Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week; Cruise Bar hosts famous fashion event; MBFWA business wheels in motion



Cruise Bar Hosts Fashion Week...

When it comes to style the Cruise Bar and Restaurant is a perfect host partner for the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Australian Fashion Week.

For the first time in many years, Cruise Restaurant is open to the public everyday of fashion week for lunch and dinner.

Fashion Week is Sydney’s premier fashion and lifestyle event showcasing some of our most talented and contemporary designers.

The beautiful waterfront location of Cruise Bar in Circular Quay is an ideal location to enjoy gourmet food, decadent wines and delicious cocktails while enjoying the cultural surrounds that is Fashion week.

For more information visit their official website.


Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Business, fashion, beauty, deals and gossip...

Sydney will be enjoying a bevy of catwalk shows and party like events as Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia commences tomorrow. But unlike the increasing number of fashion festivals across the country where people can buy tickets to events, MBFWA is invitation only.

Today was media registration day, which was quite an event in its own right.

Over five days, fashion designers show their latest collections to media reps, celebrities and  retail buyers, and the response can be paramount to the bottom line.

This year happens to mark Mercedes-Benz’s return to Fashion Week as the title sponsor, which many media and fashion commentators have welcomed.

“The strong link between Mercedes-Benz and fashion was initiated in Australia with the launch of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 1995, so it’s come full circle,” advised Mercedes-Benz senior manager of corporate communications David McCarthy.

The car maker’s Fashion Week events have spread around the world to places such as New York and Berlin, and to Swim Fashion Week in Miami.

The Mercedes-Benz’s sponsorship deal was not exactly a secret last year as Rosemount’s (wine) five-year run came to an end. The new deal is understood to be valued at $1 million over three years but McCarthy says the details are confidential.

MBFWA comes with a many change. A key change from the festival organisers is that IMG Fashion have reduced the price of on-site venue fees. A trend over the past few years.

This year, it set back exhibitors $14,250 to use the newly returned Tent at the Overseas Passenger Terminal as a catwalk venue, $6000 to be a part of Fashion Week but show off-site and between $3000 and $8000 to showcase collections at The Rocks Pop-Up suites.

Two of the festival’s biggest names, Josh Goot and Dion Lee, pulled out a fortnight before their respective shows. The designers who have fallen by the wayside in the lead-up to the five-day event have either opted to concentrate on upcoming overseas shows (Lee), to focus on getting collections out to coincide with northern hemisphere seasons (Goot) or have chosen to disregard Fashion Week from the get-go, with Fairfax Media pointing to Alex Perry as the example.

For Melbourne Business School associate professor of marketing Mark Ritson, having Australian designers drop out is a “tricky” scenario.

“On the one hand, you have to respect any Australian designer focused on building their reputation overseas,” he says. “We are perilously under-represented in Paris and Milan.

“But at the same time, a designer has to be careful of burning branding bridges back home. That said, if Goot or Lee make it in Europe they’ll be welcomed back home in 2013 with open arms.”

Fashion Week is serious business. Alongside Mercedes-Benz, sponsors that have signed on this year include DHL, EYE, HP, Maybelline NY, Redken, Shangri-La Hotel Sydney, Pentax, Keystone Hospitality and Getty Images.

The NSW government, Destination NSW and Austrade are also supporting the event.

In addition, designers are obtaining their own sponsorships. Jayson Brunsdon’s show, for instance, is being presented by Myer and sponsored by Qantas, Woolmark, TRESemme, MAC Cosmetics and Joh Bailey.

Couture designer Johanna Johnson is the virgin Australian designer to showcase her collection at the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Presents show, which has previously featured big fashion names such as Herve Leger by Max Azria, Carolina Herrera and Badgley Mischka.

“To do [the Presents show] during our first year back was a priority,” McCarthy says.

Johnson recently found international success, with Hollywood actresses Christina Hendricks and Maya Rudolph wearing her feminine creations on the red carpet.

The show will have the same feel – glamour, lots of hand-beading and detailed finishes.

“I hadn’t really considered doing it and was focusing more on overseas expansion this year,” Johnson says.

“But we’re having so much feedback from Australians wanting to know more now, it will be really good to showcase our luxury lifestyle line and red carpet ready-to-wear.”

She initially signed on to show in the smallest of the three catwalk venues, the Box, but had to move the show to the Tent (the biggest) as the number of outfits she wanted to parade expanded.

“It’s our debut show so we want it done as well as it possibly can be,” she says.

Australian accessories giant Oroton is launching its first ready-to-wear collection. But for creative director Ana Maria Escobar, the clothes are there to show off the accessories – be they handbags, jewellery or shoes.

“The biggest thing is when I walked into the stores, I saw they needed something soft to highlight the accessories,” she says.

Customers can expect “understated quality” from the new Oroton clothing range.

“To me, functionality is important,” Escobar says.

“So are the materials . . . it can be a simple singlet but made out of really beautiful silk or customised fabrics. There’s a tone of heritage as well.”

While Oroton views Fashion Week as important, Escobar says there is also “life beyond those 15 minutes on the catwalk”.

For the retailer, it’s about reminding people of the brand.

“We want to talk a little louder about the product we design,” she says. “Fashion Week gives us that space without having to scream.”

This year, a great spread of overseas buyers will be in attendance, many from online retailers such as Net-A-Porter, My Wardrobe, Shopbop, Moda Operandi and ASOS. Department store Harvey Nichols and Hong Kong-based Joyce will also have buyers present.

The retail picture in Australia is not particularly strong, and IBISWorld analysts are predicting growth for the local rag trade over the coming financial year will be flat at just 0.5 per cent.

IBISWorld general manager Karen Dobie says the high Australian dollar is a double-edged sword for retailers, as local vendors can buy overseas at a favourable rate, but increasingly tech-savvy competition is straining profit margins.

