Omega Ensemble | Non-profit organisation

Omega Ensemble

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25.01.2022 We're exploring some of our past performances, and the music behind them, including this world premiere performance of American Masters at City Recital Hall in 2019. Listen to the Spotify playlist and read the program notes at https://tinyurl.com/y9glcoa4

24.01.2022 To todays listener, Arnold Schoenbergs Chamber Symphony probably sounds likes a logical step in the slow decline of conventional tonality. But at its premiere, this new sound came as a shock, with people noisily leaving the concert in protest. Gustav Mahler, however, recognised the significance of the work, and angrily demanded silence, later rising for an applause that he maintained until everyone had left the hall. This performance at City Recital Hall in 2014 was a coll...aboration with young musicians from the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) and was led by French conductor Paul Meyer. Help us continue to connect with young talent by supporting our 2020 Resilience Fund at omegaenensemble.com.au/donate

24.01.2022 Today is #GivingTuesdayNow, a global generosity movement unleashing the power of the individual to make a difference, in a response to the COVID-19 crisis. If you're in a position to support, consider making a tax-deductible donation to our 2020 Resilience Fund. Your support will ensure we return to the concert hall and continue to provide a platform for world-class Australian musicians on home soil. Donate today at omegaensemble.com.au/donate... Find out more at givingtuesday.org

24.01.2022 In 2019, violinist Alexandra Osborne and pianist Sally Whitwell recorded Philip Glass's fiery Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano for ABC Classic, a few days before giving the Australian premiere at City Recital Hall. Lucy Miller Murray, to who the work was dedicated, writes: "Ask any performer about the singular difficulty of repetition, and you will not question its validity. The challenge comes not only in sustaining the repetition but also making the subtle changes that interrupt it." Help us to continue to premiere new music on an Australian stage. Donate to our 2020 Resilience Fund at omegaensemble.com.au/donate

23.01.2022 2020 Archibald Prize finalist, Dee Smart's portrait of our Principal Cellist Paul Stender also includes a poem by Lucy Christopher depicting the collaborative process through which this and all works in our art auction were created: The sounds they birthed came straight from the soul In a moment all emptiness starts to feel whole They moved like the wind caressing the sea... breathing life through song for you and me. -- Lucy Christopher You can own this portrait with the accompanying poem as part of our Art of Chamber Music Auction, in collaboration with Nanda\Hobbs Gallery. Place your bid at https://tinyurl.com/art-of-chamber-music-auction Auction closes at 7pm Thursday 22 October. Image: Dee Smart, Untitled, 2020, 70 x 50cm, Charcoal on paper

21.01.2022 Yesterday we were privileged to work with talented students from Santa Sabina College at their Australian Composition Day, presenting some of our recent commissions and workshopping the students own compositions. Help us support the next generation of Australian composition by supporting our 2020 Resilience Fund. Make a tax-deductible donation at omegaensemble.com.au/donate

21.01.2022 #Onthisday in 1911, German composer Gustav Mahler died in Vienna, Austria. A rare example of Mahler's chamber works, the Piano Quartet in A minor dates back to his student days, however, this neatly structured vintage was not published until well after the composers death. Help us continue to tell our musical stories. Make a tax-deductible donation to our 2020 Resilience Fund at omegaensemble.com.au/donate... Video: Performed by Maria Raspopova (piano), Ike See (violin), Neil Thompson (viola) and Teije Hylkema (cello) at City Recital Hall in 2016.

21.01.2022 ** An update on our 2020 Season ** Dear Supporters Today we have made the immensely difficult decision to cancel the remainder of our 2020 Concert Season.... There is no denying that this decision is heartbreaking for all involved, especially the musicians and composers involved in the season. At the heart of our organisation is our mission to provide a platform for Australian musical excellence, and in doing so, support the livelihoods of world-class Australian artists on home soil. Therefore, we believe it is our obligation, to our artists and our supporters, to emerge from this year in a position of strength; a position that will allow us to return to concert halls in 2021 and provide ongoing work to artists for years to come. While we believe a short hiatus from the concert hall is the best way to ensure our long-term future, we must now also accept the significant challenge we will face in a year without box-office revenue, which contributes to over 50% of our operating budget. Your continued support has never been more essential. If you are in a position to support us today, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our 2020 Resilience Fund and help ensure a future for our artists and our music. As we navigate this new reality of empty concert halls and silent stages, we also want to assure you that this hiatus is not hibernation. We remain optimistic about the future, and will soon announce a number of projects and outreach initiatives. We look forward to sharing more on this in the coming weeks. On behalf of our board, management and artistic teams, I want to thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to reuniting with you in the concert hall in the not too distant future. David Boyce General Manager

21.01.2022 Back in September 2019 we worked with Sydney Living Museums, UK composer Laura Bowler and soprano Jessica Aszodi on a new song cycle titled 'An artificial social protection', part of the Songs of Home exhibition. You can now read more about the work and the exhibition.

