Composer Andrew Anderson and I recently got together (virtually, of course!) to make an isolation recording of his beautiful song ‘Only in Sleep’ — a setting of Sara Teasdale‘s poem of the same name. Turns out Andrew is an accomplished pianist as well as composer! For my part, I used a simple USB microphone that I bought in order to give online singing lessons. A worthy investment, that USB microphone! Although the pandemic has meant live performances are currently not an option, it has been a fun experience sharing and making music with my colleagues from our respective homes. Enjoy!
Author: alexandramathew
Messiah recording
For those of you who weren’t able to tune in to the broadcast of Messiah on Sunday 3 May, it’s still available on YouTube for you to view at your leisure. Enjoy!
Messiah performance featured on Limelight website
Check out this great write-up on the Limelight website about the upcoming broadcast of RCV’s Messiah! Tune in via YouTube at 1:30pm this Sunday, 3 May, and enjoy!
Messiah broadcast on YouTube
Last December I performed Handel’s Messiah to a sold-out audience at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta. That same performance will be broadcast at 1:30pm on Sunday 3 May, via the River City Voices YouTube channel! My performances for 2020 may have been cancelled, but the music has not stopped. I do hope you’ll tune in — it was such a fabulous event, and a huge thrill to share the stage with legendary baritone Warwick Fyfe, whose magnificent voice filled the cathedral.
See below for further details.
CutCommon interview
Earlier this year I interviewed 3MBS Chair Adele Schonhardt for CutCommon print issue #3. In light of worldwide cancellations and shutdowns due to Coronavirus, CutCommon editor Stephanie Eslake made the decision to release the magazine online rather than in print. Read the full magazine here, and flip to page 20 for the interview. Happy reading!
16-hour Music Marathon
I’ve been invited to be part of an incredible 16 hr music marathon to fundraise for our CFA. It’s an important part of what I do as a performer to contribute to the community, and, in the wake of the recent and devastating bushfires, what better way to express my gratitude to our firefighters’ resilience and endurance than by participating in a music marathon. A total of 40 musicians from Sydney and Melbourne are contributing to this event, and we aim to raise $1000 per hour on the day. It’s on 29 February, from 7am till 11pm, at Tempo Rubato in Brunswick.
At 6:30pm pianist Georgina Lewis and I will be taking the stage to perform a beautiful selection of meditative songs, including Ravel’s ‘Kaddish’ and Britten’s realisation of Purcell’s ‘Evening Hymn’.
The good news is — even if you can’t make it on the day — you can still support the cause through this link. Please share this fundraiser with anyone who may be interested in attending or donating to this worthy cause!
Fauré’s Messe Basse in Wangaratta
After an amazing time in Sydney earlier this week singing Handel’s Messiah with River City Voices, my last performance of the year will be Fauré’s Messe Basse in Wangaratta. This lovely, little-known piece is for soloist and treble voices, and I’m looking forward to performing alongside the talented choristers of Wangaratta Cathedral and organist Hugh Fullarton. More information here.
Messiah in Sydney
This coming Tuesday 17 December I’ll be singing in Handel’s Messiah with River City Voices, under the baton of Dr Sarah Penicka-Smith. I’ll be performing alongside some fabulous singers—soprano Susannah Lawergren, tenor Damien Noyce, and baritone Warwick Fyfe.
7:30pm, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta.
A Christmas Message with Chime Choir
On Friday 13 December, at the beautiful Good Shepherd Chapel in Abbotsford Convent, I’ll be performing alongside Chime Choir for their final concert of 2019: A Christmas Message. Chime will be singing all your favourite Christmas carols, and I’m joining in with a few special solos. Tickets here, and more details on the flyer below.
Messiah in Albury and Wangaratta
I’m very excited to be singing alto solos in Handel’s Messiah this coming weekend in Albury and Wangaratta! See the flyer below for further details.