Festival director keeps pushing at the boundaries
Since May, when Canberra International Music Festival director Roland Peelman stepped down after a whirlwind 10 years, there's been a changing of the guard, reports arts editor HELEN MUSA.
Canberra International Music Festival
Daily critiques from the Canberra International Music Festival
The new director of the Canberra International Music Festival, Eugene Ughetti, unveiled his program for 2025 at the Italian ambassador’s residence on Monday evening under the theme of Liberté.
"Ashley Hribar’s accompaniment was extraordinary. He improvised as the film played, giving an original response with his accompaniment that was edgy, musical and always totally appropriate," writes reviewer LEN POWER.
"Making live music for real-time listeners was the main thrust of Sunday's closing concert for the 30th Canberra International Music Festival, appropriately themed Mulanggari (alive)," writes reviewer HELEN MUSA.
Canberra International Music Festival
CIMF / More of the beauty of Bach’s Brandenburgs
Reviewer DANTE COSTA has a niggle about the final half of the Six Brandenburg Concertos. "I am not entirely convinced that this was the best venue to showcase the beauty and technicality of this ensemble’s masterful performance."
Canberra International Music Festival
CIMF / Up late and worth the wait
"Belgian pianist Bram De Looze is one of the latest sensations on the international jazz scene. [He] can really rock up a musical storm," writes reviewer ROB KENNEDY.
Canberra International Music Festival
CIMF / Three concertos of Brandenburg bliss
This was a production of great credit to the Bach Akademie Australia and to the festival. Events such as these can often be the only opportunity to present such work in this way," writes reviewer GRAHAM McDONALD.
LEN POWER reviews the Canberra International Music Festival's American Modern concert.
Reviewer ROB KENNEDY savours an hour of music and conversation at the keyboard between Tamara-Anna Cislowska and composer Larry Sitsky. "His legacy is still a work in progress, but his influence is cemented throughout Australia," he writes.
Beethoven’s Legacy was the focus and SARAH BYRNE reviews performances by Trio Karénine and the Dudok Quartet Amsterdam.
"The trio’s performance captured the elegant simplicity of the Australian bush and the composer's wish to evoke the harmonious ways in which traditional owners inhabit the land," writes reviewer CASSIDY RICHENS.
DANTE COSTA reviews an an illuminating program encompassing a rich history of music by two prolific composers hailing from opposite sides of the globe: none other than Luigi Nono and Canberra’s very own Larry Sitsky.
Reviewer GRAHAM McDONALD enjoys some Turkish Tea – "Respectful and joyous music making and totally enjoyable."
"Luminescence Chamber Singers’ world-premiere performance of Andrew Ford’s new song cycle Red Dirt Hymns was one of the most purely enjoyable hours of music it’s been my pleasure to experience," writes reviewer SARAH BYRNE.
GRAHAM McDONALD reviews two of the international ensembles performing at CIMF. Members of both groups are around the same age, mid-30s or so and both concerts were programmed with subtle connecting links between the works performed.
"The opening gala concert of this year’s Canberra International Music Festival was indeed very gala and emotionally uplifting with a program filled with compassion," writes reviewer LEN POWER.
ROB KENNEDY reviews the first concert in the 2024 Canberra International Music Festival, which he said got the festival off to a strong start.
Holly Harrison is the Canberra International Music Festival's composer in residence. “Not all composers are…
When it comes to choosing themes, International Music Festival director Roland Peelman is notoriously cavalier. But for his final one he's adopted a more serious tone, titling the event “Mulanggari” (Alive), says HELEN MUSA.