20.01.2022 A highlight of 2019, our Eternal Requiems concert was yesterday's featured Lunchtime Concert broadcast on ABC Classic. Including works by Fauré, Barber, Britten (a rare Australian premiere), and the world premiere of Gordon Hamilton's recomposition of Mozart's Requiem. The concert is now available to listen online.

19.01.2022 Trained at The Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School in New York, Sydney-born violinist Alexandra Osborne was appointed as the youngest member of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, USA in 2009. Her career has since included solo performances with many major North American and Australian orchestras. Still based in the USA, Alexandra has also held the dual position as Principal Violinist with Omega Ensemble since 2017, returning home each year for her 'chamber music fix', including this thrilling performance in 2018 with pianist Clemens Leske. Help us continue to present Australian musical excellence on a home stage. Make a donation to our 2020 Resilience Fund at omegaensemble.com/donate

19.01.2022 Adelaide based oboist Celia Craig and her woodwind maker husband Richard discuss their partnership in life and music on both sides of the world. Formally the principal oboist with Adelaide Symphony, Celia has been a Principal Artist with Omega Ensemble since 2017. Richard too holds an honourable position with our Ensemble after he was called backstage in 2018, 30 mins before a performance of Mozart's epic 'Gran Partita', to perform emergency surgery on a broken Basset Horn. The performance went ahead without delay, with the instrument skilfully held together by Blutack and a prayer. Help us to continue to bring together musical talent from around Australia by making a donation to our 2020 Resilience Fund at omegaensemble.com.au/donate

18.01.2022 Only 48 hours left to place a bid in our Art of Chamber Music Auction! In collaboration with Nanda\Hobbs Gallery, don't miss your chance to take home a one-of-a-kind work by some of Sydney's most extraordinary artists, while supporting our 2020 Resilience Fund. Place your bid at https://tinyurl.com/art-of-chamber-music-auction... Including works by 2020 Archibald Prize finalists Jonathan Dalton, Blak Douglas and Dee Smart, as well as works by Paul Ryan, Laura Matthews, James Drinkwater, Mathew Lynn, Lucy Christopher, Caroline Zilinsky, Renata Pari-Lewis, Antonia Mrljak, Ralph Hobbs, Jamie Preisz, Kathrin Longhurst, Floria Tosca, Zoë MacDonell, Kirsty Neilson and Gria Shead. All works generously donated to Omega Ensemble in support of our 2020 Resilience Fund. Art materials generously supplied by Pigment Lab. Image: Mathew Lynn, Untitled, 2020, 41 x 31cm, Oil on canvas board

17.01.2022 Commissioned for Omega Ensemble, George Palmer's 'Concerto for Two Clarinets' was premiered in 2008 by Artistic Director David Rowden and internationally renowned clarinettist Dimitri Ashkenazy. In 2016, the pair reunited to record the work with ABC Classic for our debut studio album. The composer writes: 'The opening movement of this work is about the affection of good friends. It begins with a short adagio for the two clarinets... but the first clarinet soon throws out a challenge, which the second takes up and returns. The exchanges become more rapid, each trying to outdo the other until they have to stop for breath.' Help us to continue to commission and record new Australian music with a tax-deductible donation to our 2020 Resilience Fund. Donate at omegaensemble.com.au/donate

16.01.2022 If you missed ABC Classic's Classic 100 Beethoven countdown, you can re-listen to the whole list on Spotify. Make sure you tune in at No. 87 for our recording of Beethoven's Quintet for Piano and Winds in E Flat, Op. 16.