New to MBFWA: Dylan Cooper; Flowers for a Vagabond; Toi et Moi Sydney; By Johnny; Oroton; Watson x Watson; An Ode to No One; Jenny Kee; Aje; Roppa Pemmaraju; Bless’d Are The Meek and Nana Judy

Not present this year: Dion Lee; Josh Goot; Alex Perry; Arnsdorf; Morrison; Friend of Mine; Flannel; Karla Spetic; Lover; Therese Rawsthorne; Ms Couture; Rachel Gilbert; Little Joe Woman (voluntary administration); Nookie; Amber & Thomas; Marnie Skillings; Kate Sylvester; Shakuhachi; Bianca Spender; Dhini; Camilla & Marc; White Suede; Yeojin Bae; Lisa Blue; Limedrop; Stolen Girlfriends Club; Alistair Trung; Saint Augustine Academy (which shut up shop late last year)

Returning to the show: Romance Was Born; Camilla; Aurelio Costarella; Ksubi; Jayson Brunsdon; Akira


Camilla...

Since launching her label eight years ago, Camilla Franks continues to receive global recognition as an Australian designer who has a unique approach to creating colorful, playful and luxurious lifestyle fashion.

Her unique ready-to-wear and resort wear designs are becoming highly sought after products, capturing the attentions of celebrities and fashionistas alike. Camilla’s global fan club (which includes the likes of Beyonce Knowles, Miranda Kerr, Kate Hudson, Lily Allen and Gwen Stefani) reached new heights 2 years ago when the queen of television, Oprah Winfrey, glowed in one of her designs while taping her ‘down under’ series. The general public and the fashion world gushed and stock sold out overnight. Camilla is definitely a brand on the move.

So, how did Camilla Franks become one of Australia’s most iconic fashion designers? This iconic brand came to be whilst Camilla was exploring her passions for theatrical artistry. Here, she embraced her inner creative spirit to craft beautiful elaborate costumes for the various characters in her productions. It wasn’t long before the Australian fashion market caught eye of these imaginative, easy-to-wear designs and catapulted Camilla on this amazing journey.

Today, Camilla has evolved from beach and resort fashion into ready-to-wear clothes that cater to all her client’s needs. Globally, Camilla has begun weaving into the various fashion niches, resulting in a kaleidoscope of high-end editorial and extending an already growing customer database.
Over eight years, Camilla has produced nine collections: these include the highly anticipated 2011/12’s Spring Summer Collection, Labyrinth; which has received significant media attention and 2012’s Autumn Winter Collection Caravanserai, Camilla’s second winter season. The success of her brand is derived from Camilla’s philosophy that “all women have the right to look and feel beautiful no matter their age, colour, size or origin”, this is also a testament to the company’s popularity and growing awareness.

Camilla is a brand that celebrates women, self-expression, beauty and individuality. The signature ‘Camilla’ piece is a statement of brilliant colour, graphics and material rhythm. It is a celebration of shapes that can be tailored to individual styles and that follow global trends.


Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia Announces Preliminary Line-up...


Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia Announces Preliminary Line-upfor Spring/Summer 2012/13 Collections

Sydney, Australia (February 29, 2012) Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is excited to announce cult label Ksubi, celebrity favourite Camilla, Zimmermann, Lisa Ho, Toni Maticevski, Aurelio Costarella, Jayson Brunsdon, Ellery, and Carl Kapp will be amongst the line-up of designers showcasing their Spring/Summer 2012/13 Collections at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal, April 30 to May 4, 2012.

"MBFWA is a fantastic opportunity for emerging Australian designers to join already well established designers in showcasing their creations not just in venues that people expect but in venues and spaces that will reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the Australian fashion scene. The shows, presentations and locations demonstrate that MBFWA has a flavour and style that can more than hold its own around the world" says Gavin Allen, General Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific.

A stand out on the 2012 schedule is expected to be Romance was Born. The label is showcasing their polished ready to wear collection combining art and wearable fashion in a sophisticated Spring Summer range. Johanna Johnson will also attract hype as she hosts an intimate salon show for her debut at MBFWA. Mixing old Hollywood charm and modern simplicity, Johnson is renowned for her recent Oscar’s role dressing starlets in her eponymous label.

Iconic Australian brand, Oroton will also debut on the runway at MBFWA for the first time demonstrating the brand is as skilled at creating Ready to Wear women’s wear as well as their well known luxury accessories.

Joining this incredible line up of iconic designers are Magdalena Velevska, Alice McCall, Lisa Maree, Gary Bigeni, Bec and Bridge, Miss Unkon, Bowie, Kooey Australia, Michael Lo Sordo, Kirrily Johnston and Talulah.

New talent showcasing for the first time, Watson x Watson are sure to excite international buyers and media with their collections, providing new ‘ones to watch’ for our global audience. Watson x Watson focus on everyday luxury and easy glamour, with a relaxed, sexy appeal that has become synonymous with Australian fashion.

Other newcomers joining the MBFWA family: We are Handsome, Aje, Elliot Ward Fear, Roopa Pemmaraju, Flowers for a Vagabond, Suboo, An Ode to No One and Project Runway Australia winner Dylan Cooper and alumni by Johnny. Designers involved in the 2012 New Generation, Fashion Design Studio and Raffles emerging talent shows will be announced shortly.

“We’re extremely excited by the response from designers and brands and are looking forward to showcasing the new seasons Spring Summer Collections in our world class facilities on site as well as sharing more of the city of Sydney’s wonderfully unique locations with our expanded off site program of shows and presentations’” says Jarrad Clark, Global Production Director, IMG Fashion.

Leveraging our global network, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is introducing new showroom spaces, exciting venue upgrades and unique presentation spaces to ensure our line up of designers have innovative way to communicate their artistic vision for 2012.

