In Conversation

It’s often said that the Australian Chamber Orchestra is best described as an orchestra of soloists, and violinist Liisa Pallandi is one such soloist. She is ACO through and through, having been part of their emerging artists program back in 2012, and she’s been playing with the orchestra ever since, becoming a permanent member in 2015. She’s also performed with the Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmanian Symphony orchestras, as guest principal violin with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, and has played chamber music as far away as Denmark.

In this conversation, Liisa talks about her experience with the ACO emerging artist program, the inspiration from both her fellow ACO musicians and their guest artists, and the remarkable instrument she plays. She provides a number of insights into different styles of music and performance through her diverse musical selection.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra are performing concerts of the music of Mozart until 28 June at the City Recital Hall Angel Place, the Sydney Opera House as well as in the other state capitals. Liisa will also be co-directing the Sydney Youth Orchestra with her brother Jaan on 27 August to help celebrate the orchestra’s 50th birthday.

British violinist Thomas Gould is no stranger to Australia. The leader of the Britten Sinfonia, he has been described by The Guardian as an artist who “refuses to be defined by a single genre”. His repertoire certainly backs that up, having performed and recorded extensively with classical and jazz ensembles. He’s back now in Australia to perform Philip Glass’s 2nd Violin Concerto, The American Four Seasons, with the Omega Ensemble, commencing on Tuesday 20 June at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place before heading to Newcastle and Melbourne.

In this conversation, Thomas talks of his experience of performing Philip Glass, his love of the conductor-less environment, the inspiration he takes from other musicians in what he refers to as a new golden age of violin playing, plus much more. His musical selections reinforce the notion that he is not able to be defined by a single genre.

Masaaki Suzuki is internationally renowned as an expert in choral music and an accomplished organist, harpsichordist and conductor. The founder and artistic director of Bach Collegium Japan, he has recorded the entirety of Bach’s choral works, plus his concertos, orchestral suites, and solo works for harpsichord. His expertise extends well beyond Bach, having conducted repertoire as diverse as Britten, Beethoven, Mahler and Mendelssohn, but it’s Mozart that brings him to Australia as he conducts the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, joined by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, for Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor, June 7-10, at the Sydney Opera House.

In this conversation, Masaaki talks with great passion about the importance of Bach as a foundation stone to the composers who follow, shares some memorable tales from his earlier years, and introduces some of the vast number of recordings of Bach Collegium Japan.

David Greco has sung on some of the finest stages across Europe and makes regular appearances with Australia’s most renowned orchestras, including the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra as well as the Sydney Symphony. Internationally regarded for his interpretations of Schubert lieder and the solo works of JS Bach, this ARIA award-nominated artist is also the first Australian ever to have been appointed to a position with the Sistine Chapel Choir in the Vatican. In June, he joins the Australian Haydn Ensemble for Die Stille Nacht from 16-24 June at the City Recital Hall plus various regional venues across NSW.

In this light hearted conversation, David regales us with some wonderful tales from his career, from appearing in the Opera Australia chorus through to working with some of Europe’s finest. 

One of Australia’s best known and most performed composers, Ross Edwards has a career spanning more than 60 years, and counting. He has written for all genres, be it orchestral, chamber, choral, opera as well as for the screen. Now in his 80th year, Ross is still composing, and is helping to celebrate his 80th birthday by composing a clarinet concerto for David Rowden and the Omega Ensemble, to be premiered at the City Recital Hall on June 20.

In this wide ranging conversation, Ross shares some experiences from his long career, his inspirations, and compositional technique. He introduces a number of his own works, highlighting their origins and the musicians for whom they were written.

Nicolas Fleury has been playing the French horn since he was 8. He’s been principle horn of the Aurora Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and made guest appearances with a slew of orchestras around the world including the Sydney Symphony and London Symphony Orchestras. He’s performed live on the BBC, appeared alongside conductors like Charles Dutoit, Neville Marriner and John Gardiner, and he’s now settled in Australia as principal horn with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He’s made regular appearances with organisations around the country including Musica Viva and the Omega Ensemble.

In this conversation, recorded while Nico was in Sydney to perform with the Omega Ensemble, Nico speaks with incredible passion about his craft and the amazing experiences he's had working with the world's top orchestras and conductors.

Umberto Clerici has gained quite the reputation as an artist of diverse and multifaceted talents. He made his solo debut as a cellist at the age of 17, and his career took him to roles as principal cello of several orchestras, including the Sydney Symphony where he made his conducting debut in 2018. He’s now Chief Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, but he still finds time to play his cello, and will be performing with SSO Concertmaster Andrew Haveron and ACO Principal Violist Stefanie Farrands for My Gypsy Soul, for two concerts at the Great Synagogue on Tuesday, May 16, thanks to Live at Yours.

In this conversation, Umberto shares some of his incredible musical knowledge and insights, from the broad sweep of how a chief conductor shapes an orchestra, to the detail of interpreting metronome markings, and we hear what a revolution in music sounds like.

One of the most sought-after violists of his generation, Timothy Ridout is appearing this season as soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, amongst many others. He’s worked with conductors like Andras Schiff and Christoph Eschenbach, and collaborated with Stephen Isserlis and Joshua Bell. At 27 years of age he’s already recorded five albums and featured on countless others.

This interview was recorded while Timothy was at his home in London, but he is now in Australia to perform thanks to Musica Viva, along with flautist Adam Walker and harpist Anneleen Lenaerts.

In this conversation, Timothy talks about his journey of discovery with this often neglected instrument, his time in the recording studio and collaborating with some of the greats, and shares some lovely musical works which all have stories behind them.

Australian born composer and pianist Tom Donald is known worldwide for his mesmerizing piano improvisations and award-winning compositions for the stage and screen. The founder of the London Contemporary School of Piano, he’s presented and performed with the BBC, recorded at Abbey Road, and written for the media. He’s not afraid to bend and merge genres, with his latest album, Pax Aeterna, a musical collaboration with the Benedictine monks of Pluscarden Abbey in Scotland, which is available now to buy and stream digitally.

In this conversation, Tom tells the intriguing story of the collaboration with the monks of Pluscarden Abbey, speaks of his musical journey from Coonabarabran to London via a piano bar in Tamworth, and shares some secrets of the art of improvisation.