Saturday May 25 - Bach in the Dark II

Rachel Scott - cello

Paul Armstrong - spoken word

7.30pm-8.30pm $20

Talking about this concert Rachel says "So often I talk to people about the cello 'speaking', or music 'speaking' to me. So for me, it is a natural step from spoken word to playing. When Paul approached me to see if I would like to do something with voice, I jumped at the chance. Preparing for this concert has been a fantastic process - a chance for me to really reflect on why each piece was written, or what the composer intended to convey. I found myself slowing down, reading poetry, musing on phrases - it has been something I've really enjoyed. The programme includes music by Bach, Wesley-Smith and Prokofiev - and words by Shakespeare, Handke, Judith White and David Malouf."

About Paul Armstrong

Paul’s theatre credits in 2012 included This is Baby Doll after Tennessee Williams and Elia Kazan (TAP Gallery/Factotum), Pigeon by Jessica Bellamy (Bondi Pavilion/TRS), Three Sisters (TAP Gallery/Factotum), The Liar’s Bible (Sydney Independent Theatre Co.), and The Importance of Being Earnest Dragons (Old Fitz/TRS). He worked on creative development for Jessica Bellamy’s 2011 Rodney Seaborn Award winning play, Sprout.

Previously, The Homecoming (TAP Gallery/Motherlode, 2011), A Perfect Ganesh and Love in Idleness (Factory Space, 2011), 661 (Parade Playhouse, NIDA, 2011), Burnt by the Sun (New Theatre, 2010), Macbeth (Riverside Theatres, 2010), Twelfth Night and Attempts on her Life (Sidetrack Theatre, 2009). Paul’s other work includes three feature films, more than 20 short films, as well as the recent web comedy series’ Sparks and People You May Know. He works regularly as a corporate actor across a range of industries and sectors.

Paul trained with Sydney Theatre School (2009), and took part in the inaugural Bell Shakespeare Company Actor Training Program in 2012. Paul is delighted to have the opportunity to work with Rachel Scott and collaborate on a ‘Bach in the Dark’ series of concerts in 2013.

Representation: The Green Room (Marion Baird)

www.the-green-room.com.au

Saturday June 8 - Ensemble Astor

5.30-7.30pm $20

Inge Courtney-Haentjes, violin

Daniel Bangert, violin

Michelle Urquhart, viola

Steve Meyer, cello

Guest clarinettist: Andrew Kennedy

ENSEMBLE ASTOR is a new and emerging Australian string quartet, which, as well as performing all the classical and romantic masterpieces, is dedicated to offering a range of exciting works from the 20th century and beyond.

As a string quartet they are passionate about bringing a new and fresh approach to a wide spectrum of musical styles, different occasions, and diverse audiences.

Ensemble Astor is pleased to return to the intimate space of the Nolan on Lovel Art Gallery for their June concert, -one of a series of chamber music recitals in 2013 in which the quartet is going to be joined by clarinettist Andrew Kennedy to perform works from the clarinet quintet repertoire. “It’s an exciting opportunity to explore different soundscapes and to share our enjoyment of the wonderful works from this repertoire with our audiences. And the beautiful and inspiring space of Nolan on Lovel provides the ideal setting for an autumnal afternoon of lush and colourful music.”

For this concert Ensemble Astor will be performing one of the most popular works from the string quartet repertoire, Ravel’s string quartet in F. Celebrated for its rich colours, textures and dazzling rhythms, it contrasts dreamy, elegant and Spanish-tinged rhapsodic melodies with lively, folkloristic dance rhythms and is to be counted as one of Ravel’s early masterpieces.

After the interval Ensemble Astor will be joined by Sydney clarinettist Andrew Kennedy for the performance of the clarinet quintet in B minor by Johannes Brahms.

Again this work is regarded as a gem of this genre, as well as Brahms’ supreme achievement in the field of chamber music, and has been said to be of an autumnal mood. And again it combines ravishing rhapsodic melodies with folkloristic elements, this time from the Hungarian folk music.

