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Rosemary devised a wonderful programme which included music by Luys de Narveaz, Luys Milan, Alonso Mudarra, Robert de Visée and John Dowland, with appropriately-chosen texts read by Grantley McDonald. Rosemary's sensitive playing was enhanced by Grantley's expressive and amusing reading, and by the atmosphere and artwork in the gallery. The audience once more enjoyed food lovingly prepared by Devorah Wynn, and drank champagne and wine around the fire in the gallery's intimate inner courtyard. Owner of the Fitzroy Gallery, Peter Andrionakis was a wonderful host, and the party went on until late!
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Grantley McDonald devised this performance of readings from Robert Burton's perceptive treatise The Anatomy of Melancholy (written in the 17th century) interspersed with 16th and 17th century songs accompanied by lute. Composers included Thomas Campion, John Dowland and Alfonso Ferrabosco. This was a beautifully-performed and moving event, enjoyed in an ex chapel - now art gallery - at the rear of Breizoz Crêperie. Light food and French cidre were enjoyed by those who attended, and some were tempted before or after the performance by a meal of crêpes as they would be in Brittany prepared by Catherine Ryan and Jean-Marie Blanchot of Breizoz. A gem of a venue indeed - we look forward to returning there.
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Rosa Mundi was established during a study trip by Rosemary to England, where she met Sophia. This concert was part of their debut tour in Australia, and was certainly evidence that they are musically a well-matched duo! They explained and performed works by John Dowland, John Danyel, Robert Jones, Giulio Caccini, Girolamo Kapsberger and others. The order of nuns, the Daughters of Divine Zeal, warmly welcomed us to their small chapel, acoustically very well-suited to the music, and quite a different venue from our previous ones! Those who came enjoyed champagne and wine along with a dried fruit compote, cheeses and crackers.
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This was a collaboration between Musica Intima, the Melbourne Shakespeare Society and Labassa.The programme was devised and narrated by Paul Roebuck, and brought to life the music, songs and settings of Northern Italy, as created by William Shakespeare. Featured were scenes from Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Taming of the Shrew and Othello with appropriate songs, and also music for theorbo by Shakespeare contemporaries Piccinini and Kapsberger. The ballroom of the National Trust's Italianate mansion, Labassa, was a perfect venue for this programme, which was a great success on both occasions it was performed. Champagne and tantalising Italian delicacies were served in the dining room prior to each performance.
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Bohemian Recollections
Ken Murray - Guitar
Susan Hamerton - Violin
Thursday 7 November, 2002 - Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne
Our final event for 2002 was another collaboration - this time with the Ian Potter Museum of Art. We were honoured to be asked to seek and hire musicians for a musical performance to complement the current exhibition Stella Bowen: Art, Love & War. Stella Bowen was an Adelaide artist who travelled to London in 1914 at the age of 21 to study art. She mixed in cosmopolitan circles, and for a time lived in Bohemian Paris. In 1944 she was appointed as an official war artist by the Australian War Memorial. Ken and Susan presented a programme fitting wartime, Bohemian Europe, centred around the idea of 'tango'. Featured were composers Astor Piazzolla, Annibal Augusto Sardinha and Ralph Towner. A particularly special feature of this concert was the ability to sit and listen to two talented musicians playing against a backdrop of Bowen's evocative paintings. Guests stayed afterwards for drinks and food from Brunetti at the Potter.
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