For the first time on Australian soil, many designers will showcase their collections via a studio style presentation space known as The Box. Having established itself at MBFW in NY and Berlin, designers are redefining how they showcase their collections using this blank canvas. Australian designer Dion Lee recently used a presentation style space to showcase his collection at London Fashion Week and wowed crowds with his use of lighting to create drama and engagement around his collection without the confines of the runway.

2012 will also see the much anticipated return of The Tent. Synonymous with international fashion events, the sheer scale of The Tent showroom set on the Sydney harbour foreshore will create an incredible billboard for MBFWA and the Australian Fashion Industry for our attending local and international guests.

Key buyers will have the opportunity to get up close with designer collections during the week via a unique offering of Designer Showrooms via The Rocks Pop-Up Suites, utilising retail spaces within The Rocks historical precinct, designers will be able to house their collections off runway, and meet buyers and media in one on one appointments. It is here that designers are encouraged to create consumer offerings around the Fashion Week schedule to create more retail opportunities for our participating designer brands.

MBFWA hosts the world’s most influential buyers, media and industry players during the 5 day event and bring Sydney city to life with Fashion Week fever. With the support of our official partners, and showcasing designers, the 2012 season will be a standout year showcasing the creative energy and raw talent that Australia has to offer.

Title sponsor Mercedes-Benz is proudly supported by Government partners Destination NSW and Austrade, Maybelline New York, DHL, HP/Intel, Redken 5th Avenue NYC and EYE and as well as media outlet Getty Images. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is an IMG event.
The Spring Summer 2012/13 Collections will take place April 30 to May 4, 2012, Press and Industry Registration opens March 1, 2012.

For more information please visit us online at mbfashionweek.com
Follow us on Twitter @MBFWA and on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Facebook











Websites

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Australia)

IMG Worldwide

Cruise Bar

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

Eva Rinaldi Photography

Khachaturian: Ballet Suites (CD review)

Gayaneh and Spartacus. Evgeny Svetlanov, Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra. Brilliant Classics 9256.



Much of the music of Soviet-Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) has always struck me as rather noisy and bombastic, and that includes even his most-popular pieces like the ballets Gayaneh and Spartacus, which on this disc we see represented by a pair of suites. In their entirety the ballets can be a little tiring, so it's more common that we see just highlights such as these.



Khachaturian became one of the giants of music in the Soviet Union, yet like so many of his contemporaries, the Communist Party did not always favor his works. His Cello Concerto of 1946 was so out of line with the traditional guidelines of the Party that shortly thereafter they ousted him from the Composers' Union over it and other things, and it took him a while to regain their favor. Turns out, the Party's official disapproval so affected him, he later said he considered giving up composing and starting some new profession instead.



In any case, his first attempt at a ballet, Shchastye ("Happiness"), in 1939 did not go particularly well so he reworked it into the ballet represented here, Gayaneh, completed in 1942. It's the story of a young Armenian farm woman named Gayaneh. In the original version, Khachaturian had both a love angle and an Armenian national angle, but he later figured it best to go with the just the romance, adding local color with Armenian and Central Asian folk tunes. Because the music celebrated the friendships among the varied peoples of the Soviet Union, the Party leaders liked it. Afterwards, he finished Spartacus in 1954, the Soviet leaders pleased that he had chosen a "hero of the Proletariat," the Roman slave who led an uprising against the oppressive Roman Empire.



Evgeny Svetlanov (1928-2002) was a Russian conductor and composer who became almost as famous as Khachaturian; in fact, he, too, got into trouble with the government, only in Svetlanov's case it was because they said he wasn't spending enough time with the state-sponsored orchestra he led, and they fired him. The conductor made the present recording with the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra just a year or two before he died, and one couldn't ask for more authoritative performances.



However, as a comparison, I used the EMI recording that Aram Khachaturian himself made with the LSO in 1977, coincidentally just a year or so before he, too, died. Svetlanov, as expected being the old hand he was at such things, holds his own with the composer quite nicely. Indeed, I found Svetlanov more lyrical than Khachaturian in the slower movements and almost as intense in the faster ones. What's more, even though EMI produced a recording of near-demonstration quality, the present Brilliant Classics disc holds its own as well.



Anyway, Svetlanov performs suites from both ballets, Gayaneh containing ten selections, Spartacus five. The composer himself extracted various suites from the ballets, and conductors have been making their own selections for many years now. This one contains most of the music we would easily recognize.



In Gayaneh, the stands-outs include the Lullaby because, of course, it's anything but a traditional "lullaby"; the Adagio, famously used by director Stanley Kubrick in his movie 2001: A Space Odyssey; Lezghinka and Dance with the Tambourines, with their scintillating rhythms; and, naturally, the Sabre Dance, a genuine show-stopper. Interestingly, Khachaturian later said he never cared for the Sabre Dance, writing it in a single evening and considering it something of a joke.



While Spartacus doesn't have quite as much recognizable music in it as that of Gayaneh, it does contain much good material. It may seem surprising but the Spartacus selections offered here are actually more serene than the Gayaneh pieces. Aegina's Dance is especially entrancing, and, again, it's the Adagio that steals the show, beautifully rendered by Svetlanov and his forces.



Recorded in January, 2000, in Moscow, the sound is excellent by any standard, as transparent and dynamic as any audiophile could want. While it's a tad close, it's not so close as to be a major detriment to the music, and only the orchestral depth suffers slightly, not sounding quite as deep or as open as one could wish. There's a nicely extended high end involved, some decent bass, and good transient impact all the way around. It's clean, enjoyable sound.



JJP

David Guetta Headlines Creamfields, Sydney, Australia



David Guetta...

David is astonished by his fame. "I have been a successful DJ for a long time, but it's just that the DJ world was not where it is now – at all. So it's like a new world almost. It's surprising – it's shocking, but in a nice way." He plays colossal venues. "Sometimes I'm in a place where I've seen really famous rock or pop artists when I was younger and I was, Wow! I cannot believe that I'm filling those places now. It's crazy."

