What happens when two like-minded classical music aspirants collaborate? Come and find out for yourself when Noosa Orchestra presents: Bach, Beethoven and a brilliant violinist, at Cooroy and Noosa, March 22 and March 29, respectively.
Coast locals are invited to witness the world premiere of a violin solo concertante (or ‘mini concerto’) composed by fourth-year Queensland Conservatorium student, Tanya Jones for fellow student and virtuoso violinist, Josie Askey-Doran.
Concert conductor Maestro Antoni Bonetti likens the Concertante to a musical ‘conversation’ between the violin soloist and Noosa Orchestra, in which Askey-Doran’s spellbinding musical mastery would take centre stage.
Jones’ Concertante evokes the playfulness of East European folk dances and the lyricism of Ralph Vaughn Williams, best known for the hauntingly beautiful, The Lark Ascending.
“The beauty of the soloist (Askey-Doran) and orchestra allow the melody to evolve in a multitude of variations, each reminiscent of the composing masters who inspired the piece from Mahler to Beethoven to Stravinsky,” says Bonetti.
“Josie has the ability to transport the listener from the everyday humdrum of life to a timeless realm of ethereal escapism.”
The audience would also have the opportunity to hear Askey-Doran’s own rendition of the piece that inspired the Concertante: The Lark Ascending. And in a nod to one of the greatest composers of all time, Askey-Doran will play the wonderful Larghetto (‘slow movement’) from Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.
The matinee program celebrates the lives of two prolific composers: Ludwig van Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach, both who stand as beacons to the Baroque and Classical periods. They were both ‘rebels’ who broke the musical traditions of their times and carved new ground musically.
The Country Dances by Beethoven are great fun and many will be familiar to the audience, which is invited to toe-tap along. The program also includes Czech Suite – Furiant – Dvorak; Lord of the Dance – Ronin Hardiman arr. Moore; plus the rising stars of the Noosa Mini Strings and String Ensemble.
Bonetti said all pieces were “very soul-searching reflections and meditations of our current walk through life”.
About Josie Askey-Doran
Josie Askey-Doran is currently completing a Bachelor of Music (Honours) at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. She performs regularly with the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Youth Symphony, and Sinfonia of St Andrew’s.
A desire to share her enthusiasm for music with more people motivated Askey-Doran to create the Collage Ensemble, which completed its first concert tour to Far North Queensland in 2018. The Ensemble provides classical music encounter for rural Australian communities on the Atherton Tablelands.
What: Noosa Orchestra’s autumn concert: Bach, Beethoven and a brilliant violinist
When: Sunday March 22 (Cooroy) & Sunday March 29 (Noosa) starts 2.30pm
Where: Cooroy Memorial Hall, 23 Maple Street & Noosa: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 115 Eumundi Rd
Cost: Adult $27.50 | Concession $25 | Students 18- $5. Tickets www.eventbrite.com or www.noosaorchestra.com.au