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Saturday July 6

Strelitzia

5.30pm-7.30pm $20

Saturday July 27

Jayne Hockley - harp

John Ellison - poetry

5.30pm-7.30pm $20

Golden Apples of the Sun

John Ellison’s enthusiasm for fine poetry along with his resonant voice and engaging presence creates a truly enchanting experience when combined with Jayne Hockley’s beautiful harp accompaniment.

John and Jayne have selected music ranging from medieval to contemporary to enhance the poems by Rumi, Yeats, Dylan Thomas and others.

Sunday August 18 - Bach in the Dark III

Rachel Scott - cello

Anthony Schulz - accordion

7.30pm-8.30pm $20

Saturday September 14 - Alturas - Tango

Gaye Thomas - flutes/bandoneon

Inge Courtney-Haentjes - violin

Greg Gibson - saxophones/clarinets

Ann Palumbo - guitar/vocals

Paul Laszlo - double bass

Jane Andino - piano

Contemporary Tango sextet ‘Alturas’ present a show of exquisite music and dance featuring the music from their Debut CD, Cafe con Tango.

Inspired by the music of Argentina, ‘Alturas’ combines influences from classical, latin and tango to create a unique blend of haunting melodies with jazz-inspired solos.

The performance includes works by Astor Piazzolla, Pablo Ziegler, Fernando Egozcue, as well as traditional tangos and some original tango-inspired pieces.

“Your group gives tango a very original twist which shows both the versatility of our music and the many facets it can offer as the interest it creates in Australia. I am very happy that a group of great Australian musicians has chosen tango as its music”

Pedro Villagra Delgado - Argentinean Ambassador to Australia.

www.alturastango.com

Saturday September 28

Deborah Wells - song

time tba

Saturday October 19 - Bach in the Dark IV

Rachel Scott - cello

Raff & Janet Agostino - guitar

7.30pm-8.30pm $20

Saturday November 9 - Hot Toddy

Irish music with Alan Healy and friends

5.30pm-7.30pm $20

ABOUT BACH IN THE DARK

As we enter our fifth year of gallery concerts, it is with great pleasure we start the 2013 series with our much loved Rachel Scott who performed here in our first year and has brought her wonderful 'Bach in the Dark' series to our gallery ever since.

Rachel writes "It is my great delight to come back to 'nolan on lovel' for 2013. I cannot think of a more friendly, welcoming place to play - thank you to you all for your support over the last four years. I promise this year will be just as musically exciting!

www.bachinthedark.com

About Rachel

Rachel Scott studied with David Pereira in Canberra www.davidpereira.com.au and Robert Cohen in London. She has played as a soloist and chamber musician in the United Kingdom, Serbia, Albania, Finland, Hungary and Germany. She is now resident in Sydney and is in constant demand as a soloist and chamber musician.

Upcoming projects in 2013 include the fifth year of the chamber series ‘Bach in the Dark’ in Sydney and the Blue Mountains, recording Martin Wesley- Smith’s solo cello music, recording a CD of cello and accordion music (with Melbourne-based accordion virtuoso Anthony Schulz) and performances at various music clubs in and around Sydney.

Rachel also teaches for the Australian Children’s Music Foundation www.acmf.com.au (ACMF) working with underprivileged children, going into schools teaching music to children who have never had this experience before. In 2013 she is about to embark on a highly ambitious project with the ACMF and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, bringing well-taught classroom music to a cluster of underprivileged Sydney schools, and creating an orchestra of engaged string players in the process. Rachel is also involved in writing music programmes for teachers in schools in both Sydney and rural NSW. Rachel travels regularly to East Timor, where she is involved in training music teachers, working for Mary McKillop International www.marymackillopinternational.org.au . These young music teachers not only teach primary school children in Dili, but share their knowledge with other teachers all over Timor.