Responsible for global hits such as I Gotta Feeling, Club Can't Handle Me and When Love Takes Over, the DJ machine has built a house music empire on collaborations with world-class pop and R'n'B stars.

They've seen him take out numerous Grammys, fill arenas normally reserved for only the biggest of rock bands, amass over 25 million fans on Facebook and half a billion views on YouTube.

In February, he was also named the world's most popular DJ, claiming the number one position in the DJ Mag 100 popularity poll.

And next up is his hit song with Chris Brown, I Can Only Imagine, but he says he'd rather "shoot himself" than produce or act in the video.

"I'm having fun when I’m shooting it, it’s interesting that hundreds of people that you don’t even know are there, but it’s just not my world."

"I really believe that I suck when it comes to acting, every time, and that’s really what makes it such a pain for me because I’m kind of shy in front of the camera and I don’t know why, but it’s just the way it is."

Guetta headlined a packed Creamfields at Fox Studios, Moore Park, earlier this evening and the international superstar did not disappoint.

David Guetta profile...

Worldwide producer/DJ, Grammy winning, platinum selling, superstar. Guetta is currently riding the wave of success following the release of his 5th studio album ‘Nothing But The Beat.’ Undoubtedly one the world's most famous producers, he has worked with the ‘cream of the crop’ of hit maker from Madonna to Sebastian Ingrosso. In addition to selling more than 5 million albums, Guetta produced the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” (highest-selling digital release in music history). “It doesn’t matter if I make a beat that’s going to be a song on the radio, or if I make a record that’s meant to please DJs,” Guetta says of continuing to bridge the gap between electronic and pop, “I always just think of making people dance”.

Creamfields Sydney Main Room acts were:

DAVID GUETTA
CHANGEOVER
DIRTY SOUTH
ABOVE & BEYOND
ALESSO
CONGOROCK
VITALIC
BOMBS AWAY
MINX






Websites

Creamfields

David Guetta

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

Eva Rinaldi Photography

Music News Australia


Classical Music News of the Week, April 29, 2012

National Philharmonic Presents the D.C. Premiere of Debussy's Martyrdom of St. Sebastian





The D.C. premiere of  Claude Debussy's Martyrdom of St. Sebastian will be presented by the National Philharmonic, conducted by National Philharmonic Chorale Artistic Director Stan Engebretson, on Saturday, May 19 at 8 pm at the Music Center at Strathmore. The concert will conclude the May National Philharmonic and Strathmore celebration of the music of Claude Debussy, marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of one of the most important French composers. The concert will feature the National Philharmonic's nearly 200 voice all-volunteer Chorale, as well as soloists Audrey Luna (soprano); Rosa Lamoreaux (soprano); Linda Maguire (mezzo-soprano);  and narrator Eliot Pfanstiehl, founder and CEO of Strathmore.



The martyr St. Sebastian's life, death, and miracles have inspired painters and sculptors throughout history and in 1911, it captured the imagination of Debussy in the form of a text by Gabriele d'Annunzio. The work they created together retells the soldier-saint's story as a medieval mystery play in five tableaux or movements - The Court of Lilies, The Magic Chamber, The Council of False Gods, The Wounded Laurel and Paradise. Reviewers have praised the sheer beauty of the music, with its evocation of ecstasy and mysticism. Describing his intentions with this piece, Debussy wrote, ". . . when in the last act, the Saint mounts to paradise, I think I set down what I felt at the thought of soaring to the heavens!" Audiences agreed. The piece debuted in Paris in 1912 to great critical acclaim and packed houses – one audience member, Arturo Toscanini, made immediate arrangements to take it to La Scala for its Italian premiere, where it also triumphed.



About the Soloists:

Soprano Audrey Luna, whom Opera News says "has power and a blazing coloratura facility that most lyric sopranos can only dream of," is fast emerging as one of the country's brightest young artists. Ms. Luna is the 2009 winner of the Loren L. Zachary Vocal Competition and received the top prize awarded in the 2009 Renata Tebaldi International Voice Competition. She has also been awarded first place in the Terzo Concorso Lirico Internazionale "Alfredo Giacomotti," the Caruso International Voice Competition and Eleanor Lieber Awards,and has garnered prizes from the George London Foundation, the Jos̩ Iturbi International Voice Competition, Elardo International Opera Competition, the Liederkranz Foundation, the Licia Albanese РPuccini Foundation, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.



Soprano Rosa Lamoreaux, acclaimed for her "scrupulous musicianship ... gorgeous sound and stylistic acuity"  (The Washington Post), is engaged in an international career of broad scope, including solo recitals, chamber music, opera, and orchestral performances at major concert venues:  Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Strathmore Hall and the Washington National Cathedral, among others.  Her concert tours abroad have included performances in Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Peru and Japan.



Ms. Lamoreaux is Artistic Director of the National Gallery of Art Vocal Ensemble. Her art museum performance venues also include the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cloisters and the Phillips Collection. She has recently received her seventh Washington Area Music Association WAMMIE award as Best Classical Vocalist.



Mezzo-soprano Linda Maguire is an internationally renowned vocal artist with an extensive resume in concert, recital and opera, as well as live broadcasts and recordings. She has sung regularly with many of the major orchestras of North America, including Calgary, Dallas and Vancouver. Appearances abroad include Les Musiciens du Louvre, I Virtuosi di Praja, and Les Violons du Roi.



Narrator Eliot Pfanstiehl is the CEO of Strathmore Hall Foundation Inc., which operates and presents programming at Strathmore, a multi-disciplinary arts center, including the Music Center and the Mansion at Strathmore, in Montgomery County, Maryland. Mr. Pfanstiehl has held this position since the foundation's inception in 1983.



