At the invitation of Rio Tinto, the ASQ’s Presentation Partner in WA, the Quartet travelled to Cossack in the Pilbara to perform at the official opening of the Cossack Art Award on Friday 11 July.
Held in the historic Bond Store, the stunning display of artwork by 263 artists from all over Australia provided a magnificent setting for the Quartet’s performance of Peter Sculthorpe’s ninth quartet. After the performance the Quartet had an opportunity to appreciate the work on display and meet many of the guests including The Hon Fred Chaney, Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia and Joanne Farrell, Vice President Organisation Resources, Rio Tinto.
Unfortunately the Quartet was unable to match the stunning attire of the guests due to the non arrival of luggage at Karratha airport! However the resourceful locals rallied to provide music stands and as the music was safely packed with the instruments the lost luggage (which has since been recovered) did nothing to detract from this splendid event.
click
here to view the exhibition
Composer Ross Edwards joined the ASQ, guest artist Marshall McGuire, sponsors and dinner subscribers for the post concert dinner held at Bilson's restaurant after the Sydney performance of Elysian Fields on 19 May. The concert included Ross' work Arafura Dances for harp and string quartet.
pictured L-R: Marshall McGuire, Anne Horton,
Of the performance Ross Edwards, Sally Boud, Rachel Johnston
Ross wrote: "I was so happy and Sophie Rowell
with the dedicated performance
of my piece... and the addition
of Marshall (McGuire) was an inspiration".
The ASQ office received this lovely e-mail from a patron who attended the ASQ's performance in Pinneberg, Germany.
"I just would like to thank you for the really wonderful performance of this evening in Pinneberg, especially for ALBAN BERG's Lyric Suite! I had the imagination of listening to music of another sphere.
Wishing you always an attentive audience and much joy , success and all the best!
Adelheid Kwee"
click here for reviews
ASQ at Laeiszhalle, Hamburg photo by Simone Scardovelli
more photos here
Initiative: Australian String Quartet
Supported by: Rio Tinto,
Presentation Partner, Western Australia
The sounds of classical music drifted across the Pilbara outback when the Australian String Quartet visited Tom Price and Karratha as part of their third national concert tour for 2007.
Audiences of more than 300 local residents were mesmerised by chamber music works including Beethoven’s String Quartet opus 18 no 1, inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Graeme Koehne’s beautiful settings of Lord Byron’s poems and Sibelius’ magical second quartet.
They were also pleased to be given the time during the performance to explain each piece’s significance, pointing out varying characteristics in each movement.
“It was wonderful to be able to communicate with the audience so closely - the venues
provided such intimate settings and as performers we were left in no doubt as to the enthusiasm of the audience” says first violinist Sophie Rowell.
Local residents were awe inspired, including Pilbara Iron Electrical Maintainer Allan Robinson.
“I must admit it wasn’t something my wife and I would normally have done. But seeing as the Quartet had come all the way to Tom Price to perform, the least we could do was leave home to watch them play,” says Allan.
Not surprisingly, Allan and his wife were glad they left home. Both thoroughly enjoyed the evening and have since gone on to discover more about the Quartet and their style of music.
Pilbara Iron’s West Pilbara Operations General Manager Dale Harris says he was pleased to have the musicians visit the region through Rio Tinto’s sponsorship of the Quartet.
“We’re not often given the opportunity to attend performances of this distinction in our own backyard. Artistic performances should be without bounds and it’s great to have this opportunity extended beyond the Perth metro area,” says Dale.
After four days in the Pilbara, a trip to Pilbara Iron’s inland and coastal operations, two public concerts, one school performance and an incredible low-flying flight over rugged landscape, the Quartet felt they’d experienced the true nature of the outback.
But while the red dust has settled, the memories won’t fade and on their return to Western Australia in 2008 the Pilbara will be top of the Quartet’s touring list.
published in Rio Tinto News August 07 edition
