Daily critiques from the Canberra International Music Festival
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.
Canberra International Music Festival artistic director Roland Peelman will stage his tenth and final festival next year.
Performances from singer-songwriters were a heart-warming and inspiring conclusion to an excellent series of concerts from the Canberra International Music Festival, if a little unsuited, says reviewer FELIX HUBER.
EMILY THORNTON reviews pianist Sonya Lifschitz's performance in the "So Much Myself" concert.
GRAHAM NcDONALD reviews the Alma Moodie Quartet with and Edward Neeman on piano performing at the “A Memory of Russia” concert.
"Each song seemed more beautiful than the last as they created an extraordinary atmosphere of calm with their singing and playing," writes reviewer LEN POWER of the "A Candle for Ukraine" concert.
"The playing and singing of the music of this entire concert was exceptional and every performer contributed to an overwhelming emotional experience." writes reviewer LEN POWER of "The Dunera Mass”.
"With three performances all featuring ensembles of eight musicians, this concert was a celebration of music weird and wonderful performed with the vivid colours of winds, voices and strings." writes reviewer FELIX HUBER.
"This was an unlikely pairing of music styles, with no obvious reasoning behind it, other than perhaps as they were festival participants and it allowed them an opportunity for their solo work," writes music reviewer GRAHAM McDONALD.
LEN POWER reviews the immense "Children’s Crusade” concert at Fitters’ Workshop.
Reviewer EMILY THORNTON savours the performances of two quartets injecting distinctly contemporary and personal essence into Viennese Classicism, or put simply, young people reinvigorating old music.
"Gavrylyuk was stunning; rapidly shifting between thunderous chordal passages and delicate harp-like textures, making it at times impossible to comprehend how such music could be performed with only two hands," writes reviewer FELIX HUBER.
"This concert proved that this often-neglected viola is so much more than just the middle child of the string family." writes reviewer DANTE COSTA.
Reviewer ROB KENNEDY gets among the "Fairies and Fools" and relishes a a "cracking performance and an excellent concert of some of the best music around".
This was a cleverly constructed and well performed concert... until the finale, writes music reviewer IAN McLEAN.