About the conductor:

In demand throughout the United States and Europe, Dr. Stan Engebretson has led choirs in Venice's Cathedral of St. Mark and taught in Cologne, Trier, St. Moritz and Barcelona. He has studied with the great masters of choral music, including Robert Shaw, Gregg Smith, Richard Westenburg, Roger Wagner and Eric Ericson. After attending the University of North Dakota and earning his Doctorate from Stanford University, Engebretson taught at the University of Texas and the University of Minnesota. He also was the Artistic Director of the Midland-Odessa Symphony Chorale and the Associate Conductor of the Minnesota Chorale.



A free pre-concert lecture will be offered at 6:45 pm on Saturday, May 19 in the Concert Hall at the Music Center at Strathmore. To purchase tickets to the May 19 Martyrdom of St. Sebastian concert, please visit www.nationalphilharmonic.org or call the Strathmore box office at (301) 581-5100. Tickets to the National Philharmonic concerts are $28-$81; kids 7-17 are FREE through the ALL KIDS, ALL FREE, ALL THE TIME program (sponsored by The Gazette). ALL KIDS tickets must be purchased in person or by phone. Parking is complimentary.



--Deborah Birnbaum, National Philharmonic



Seattle Symphony Announces Commission by Renowned American Composer Elliott Carter

Ludovic Morlot and orchestra to Give world premiere in February 2013.



The Seattle Symphony is thrilled to announce a new commission by renowned American composer Elliott Carter. The new work, a 12-minute long orchestral piece titled Instances, will receive its world premiere at the Orchestra's Wyckoff Masterworks Season performances on February 7, 9 and 10, 2013, conducted by Music Director Ludovic Morlot. Carter and Morlot share a friendship forged during Morlot's tenure as Assistant Conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra; the eminent composer is writing this piece, commissioned by the Seattle Symphony, as a special gift to Morlot in his new role as the Seattle Symphony's Music Director.



"It is an enormous honor to be involved with the creation of this jewel of a piece by Elliott Carter," said Morlot. "Since my first meeting with him in Boston almost a decade ago, my admiration for his music and his extraordinary spirit has grown incessantly. That he would write a piece for me and the Seattle Symphony to celebrate the start of our relationship together is an absolute privilege. I cannot wait to share this music and this honor with our musicians and audiences at Benaroya Hall."



About Elliott Carter:

Twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the first composer to receive the United States National Medal of Arts, one of the few composers ever awarded Germany's Ernst Von Siemens Music Prize, and in 1988 made "Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" by the Government of France, Elliott Carter is internationally recognized as one of the leading American voices of the classical music tradition. He recently received the Prince Pierre Foundation Music Award and is one of only a handful of living composers elected to the Classical Music Hall of Fame. Carter was recognized by the Pulitzer Prize Committee for the first time in 1960 for his groundbreaking String Quartet No. 2. Igor Stravinsky hailed Carter's Double Concerto for harpsichord, piano, and two chamber orchestras (1961) and Piano Concerto (1967) as "masterpieces."



Of his creative output exceeding 130 works, Carter has composed more than 40 pieces in the past decade alone. He remains extraordinarily prolific at over 100 years of age; his recent works include the Flute Concerto (2008), premiered by Emmanuel Pahud, flute, and the International Chamber Music Ensemble, led by Daniel Barenboim; What are Years, a 2010 joint commission of the Aldeburgh and Tanglewood Festivals; Tintinabulation (2008), premiered in 2008 by the New England Conservatory Percussion Ensemble at Jordan Hall in Boston; and the Concertino for Bass Clarinet (2009), premiered in Toronto in December 2010 by Virgil Blackwell and the New Music Concerts Ensemble. An all-Carter concert in honor of the composer's 103rd birthday in December 2011 featured the world premieres of String Trio (2011) and A Sunbeam's Architecture (2010), as well as two surprise pieces composed in the month preceding the concert: Rigmarole and Mnemosyné.



About the Seattle Symphony:

The Seattle Symphony, now presenting its 109th season, has gained international prominence with more than 140 recordings, twelve GRAMMY nominations and two Emmys. The 2011–2012 season is the inaugural year for Music Director Ludovic Morlot, who was appointed to the position in 2010. The Seattle Symphony performs in one of the world's finest concert venues — the acoustically superb Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle — and is recognized for its innovative programming, devotion to the classics, and extensive recording catalog. From September through July, the Symphony is heard live by more than 315,000 people. For more information on the Seattle Symphony, visit www.seattlesymphony.org.



--Patrick Gullo, Kirshbaum Demler & Associates



Strathmore Music in the Mansion Presents a Celebration of Composer Claude Debussy with Katie Mahan, piano, National Philharmonic and Friends

May Mansion concerts honor 150th anniversary of cardinal French composer's birth.



Strathmore's Music in the Mansion concert series honors the 150th anniversary of the birth of integral French composer Claude Debussy with two all-Debussy May concerts, featuring acclaimed pianist Katie Mahan and members of the National Philharmonic. Mahan will perform on Thursday, May 10, 2012 and the National Philharmonic musicians will pay tribute to Debussy on Thursday, May 17, 2012. Both concerts will be held at 7:30 p.m. and will feature pre-performance lectures beginning at 6:30 p.m. with WETA's David Ginder. The performances are part of the National Philharmonic's Debussy festival, with Music Center performances including an All Debussy concert on Saturday, May 5, 2012 with pianist Brian Ganz and a Washington, D.C. premiere of the composer's large choral work, The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian on Saturday, May 19, 2012. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.  Music in the Mansion is sponsored by Asbury Methodist Village.



Katie Mahan:

An acclaimed interpreter of Claude Debussy, American pianist Kate Mahan has won international admiration for her delivery of his multi-layered, complex music. Praised for her extraordinary musical sensitivity, Mahan creates, "Numerous nuances of sound...sometimes strong, sometimes astoundingly tender and intimate" (Neue Ruhr Zeitung). Mahan made her orchestral debut in 1999 with the Breckenridge Symphony, and has subsequently appeared with such celebrated conductors as Jiri Belohlavek, Marin Alsop and Robert Lehrbaumer. Mahan's 2011-12 season includes recital appearances around the world, as well as a series of all-Debussy recitals at the Roerich Museum in New York City; in Greenville, South Carolina; and at Strathmore. Mahan is a Steinway artist.



