MELBA FOUNDATION 2010

The Melba Foundation is delighted that Maestro Richard Bonynge is coming to Melbourne! To celebrate we are holding a very special Tribute Dinner and Recital in his honour and you are warmly invited to attend. ANZ Trustees are generously hosting this event in the beautiful ‘Melbourne Room’ at their 100 Queen Street offices. The proceeds from the evening will support a recording for an emerging artist to be announced on the night.

It was Richard Bonynge’s passion for recording, and his desire to give recording opportunities to Australia’s finest artists that led to the establishment of the Melba Foundation ten years ago. If you have been reading our reviews you will know that Melba is riding the crest of an unprecedented wave of critical acclaim internationally; Gramophone UK describes Melba as “Australia’s distinguished label” and one international reviewer noted Melba is “at the forefront of an exciting new wave of independent labels rejuvenating the classical music recording industry”.

Melba remains committed to promoting Australian musical culture worldwide, offering vital recording opportunities to our finest performers and generating a legacy of recordings of excellence for the enjoyment of all Australians, both now and far into the future. Pursuing and achieving the exalted aims of the Melba Foundation would be impossible without the generosity of Melba’s Patrons and supporters. I thank you for your past support and urge you to join us on this special night! Because places are very limited I do suggest you RSVP early. This promises to be a magical evening, paying tribute to the doyen of Australian conductors, Maestro Richard Bonynge. With my very best wishes,

MELBA FOUNDATION - ORCHESTRA PLAYERS

The important French magazine, Opéra, gives its coveted *Diamant d'Opéra* to Turbulent Heart, our recording of the music of Vierne and Chausson, performed by tenor Steve Davislim [photo] and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Guillaume Tourniaire. [Read the Opéra review here]

A glittering night was enjoyed by all who attended the recent Melba fundraiser held at Jeanne Pratt's residence, Raheen. The evening's guest of honour Bruce Beresford talked with Terry Lane about neglected masterpieces-"Yes, there are such things and the stories behind them are frequently complicated"-and his love of music and directing a young Elizabeth Hurley in the movie Aria to the music of Korngold-to the success of his film Mao's Last Dancer. He also talked about directing André Previn's wonderful but challenging Streetcar Named Desire for Opera Australia. [MORE] Melba artists Paul Dean and Timothy Young gave a stunning performance of the last movement of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto, arranged for clarinet and piano. [Buy Paul Dean's Sublime Mozart and Beloved of the Gods]

Next month soprano Cheryl Barker will be in the studios with Guillaume Tourniaire and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra to record a Tribute to her teacher, Dame Joan Hammond. The repertoire comprises arias and songs the great Diva loved to perform, including Elle a fui, la tourterelle from Les contes d'Hoffmann by Offenbach; When I am laid in Earth from Dido and Aeneas by Purcell; Glück das mir verblieb from Die tote Stadt by Korngold... [Buy Cheryl Barker's Puccini Passion here]

On 5 February the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser and Mrs de Kretser hosted a morning tea at Government House in honour of the Melba Foundation. The reception was an opportunity to meet Maestro Tourniaire who offered insights into his passion for Romantic French music and in particular the repertoire of the project completed the day before-ballet music from Saint-Saëns operas, performed by Orchestra Victoria. A highlight of the morning was the charismatic performance of Melba artists, violinist Kristian Winther and pianist Benjamin Martin, in music of Ravel and Saint-Saëns. [Buy Kristian Winther's CD Tzigane and Benjamin Martin's Encore my good sir! ]

Ray Chen first came to Melba Recordings' attention with his win in the 2008 International Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition. Ray, at Melba's invitation, then played at a Melba function at the New York residence of the Australian Ambassador to the UN. In 2009, Ray won the world's most prestigious violin competition, Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition in Brussels, setting him on the road to a major international solo career. The repertoire for Ray's debut recording, with pianist Timothy Young, is music of Stravinsky, including his adaptations of other composers' music, ranging from Tchaikovsky's ballet music in the Divertimento to Pergolesi (and other baroque composers) in the Suite after themes... There is also an adaptation for violin and piano of his Pulcinella Ballet music and the famous Danse Russe. All of the music is now recorded and in post production.

MALCOLM LONG REBRANDS AUSTRALIA... Malcolm Long is a communications industry commentator and consultant. He is Chairman of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and a Member of the Australian Communications and Media Authority. He is a former managing director of SBS, deputy managing director of the ABC and executive director of the Australian Film Television and Radio School. In an online essay on ABC-The drum unleashed Mr Long argues: "As a nation, Australians have not been good at collectively exploring who we are. We have rarely gone beyond sun, surf, flora and fauna - and sport - in our attempts to fix an Australian personality, and even then most attempts have been based on selling a product or promoting a specific activity, such as the Sydney Olympics. Perhaps our traditional dependence as a nation on the tangible industries based on the farm, the factory and the mine has blunted our ability to appreciate the fact that an intangible - the capacity to successfully communicate a meaningful and appealing national character - can be of enormous value to the country. "This same syndrome has blunted our appreciation of how the arts and cultural industries contribute to the nation's broader goals, through fostering a culture of creativity and innovation and helping to define and explore the cluster of identities that make up the Australian character. Indeed, the arts should be able to play a prominent role in assisting a new national brand co-ordinator in its work."

* Melba Recordings has two double passes to Rachmaninov's The Bells to give away thanks to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Melba star tenor Steve Davislim sings with the MSO and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy. To win a double pass for Saturday 6 March 2010 at 2pm at Hamer Hall, The Arts Centre, simply be the 10th and 20th Newsletter subscriber to ring Melba (03) 9534 5004. Good luck!

About Melba Foundation