Revolutionary spirit
The theme of the 2017 Canberra International Music Festival is REVOLUTION: A Music Adventure from the Barricades of Time. Artistic director Roland Peelman says this is "not because some people have described Brexit or the United States election as a revolution, but because 100 years ago in Russia, amidst the ravages of war, a real and extraordinary revolution did take place. It gives us a chance to ponder the nature and the circumstances of radical change, not only in the political arena but in life itself. There is going to be so much to listen to, and so much to talk about." And over five days there will be music from: Mozart, Shostakovich, Bach, Handel, Robert Davidson, Elena Kats-Chernin and Andrew Ford and performers including Canadian Brass, Israeli clarinetist Orit Orbach and more. It will take place from April 27 to May 7, 2017. Bookings: cimf.org.au.
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Dreaming a dream
Speaking of revolutionary fervour, the musical that has claims to being Canberra's favourite is returning next year in a production by Free-Rain Theatre Company at the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre from April 4 to 22. Most of the cast of Les Miserables has been announced although two of the principal male roles, Jean Valjean and Marius, have yet to be finalised. But among those who are set are Tony Falla are Javert, Amy Dunham as Fantine, Stephanie MacLaine as Cosette, Kirrah Amosa as Eponine, Jim Adamik and Janie Lawson as the Thenardiers and Andrew Spence as Enjolras. Bookings; theq.net.au.
Canberra Youth Orchestra turns 50
In 2017 the Canberra Youth Orchestra celebrates its half-century with its CYO50 subscription series concerts in Llewellyn Hall featuring Canberra-founded vocal ensemble The Idea Of North, jazz star James Morrison, percussionist Claire Edwardes and pianist Gabi Sultana. Among the works in the series will be Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Mahler's Symphony No. 1 "Titan", Copland's Appalachian Spring, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite and Gershwin's An American in Paris, all conducted by Leonard Weiss. More information: http://musicforcanberra.org.au/event/canberra-youth-orchestra-2017-celebrating-50-years/ Subscription tickets are available via Ticketek for $80 adult, $50 student/concession, $160 family: http://ticketek.com.au/cyo2017/ The Canberra Youth Orchestra will also be performing Game On! as part of the Canberra International Music Festival on May 6, 2017, joined live by game composer Garry Schyman (Bioshock). More information: cimf.org.au/2017-calendar/6/5/2017/game-on.
CYO Auditions
Late auditions for the Canberra Youth Orchestra's 2017 series will be on January 22 and 28 for their few remaining places. More information: eventbrite.com.au/e/auditions-for-cyo-2017-tickets-30318659928.
Congratulations
Congratulations to two former Canberrans who have been nominated in the musical direction category of the 2016 Sydney Theatre Awards . They are Lucy Bermingham, who has been nominated for Spring Awakening and Daniel Edmonds who was nominated for Dream Lover, alongside Michael Tyack (The Detective's Handbook) and Andrew Worboys (Little Shop of Horrors) The winners will be announced on January 23, 2017.