Mahan's all-Debussy program will include Deux Arabesques, Estampes, L'isle joyeuse and Préludes Livre II.



National Philharmonic and Friends:

Strathmore and the National Philharmonic gather like-minded fans and virtuoso partners for this intimate performance of Debussy's seminal works— Piano Trio in G Major, Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, Sonata for Violin and Piano in G minor  and the String Quartet in G minor. Performing in the concert are violinists Jody Gatwood and Claudia Chudacoff, violist Julius Wirth, cellist Lori Barnet and pianist Kathryn Brake.



About Strathmore:

Strathmore is an arts presenter and cultural destination that nurtures art, artists and community through creative and diverse programming of the highest quality.  The Mansion at Strathmore is located at 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD, one half-mile north of the Capital Beltway and immediately adjacent to the Grosvenor-Strathmore station on Metro's Red Line. For further information or tickets, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.



Strathmore Music in the Mansion Presents Katie Mahan, Thursday, May 10, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Pre-concert lecture with WETA's David Ginder at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets $30 (Stars Price $27)

Deux Arabesques

Estampes

L'isle joyeuse

Préludes Livre II



National Philharmonic and Friends, Thursday, May 17, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Pre-concert lecture with WETA's David Ginder at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets $30 (Stars Price $27)

Piano Trio in G Major

Cello Sonata in D minor

Violin Sonata in G minor

String Quartet in G minor



Mansion at Strathmore

10701 Rockville Pike

North Bethesda, MD 20852



For additional information or to purchase tickets visit www.strathmore.org.



--Michael Fila, Strathmore



Spring For Music Asks You to Create Your Fantasy Program

The festival dedicated to bringing adventurous programing to New York wants to hear your fantasy program.



Fantasy Program contest started April 24 and ends at noon EDT, May 5



Spring For Music, an annual festival at Carnegie Hall May 7 through 12, firmly believes that great ideas and great concert programs come from open dialogue and creative collaboration. Orchestras for Spring For Music are chosen based on the strength of the programs they submit. Last fall, we posted programs from orchestras wanting to be considered for the festival and more than 60,000 readers read them and cast 20,000 comments and votes.



That is why we want to hear what you think makes for an outstanding orchestra program. Spring For Music's Fantasy Program contest allows users to post a hypothetical program for orchestra online. Just like the Spring For Music orchestras, participants will make a case for why their program is a great one. Visitors to the Spring For Music Web site can comment and vote fantasy programs up and down. The contest opens today, April 23, and runs for two weeks. When it closes on May 5, the program that has received the most "up" votes by visitors to the website will be declared the winner. The winner gets two tickets to each of this year's and next year's Spring For Music concerts at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, the winner will be interviewed for the Spring For Music website, and the winning program will be featured by Carnegie Hall and WQXR.



After thousands of music lovers voiced their opinion, the 2011 Fantasy Program contest winner was New York-based cellist, Peter Sachon. His program, "Eternal Stories", was an imagined night of music engaging with the character of superman as seen through different cultures. Richard Strauss' "Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Op. 30" was interestingly paired with John Williams's "Superman". Sachon later discussed his winning program on Performance Today, one of America's most popular classical music radio programs.



Jennifer Rivera at Trying to Remain Operational Wins the Arts Blogger Challenge:

Trying to Remain Operational is the winner of Spring For Music's first Arts Blogger Challenge. The festival posted a series of prompts about the larger arts community and challenged bloggers to respond. Public voting accounted for one-third of the tally, and three official judges, composer Nico Muhly, ArtsJournal founder and editor Douglas McLennan, and Katrine Ames, former senior editor at Newsweek, accounted for two-thirds of the vote. 42 blogs participated and hundreds of votes were cast. Trying to Remain Operational will receive $2,500 and six pairs of tickets to the Spring For Music festival. The blog is written by Jennifer Rivera, a professional lyric mezzo soprano. Her winning entry can be found here. In the fourth and final round, entrants were asked to answer the question, "Do we need to save the arts, and if so, what does saving them mean?" In her post, Rivera wrote:



"After I found out that I'd passed on to the next round in this competition this morning, I called my parents to let them know, and to tell them what the next question I was answering was. Being a very independent thinker, I didn't want their input, but my mom, being a painter, sculptor and potter herself, couldn't help but weigh in just before she hung up, with, "Don't forget, the arts are irrepressible!!" She has a point. The arts will never need saving, because throughout history, we have proven that we need creativity in order to survive our own humanity and to help understand our own mortality. Art seems to stick around as part of the human condition, and no matter how the society evolves or devolves, creativity remains. Art is irrepressible - we know because it has been created in even the most horrendous and repressed conditions, like the concentration camp in Terezin, whose prisoners produced innumerable pieces of art, including a complete opera; Der Kaiser von Atlantis, which is still being performed in opera houses today. Art is not something that can ever be repressed because within every human being exists the ability to create. We don't need to save art because art saves us. This, at least, can give us some hope for the future."



About Spring For Music

Spring For Music is an annual concentrated festival of concerts by North American symphony and chamber orchestras presented at Carnegie Hall. The concerts will be held May 7-12 and tickets are only $25. Through a unique marketing structure involving shared costs, shared risks, and generous donations, the festival allows participating orchestras to showcase their artistic philosophies through distinctive and adventurous programming in one of the world's most competitive musical environments. This festival is meant to start a conversation about programming. What makes one program better than another? How do pieces on a program interact - some brilliantly, some less so? What makes the difference? Spring For Music is an experiment; the idea is to take risks, explore new territory, and to get people involved. Tickets are available at the Carnegie Hall box office, through CarnegieCharge, and on the Carnegie Hall Web site.



