. Sydney Conservatorium of Music Sydney Opera House I thank you for coming this evening to join with us in celebrating The Sydney Conservatorium of Music and its staff and our Centenary at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Exactly students have always been an important part of life at the 100 years ago today, the Con presented its first performance on Sydney Opera House. 6 May 1915. Tonight’s special performance of Leonard Bernstein’s MASS Bernstein’s MASS is the perfect vehicle with which to celebrate may be the first Concert Hall appearance for most of the 400 our music making. A masterpiece of the late 20th century, this young musicians involved, but it is unlikely to be the last. epic journey through faith draws together the talents of our Like many Conservatorium students before them, they will multi-faceted performance program for a monumental production go on to join one of the flagship arts companies that call involving a large cross section of the Conservatorium. My heartfelt the Sydney Opera House home – the Australian Chamber thanks goes to Louise Herron and her entire Sydney Opera House Orchestra, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Australian staff for sharing the vision of this collaboration. Our vision is also World Orchestra, Opera Australia, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs shared by Mr Alan Fang, Chairman of the Tianda Group, whose and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. There is also a long support of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music has helped bring history of Conservatorium staff performing here. this project to fruition and will enable a number of exciting new initiatives to take place over the coming years, which will support With the Sydney Opera House beginning a decade of renewal, academic exchange in music between Australia and China. we are committed to nurturing the next generation of Australian talent. We know that working with great educational Tonight’s performance is an amalgamation of the extraordinary institutions will be central to our success. efforts of our current students and staff; however, I am keenly aware of all the directors, staff, students, alumni, friends and Last year, we collaborated with the Conservatorium on the volunteers who have gone before us and their contributions to London Symphony Orchestra Discovery Project, along with the Con’s rich musical legacy. Our milestone celebration pays the NSW Government and the NSW Association of Regional tribute to all, both past and present, who have poured their Conservatoriums. The project brought student musicians hearts and souls into this institution. and composers from across NSW to Sydney to learn from members of the LSO. The week-long project culminated in an As Dean, I am reminded daily of the exceptional privilege it is inspired and inspiring concert at the Conservatorium under to be surrounded by gifted people producing quality work in all the baton of AWO artistic director Alexander Briger. forms of classical, jazz and contemporary music. This special evening is but one of hundreds of vibrant concerts presented by I hope there will be many more such projects in our future. the Con every year. We hope to welcome you many more times As for tonight, we are delighted to help the Conservatorium to our musical castle right up the street! celebrate its Centenary in style. Happy birthday. Professor Karl Kramer Louise Herron AM Dean and Principal Chief Executive Officer Sydney Conservatorium of Music inceptionSydney Opera House 1916 1916 1917 1918 On 8 April 1916, at the first orchestra The Verbruggen Quartet in 1916 (from left to Madame Charvin, taught The Conservatorium High School opened concert for the year, Henri Verbrugghen right): Henri Verbrugghen, Jenny Cullen, David piano at the Con until her in October with 20 students, including conducted an orchestra consisting of E. Nichols and James Messeas. Their salary sudden death at just 39. future Director Joseph Post (oboe). 36 staff and students. was £400 each per year. Composers throughout the the eclectic musical styles centuries have strived to create he had worked in throughout a magnificent work of art, a his career – from concert ‘master work’ to embody their hall to Broadway. He used all musical thoughts and express the resources at his disposal, their emotions – to share including the then innovative their perception of the world quadraphonic ‘surround sound,’ surrounding them through a multitude of instruments, a work they could regard as singers/actors, and dancers. their masterpiece for posterity. He brilliantly incorporates a Beethoven succeeded with his sequence by Beethoven’s Ninth Welcome Ninth Symphony and Missa Symphony, which is transfixed Solemnis. Berlioz achieved that by a set of variations and has dream with his Two Episodes in three countertenors sing – very to Leonard Bernstein’s MASS the Life of an Artist: Symphonie appropriately – the Hebrew Fantastique and Lélio, ou le version of Sanctus, a short but retour à la vie, and Mahler did substantive reflexive moment it flawlessly with his Symphony of his roots. He does all of this of a Thousand (No. 8). Leonard with his musical genius as much Bernstein’s MASS also fits this as his literary one by being description.