The Schack-Arnott siblings come together to present a new duo! They rarely get the opportunity to play together so this is a special occasion to see the two perform.
Matthias Schack-Arnott will work with electro-acoustic percussive texture to create entangled resonances.
Freya Schack-Arnott will explore cycles of spectral harmonics and gritty textures, the two interacting and weaving a language that fluctuates between harmonic resonances and earthy distorted tones.
The concert will also feature an amazingly innovative and colourful work by Iannis Xenakis for solo cello, called Nomos Alpha (Greek: Νόμος α΄). Written in 1965, this is perhaps Xenakis's most well known example of symbolic music, using the 24 rotations of a cube as the source for musical material.
Often mathematics inspires music, but in this case it is the other way round: Xenakis's use of a Fibonacci sequence of symmetries in this work actually contributes a new idea to the mathematics of symmetry.
And finally we are pleased to present the rarely-heard String Quintet in F Major, Op. 88 by Johannes Brahms. This quintet is bursting with sunshine, featuring two violas and several baroque tropes; it is a contrapuntal feast perfect to play in the company of friends as we head into the festive season.
Preparation and performance for this concert will take place on Gadigal land, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. "Keep the fire burning! Blak, Loud and Proud."
We will also be raising funds for the medical treatment of a dear friend to the Opus Now team. Gavriel Lipkind's son Adam (8 years old) has been diagnosed with an aggressive and rare cancer, and his best chance for effective treatment is in Barcelona, but with a significant cost. Any support you might be able to give would be incredible, more information can be found easily here.
OPUS NOW #31
Tickets: Adults $30 online and at the door, FT Students $15 Please book your tickets in advance here (early bird until 15/11!)
When: 8-9:30pm (Doors Open 7:30pm) Friday November 22nd
ARTISTS
Kristian Winther - violin
Tamara Elias- violin
James Wannan- viola
Nicole Forsyth - viola
Christopher Pidcock - cello
Freya Schack-Arnott- cello
Matthias Schack-Arnott percussion and electronics
PROGRAM
Iannis Xenakis Nomos Alpha (1965) for solo cello
Johannes Brahms String Quintet in F major Opus 88 for two violas (1882)
I Allegro non troppo ma con brio
II Grave ed appassionato – Allegretto vivace – Tempo I – Presto – Tempo
III Allegro energico – Presto
Matthias and Freya Schack-Arnott new work for cello, percussion and electronics
Matthias Schack-Arnott is an Australian artist, composer and percussionist, whose works span live performance, public art and installation.
Described by The Guardian as ‘visually and sonically exquisite’, Matthias’ works have been presented by major festivals and contemporary art spaces including the Venice Biennale, Brighton Festival (UK), Noordezon Festival (NL), National Museum of Australia, Adelaide Festival, Sydney Festival, Melbourne Festival, RISING Festival (Melbourne), Arts House (Melbourne), The Unconformity (Tasmania), Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, La Comete (France), Spor Festival (Denmark), The Substation (Melbourne) and the National Gallery of Victoria.
From 2010-2018 Matthias was the Artistic Associate of Australia’s leading percussive arts organisation, Speak Percussion. He continues to have a close affiliation with the organisation.
As a collaborator, interpreter and improviser, Matthias has worked with many leading musicians including Steve Reich, Claire Chase, Unsuk Chin, Valerio Tricoli, John Zorn, Liza Lim and Steven Schick.
Matthias has also created new works with some of Australia’s most celebrated choreographers. He co-created ‘They Want New Language’ with Antony Hamilton in 2017 for La Comete (France) and recently collaborated with Lucy Guerin on ‘Pendulum’, a large-scale interdisciplinary which is currently touring internationally.
Matthias is the winner of four Australian Art Music Awards, the Melbourne Prize for Music, MTNow Prize (Rotterdam) and three Green Room Awards.
Sounds: https://matthiasschackarnott.com/video-default/
Nicole Forsyth’s interest in chamber music spans four centuries. She plays with early and avant-garde groups Halcyon, Kammer, Ensemble Offspring, Ironwood, Romanza, Ludovico’s Band & Pinchgut Opera. Nicole is currently involved in the Big hArt production of “Namatijira”, touring regional and rural Australia, after performances with Belvoir St, Sydney & the Malthouse, Melbourne. Nicole appears on disc and broadcast with these groups for ABC Classics/ABCFM/Vexations 840/Move & Sony. Festival appearances include Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Castlemaine, Queensland, and with Ironwood, for the Peninsula Summer Music Festival, Victoria. Nicole also enjoys freelance orchestral life with Sydney Symphony, has played with Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, AOBO, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. She teaches in the Early Music Unit, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, MLC School, Sydney, for SYO and Suzuki Talent Education NSW, and within Ironwood’s Workshop and Education programs. Nicole is currently writing on chamber music in early 19thc Sydney, with articles and lecture-recitals for Historic Houses Trust of NSW and the Macquarie Bicentenary, and was assistant curator at the Museum of Sydney in 2004. Nicole attained a BMus from Sydney University, studied early viola in Sydney, London and The Hague, holds a postgraduate certificate in scriptwriting from the Australian Film Television and Radio School, and is researching a PhD in Early Music Teaching & Learning in Ensembles.