--Amanda Ameer, First Chair Promotions

LOCAL ARTIST JAY SEENEY SIGNS DEAL WITH INTERNATIONAL GUITAR COMPANY



Jay Seeney, a 20 year old local guitarist from Appin has just signed an endorsement deal with international guitar company, Schecter Guitar Research. Jay Seeney is a founding member of the band ‘Forever Road’ & also plays Lead Guitar for Macarthur local & CMC New Oz Artist of the Year, ‘Peter McWhirter’.

 Jay has introduced Schecter into the country rock scene where it is not widely used. Schecter guitars are frequently seen amongst hard rock & metal genres but Jay has been able to apply their very versatile tone to the country rock scene. 

Schecter is pleased to come on board for the increased exposure in the country rock genre & after seeing Jay play, offered him a deal.

‘I am really excited about this deal. If there was one endorsement in the entire world that I wanted, it was this one with Schecter,’ says Seeney.

Fellow Schecter endorsee’s include: Synyster Gates & Zacky Vengeance – Avenged Sevenfold, Prince, Robert Smith & Porl Thompson - The Cure & Shaun Morgan & Dale Stewart - Seether.
Seeney is proud to be a member of the Schecter family, having used them for years.

Another major highlight of the month for Seeney was playing at the festival, CMC Rocks the Hunter with Peter McWhirter where they performed to over 11,000 country music fans. He had the chance to mingle with a number of famous country music artists including Lee Kernaghan, James Blundell & The McClymonts.
Seeney looks forward to a long lasting relationship with the Schecter company & look out for him at a local gig soon rocking out on his Schecter!

Schecter Guitars – www.schecterguitars.com

Schmelzer: Barockes Welttheater (CD review)

Freiburger BarockConsort. Harmonia Mundi HMC 902087.



The opening percussion sets the tone for the album. You know in a flash you're in for one wild and wonderful ride through the seventeenth century.



So, who was this guy Schmelzer, and why should we care? He was Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (c. 1620-1680), an Austrian composer and violinist who eventually worked his way up to serve as Kapellmeister ("conductor," "choirmaster," "music maker") in the Habsburg court. Why the interest in him? Because the Freiburger BarockConsort specializes in the music of less-frequently played composers of the seventeenth century, and Schmelzer fits the role perfectly. At least, he's not frequently played these days. In his own day, as a violinist he was apparently quite popular and as a composer had a significant influence on later musicians and composers of the era.



Titled Barockes Welttheater ("Baroque World Theater"), the album offers eleven of Schmelzer's dance suites, ballets, and sonatas, which the Freiburger ensemble chose to represent a typical evening's entertainment in the Habsburg day.



The program opens with Serenata con altre arie ("Serenade with other tunes") in five movements. The piece demonstrates Schmelzer's versatility and the BarockConsort's adaptability and virtuosity on a variety of instruments. You'll hear a kettledrum, bells, guitar, just about everything in here in addition to violins, violas, and lute.



Next, the Polnishche Sackpfeiffen ("Polish Bagpipes") sounds just as its title suggests, with a wonderfully earthy tenor to the proceedings.



Sonata amabilis a 4 ("Amiable Sonata") is just that, too, an amiable, affable, good-natured piece of music in a pastoral vein, the violin sweetly wafting in and out of the viola accompaniment. And so it goes, the selections alternating between bright and lively works and more serene, even courtly numbers.



The final piece, the Sonata in D "Battaglia," bears special mention in that it's the most obvious example of program music on the disc. It describes in musical terms a battlefield encounter, complete with a solemn introduction, full-on combat, and a final resolution. The battle rages until we hear only the military drum left standing. The work predates Beethoven's Wellington's Victory by nearly a century and a half.



Interestingly, too, a booklet note tells us that "a particular speciality of seventeenth-century Habsburg music was 'scordatura.' This term derived from the Italian 'scordare' means the 'mistuning' of one or more strings to a different note from the normal one. This practice makes it easier to play chords and alters the sound of the violin. Sometimes, as a special effect, a string was even mistuned in the course of a sonata."



Anyway, the Freiburger BarockConsort are an accomplished set of musicians, but don't expect them to play with the elegance of an Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Philharmonia Baroque, Academy of Ancient Music, or English Concert. The ten musicians of the Freiburger BarockConsort, members of the Freiburger Baroqueorchestra, play in quite a festive and exhilarating fashion (in the manner of Jordi Savall's Les Concert des Nations, for example), meaning they make up for any minor lack of refinement with the ultimate joy and enthusiasm of their music making. Enjoy the fun they're having.



Because the BarockConsort are only ten members strong, you would expect them to sound reasonably clear on disc, and you'd be correct. Recorded in Freiburg in 2010, the disc's sonic presentation spreads the players well across the sound stage, with each of the instruments lucidly delineated. Yet there is also a warm, resonant acoustic involved to provide a sense of realism to the occasion. A broad dynamic range, strong impact, good depth, quick transient attack, and a wide frequency response add icing to the cake.



Harmonia Mundi do up the package with attractive graphics; a well-written booklet insert in English, French, and German; and a light-cardboard slipcover for the jewel case.



JJP

JOHNNY RUFFO CONFIRMED AS SPECIAL GUEST TO SUPPORT NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK AND BACKSTREET BOYS ON THEIR AUSTRALIAN TOUR



Friday 27 April 2012 – Live Nation are thrilled to announce that one of the hottest stars right now,
Johnny Ruffo, has been confirmed as the special guest on the upcoming New Kids On The Block and
Backstreet Boys Australian tour. So hot that Johnny has just been named as a runner-up in Cleo’s
“Bachelor of the Year” competition!

