Fine Music Magazine

From The Editor

Combining classical concerts with a dance party was the concept of conductor David Zinman. Ten years ago he established the Tonhalle Late concerts in Zurich. The innovative idea, conceived for young people, turned out to be a great success. This month he joins the Sydney Symphony for three conventional evenings ... no dance parties! In our cover story Paolo Hooke talks to David Zinman about the music of Mozart and Poulenc and about new ways of making classical music more accessible. Read more ...

Internationally renowned pianist Piers Lane returns as artistic director of the 22nd Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) held in Townsville from 27 July to 4 August. The popular festival has been attracting artists from around the world and Australia, including composer-in-residence Nigel Westlake and didgeridoo player William Barton. Robert Clark finds out more about the eclectic line-up and the AFCM’s new ventures.

This year the Sydney University Graduate Choir celebrates its 60th anniversary with Mendelssohn’s rarely performed oratorio, Paulus. Joining the Choir and Orchestra and conductor Christopher Bowen OAM for the diamond jubilee concert are Sydney-born tenor Andrew Goodwin and his wife, mezzo-soprano Maria Timofeyeva. Fine Music chats with Maria, Andrew and Christopher about their collaboration and some career highlights so far.

Finally, congratulations to Anna-Lisa Da Silva Chen, winner of the 2011 2MBS Young Performer Awards and the 2011 MBS National Young Performer Awards, and to Grace Clifford a semi-finalist in our 2012 competition. As we go to print Anna-Lisa and Grace are competing with 18 other young violinists from around the world in the junior section in the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition in Beijing. This competition is considered to be the ‘Olympics of the violin’. Only eight Australians have been selected to take part since it began in 1983.

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