September, 2007

Tour with Li-Wei a delight !

The most recent tour earlier this month with my guest, the phenomenal cellist Li-Wei, was a treat from beginning to end. In fact, when I took Li-Wei to the airport and said good-bye it was with regret as the tour was such a joy and by the reaction from members of the audience and the critics, you all felt the same way. I hope he will find time to come back again in the near future. Here are some excerpts from your lovely emails so gratefully received -

• Just a quick note to congratulate you on a truly wonderful concert on Sunday. It was a terrific experience, with great music beautifully played. (Sydney)
• Todays concert was breathtakingly beautiful. (Sydney)
• A great concert by two brilliant musicians. Thank you. (Adelaide)
• Thanks for the great concert the other day - it was one of the best chamber concerts - I think the best - I've heard all year. (Adelaide)
• Thank you and Li-Wei for an unforgettable evening of music - a cello played like we have never heard a cello played in a live concert.Your concerts since that time (with MTA) opened new musical vistas and perspectives for us. The performances you presented were all excellent beyond our bravest expectations. We are looking forward to your continuing endeavours with eager expectation. (Melbourne)
• Thank you for a magical evening with Li Wei. His artistry & your choice of works has completely dispelled my misconceptions about the cello. (Canberra)

Here is a little from just two reviews received from the critics. If you are interested, you can read more at www.selbyandfriends.com.au/2007/reviews -

"Adelaide music lovers should take note that the Selby & Friends concert series contains some gems... an absolute winner." Advertiser, 14 Sept, '07

"From the opening ... it was obvious that this was to be no ordinary performance but a finely wrought interpretive realisation. Given a stunning performance by Li-Wei, it (Rossini) concluded a concert that those present will not soon forget." Canberra Times, 17 Sept, '07

2008 National Season Tickets!

I would like to thank you so much for the incredible response to the announcement of the details of the 2008 National Season to tour Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Bowral. The response has been marvellous and I am thrilled you so obviously approve of the programming for next year. We are all very excited that this will be our second year of existence, and of course we cannot do any of it without you. Tickets ordered are being sent out this week so please continue to send in your forms for processing.

Our exciting move to the wonderful City Recital Hall Angel Place has been embraced and you continue to show that you enjoy our popular venues in Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra. I just visited the new Recital Room at Oxley College in Bowral and it is a lovely space indeed, perfect for chamber music.

I hope by now you have received your own copy of the 2008 season brochure, but if not, you can access the details of the season, including printing out a ticket order form, by following this link to the website - http://www.selbyandfriends.com.au/2008/index.html We have recently also added a new facility to the website which gives you the option - in Sydney only - to either booking online directly through City Recital Hall , or continuing to book your tickets through the Selby & Friends office by calling us on 02 9969 7039, faxing us on 02 9958 7111 or emailing us at info@selbyandfriends.com.au.

Final Tour for 07 - TRIOZ!

Thank you to everyone who sent TRIOZ such good wishes on our appointment as resident ensemble at City Recital Hall Angel Place. It has been an exciting and busy year and we are now in the process of setting up a website that will enable you to know more about our activities in the near future.

Well, the end of the 2007 season is upon us and what a wonderful program we have for you to finish off this very first wonderful season of S&F! To be honest, when I programmed this particular concert, I wondered about it because it is a very specific look at the development of the piano trio genre within a specific period of music history - namely the Classical period. However, it is such a wonderful magnifiying glass on the period in question, and with some of the most beautiful works from that period, that it is the concert we girls have been really looking forward to. In fact for Emma-Jane, this concert is her favourite of the year.

Having chosen the composer who began the process in Haydn, and Beethoven (who studied for a short time with Haydn – but more about that at the concerts!), and finally Schubert who venerated Beethoven above all others, this program provides not only a stunning bird’s eye view of three men of genius at work on a specific art form within a fairly short space of time, but also, somehow, a unique and quite wonderful full circle tribute to the way in which they touched each other's lives and work in mysterious ways.

Tickets are available to the concerts listed below and start from just $27. Please call us on 02 9969 7039, or email info@selbyandfriends.com.au to book your tickets.

Program
Haydn - Piano Trio in C major, Hob. XV:21
Beethoven – Piano Trio in E flat major, Op.70 #1 "Ghost"
Schubert - Piano Trio in B flat major, D.898

Dates and Venues
Adelaide - Sunday 11 November@ 2:30pm at Elder Hall, University of Adelaide
Canberra - Monday 12 November@ 7:30pm at the NGA
Sydney City - Tuesday 13 November@ 7pm at St Andrews Cathedral, Town Hall
Melbourne - Wednesday 14 November@ 8pm at Melba Hall
North Sydney - Sunday 18 November@ 2:30pm at Monte Sant' Angelo College, Miller Street

More Prizes!

Your response to the prizes offered in the last newsletter was overwhelming. I am delighted that so many of you understood my thought process when naming the concerts for 2008 so clearly and I only wish I had offered more prizes. However, there were happy winners in all categories and so I would like to offer some more.

The first person from each city representing the 2007 series (which means 2 chances in Sydney and one each in every other city) to respond with CLASSICAL in the subject heading will win 2 free tickets to the very classical TRIOZ tour coming up this November. Your tickets will be waiting for you in your name at the box office just prior to the concert. This is a perfect opportunity to give yourself, or a friend, a gift! Come to think of it, by then Christmas is just around the corner so perhaps this could even be considered an early Christmas present.

Till Next Time!

I hope to see you in November and in the meantime, I'll be watching for your emails!

Warm regards,

Kathy