It’s been a massive 12 months for Johnny, who was a finalist in The X-Factor. He also went on the road
with One Direction and is now showing Australia his moves on Dancing With The Stars.
Johnny, 23, is also getting set to launch his recording career with Sony Music.
“Some days I pinch myself,” Johnny said. “I’ve just finished the One Direction tour, now I’m going on the
road with NKOTBSB. I can’t wait.”

New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys will arrive in Australia next month performing in
Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth. Tickets available now from Ticketek.
“If our fans want us down under, we'll go down under,” said New Kids’ Donnie Wahlberg. “Our
international fans have been flying to see us stateside for years, so now we are bringing the show to
them. Get ready Australia, we are coming to you!”

The Australian leg will bring the historic NKOTBSB tour for a limited six-show run, giving fans across the
globe chances to catch their favorite groups on one stage. Fans in Australia can finally see what North
American Press hailed as “One of the hottest tickets of the summer,” as described by OK! Magazine.
“Each tune was performed with the same energy, crotch-grabbing, and hip-thrusting that turned these
groups into teens sensations years ago. NKOTBSB may well be the tastiest musical mouthful of the
summer,” raved Entertainment Weekly.

NKOTBSB first shocked and delighted fans when they took to the stage together for a medley at the sold
out NKOTB Radio City Music Hall show. The two groups wowed audiences again in their first joint
televised performance at the American Music Awards in November 2010 and have toured consistently
through 2011 since coming together.

With more than 200 million albums sold between both bands, and smash hit after smash hit, these two
pop sensations have dominated the music scene for more than three decades. Aiming to please, these
guys are giving concert goers and diehard fans everywhere the ultimate “night out” experience.

NKOTB BACKGROUND

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK sold more than 80 million albums worldwide – including back-to-back
international #1 songs, 1988’s Hangin’ Tough and 1990’s Step By Step – and a series of crossover
smash R&B, pop hits like You Got It (The Right Stuff), Cover Girl, Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),
Hangin’ Tough, I’ll Be Loving You, Step By Step and Tonight. The group shattered concert box office
records playing an estimated 200 concerts a year in sold out stadiums throughout the world. They still
hold many of these records to date. They were Forbes highest paid entertainers of 1990, beating out
Michael Jackson and Madonna. The band boasted an extensive and highly profitable merchandise line
which included everything from lunch boxes and sleeping bags to comic books, marbles and dolls.


More
Information is available at www.nkotb.com, facebook.com/pages/New-Kids-On-The-Block and
twitter.com/NKOTB


Justin Beiber preparing song about Mariah Yeater

Justin Bieber had two women in his life Selena Gomez and Mariah Yeater, a 20-year-old claiming the Biebs fathered her then 3-month-old son. While you might assume Bieber’s latest single, Boyfriend, is for the former, could he write anything for his delusional wannabe baby-mama.

At one tip, the adolescent singer said he was heading for plain up gossips with his forthcoming album Believe, and this weekend, he explained his previous report, stating he is script a song to Yeater.

And followed it with a clip from Borat. Later, he told the press: There's a song about that girl Mariah Yeater that said she was going to have my baby. There are songs about things I'm going through. I wrote songs about different situations.

So far, the singer has typically swayed out cheerful modern songs, but not anything along the lines of Justin Timberlake’s Cry Me a River. 

The Baby singer’s verse to Yeater might not emerge on Believe, but so far, he has 40 songs that he either wrote or co-wrote and now has to make a decision which ones will come out on the album. Out of those are teamwork with Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Drake.

Chabrier: Espana (SACD review)

Also, Suite Pastorale; Fete Polonaise; Gwendoline Overture; Danse Slave; Joyeuse Marche; Bourree Fantasque; Roussel: Suite in F. Paul Paray, Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Mercury SACD 475 6183.



Better late than never. My catching up on great records, I mean.



I missed this classic recording when it first appeared on a Mercury Living Presence LP in 1960, as well as when Philips/Mercury later released it on CD in the early Nineties. There was probably even a Mercury Golden Import in there I missed, too; I don't know. In any case, it was an unfortunate loss on my part, but a wonderful catching up.



Paul Paray's performance of Espana is among the most joyous, infectiously exciting, and spontaneous I think I have ever heard. The playing is great; the interpretation is great; I think I'm in love. Seriously, this is not only a well-performed rendition of a popular warhorse, it's one of the most delightfully imaginative renderings you'll find as well. My previous favorites, a 1957 recording by Ataulfo Argenta and the LSO on Decca (and remastered on LIM) and a 1984 digital recording by Armin Jordan on Erato, are still by no means entirely eclipsed, but Paray brings just as much sparkle to the occasion, maybe more. Combine the excellence of Paray's Espana with the distinction of the companion pieces, and you get a delectable combination.



Moreover, Paray, as always, gets a superb production from recording director Wilma Cozart and chief engineer C. Robert Fine, the various selections made between 1957-1959 in the Cass Technical High School gymnasium and Old Orchestra Hall, felicitous spots for recording if ever there were any. About the only area in which the Erato disc excels the Mercury is in its depth of field, where there is slightly greater dimensionality to Jordan's orchestra, plus a touch more warmth. The Mercury engineers more closely miked their recording, and while it displays a little less depth, it also has more midrange transparency and openness. (To be fair, however, the LIM remastering of Argenta sounds remarkable, too, with enormous dynamics, although it costs an arm and a leg more.) In addition, the Mercury contains everything else found on the Erato issue, with the addition of the Roussel Suite in F, making the Mercury a winning deal.



What's more, the folks at Decca/Mercury offer the recording on a hybrid SACD, meaning in this case that you can listen to it in its original two-channel stereo (played either on a regular CD player or on an SACD player) and a three-channel version (SACD player only), which is the way the engineers originally recorded the piece before releasing it in stereo only. It's a remarkable recording, no matter how you look at (or listen to) it.



JJP