Griffyn Ensemble members Kiri Sollis, left, and Chris Stone… preparing for “Whitlam in China”.WHILE President Richard Nixon visited China in 1972, Gough Whitlam was there the year before him. Now Canberra’s innovative Griffyn Ensemble is staging its answer to John Adams’ 1987 opera, “Nixon in China”, with “Whitlam in China” at the National Library of Australia at 7pm on Thursday, February 12. The non-singing voices of Whitlam, Bob Hawke, and Paul Keating will be heard. One of the world’s foremost pipa (four-stringed Chinese instrument) exponents, Ms Hongyan Zhang, will be performing. Bookings to griffyn.iwannaticket.com.au
Award-winning Canberra baritone Nikolai Morozow will conduct and sing solo in Goulburn. Photo by Barbie RobinsonGOOD news that that award-winning Canberra baritone Nikolai Morozow will conduct and sing solo with the Canberra Russian Orthodox Choir in “Gentle Light”, a concert of Orthodox sacred music at 3.30pm on Sunday, February 8, in St Peter and Paul’s Old Cathedral, corner of Bourke and Verner Streets, Goulburn. Tickets at the door. Children under 12 free.
TOP Canberra contemporary dance-makers have a double bill coming up at The Courtyard Studio, February 12-15. Made up of “Metasystems” by prizewinning choreographer James Batchelor and “Postphase: The Summit is Blue” by Chloe Chignell and Timothy Walsh, it’s part of the Multicultural Fringe. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.
MEANWHILE, the Front Gallery, in Wattle Street, Lyneham, has been hosting a residency, “Back to Front”, by dancer Alison Plevey, running to Sunday, February 8. Plevey plans to “reframe” the gallery space with the body as the artwork. She’ll be viewable daily and the process there will be two half-hour performances, at 11am and 3pm, on February 7. All welcome.
THEN there’s the Silver Treads Senior Tap Dancing Group for men and women aged 50 and over. Beginners, intermediate and advanced classes meet on Monday mornings at Lake Ginninderra Scout Hall. Enquiries to 0432 062379 or 6254 2546.
Salut! Baroque… turning 20 this year.THAT quality ensemble, Salut! Baroque, is turning 20 this year, and is kicking off with “Mr Purcell’s Farewell” at 7.30pm, Friday, February 13, at Albert Hall. Henry Purcell, still surely England’s greatest composer, died aged only 35 and, as was customary, peer composers John Blow, Henry Hall and Jeremiah Clarke celebrated his life in music. Salut! Musicians will follow this tradition. Subscriptions to baroque.com.au or tickets at the door.
The Harmony Chorus… running a four-week “Introduction to A Cappella Singing” program for women.FROM February 12, Canberra Harmony Chorus is running a four-week “Introduction to A Cappella Singing” program for women “from all ages and walks of life”. Rehearsals are at Canberra Raiders Belconnen, 155 Hardwick Crescent, Holt, 7pm-9pm, on Thursdays. Bookings to cleaveranita@gmail.com.au or 0406 468988.
CANBERRA Glassworks is staging an exhibition curated by Ivana Jirasek responding to the various international glass collections and traditions represented by our diplomatic missions in Canberra. An A-list of artists such as Helen Aitken-Kuhnen (Japan), Erin Conron (Belgium), Klaus Moje (US) and Lienors Torre (Czech Republic) will focus on participating countries. Opens at 6pm, February 11, with a gallery floor talk at 2pm on Saturday, February 28 and Saturday, March 7, at 2pm.
Director Nina Stevenson is at it again, with her company Pied Piper's school holiday production of Madagascar JR - A Musical Adventure, a family show with all the characters from the movie.
A painting by Australian impressionist Arthur Streeton that was out of public view for more than a century has sold well above expectations for $1.875 million.
Two Canberra artists have scooped the pools in the 2024 Gallipoli Art Prize with the announcement that Luke Cornish has won the $20,000 first prize and Kate Stevens has won highly commended.
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