15.01.2022 148 days since our last performance, this week we're finally back in the rehearsal room. #staytuned #furtherapartclosertogether Photo: Daniel Boud

13.01.2022 Don't forget to tune in to the APRA AMCOS (Virtual) Art Music Awards tonight at 7PM! Amongst some great presenters and performances, our world premiere performance with The Australian Voices of Gordon Hamilton's Requiem-Recomposed is nominated for Work of the Year. #nominated #awards

13.01.2022 #HappyBirthday to German composer Johannes Brahms, born today in 1833, in Hamburg, Germany. Although remembered as one of the greatest Romantic composers, Brahms was born to humble beginnings and was forced to play the piano in dance halls to contribute to the family's income as they were so poor. Help us continue to tell our musical stories. Donate a ticket to our virtual concert hall at omegaensemble.com.au/donate-a-ticket... Video: Courtesy of Judith Neilsen AM and Phoenix Central Park

12.01.2022 Schubert's Death and the Maiden was first performed at a private concert early in 1826. At the rehearsal, according to one story, the violinist told Schubert the work was "no good, go back to your songs!" Performed here at City Recital Hall in 2018 by Alexandra Osborne (violin), Airena Nakamura (violin), Neil Thompson (viola) and Paul Stender (cello). Make a tax-deductible donation to our 2020 Resilience fund at omegaensemble.com.au/donate

11.01.2022 "What was I thinking? When Mozart was my age, as Woody Allen might have said, hed been dead for 23 years; when Brahms was my age he announced his retirement from composition and drafted his will." Composer Gordon Kerry ponders the dangers of the Clarinet Quintet ahead of our digital world premiere on Saturday. via Limelight

11.01.2022 Picture perfect. Our violist Neil Thompson in front of his portrait at Nanda\Hobbs gallery by 16 times Archibald Prize finalist Mathew Lynn. You can bid on this portrait of Neil's as well as many other works by the extraordinary represented artists of Nanda\Hobbs as part of our Art of Chamber Music. Start bidding: tinyurl.com/art-of-chamber-music-auction ... With works by Paul Ryan, Laura Matthews, Jonathan Dalton, James Drinkwater, Matthew Lynn, Dee Smart, Lucy Christopher, Caroline Zilinsky, Blak Douglas, Renata Pari-Lewis, Antonia Mrljak, Ralph Hobbs, Jamie Preisz, Kathrin Longhurst, Floria Tosca, Zoë MacDonell, Kirsty Neilson and Gria Shead. View the full catalogue: tinyurl.com/art-of-chamber-music-catalogue All works generously donated by the artists, with art materials generously supplied by Pigment Lab.

10.01.2022 * New Release | Fauré: Trio in D minor, Op. 120 * In 1922, Fauré wrote to his wife: "I've started a trio for clarinet, cello, and piano... The trouble is that I can't work for long at a time. My worst tribulation is perpetual fatigue." This work, his Trio in D minor, was subsequently published for Violin, Cello and Piano and the composer's reason for abandoning the clarinet version is unknown. For this recording, Artistic Director and clarinetist David Rowden explores Faures... original intention for the work. Start listening: https://ABCMusic.lnk.to/OmegaFaureAC

09.01.2022 #BTS from our special live drawing sessions with the artists of Nanda\Hobbs. You can now own these one-of-a-kind works by bidding in our Art of Chamber Music fundraising auction. Start bidding: tinyurl.com/art-of-chamber-music-auctionView the catalogue: tinyurl.com/art-of-chamber-music-catalogue With works by Paul Ryan, Laura Matthews, Jonathan Dalton, James Drinkwater, Matthew Lynn, Dee Smart, Lucy Christopher, Caroline Zilinsky, Blak Douglas, Renata Pari-Lewis, Antonia Mr...ljak, Ralph Hobbs, Jamie Preisz, Kathrin Longhurst, Floria Tosca, Zoë MacDonell, Kirsty Neilson and Gria Shead. All works generously donated by the artists, with art materials generously supplied by Pigment Lab. Photos: Simon Strong

08.01.2022 In 2016, acclaimed French clarinettist and conductor Paul Meyer joined Omega Ensemble for a riveting performance of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. The first significant concerto for the clarinet, it is also the last work Mozart completed before dying at the age of just 35. You can now watch the live performance at City Recital Hall in full. Donate to our 2020 Resilience Fund and help support a future for our musicians and music. Donate at omegaensemble.com.au/donate

08.01.2022 French composer Guillaume Connesson's music borrows freely from wherever he finds colour and interest from disco to techno, from the concert hall to film, from the Viennese masters to his fellow countrymen. Cosmopolitan in source and style, his Sextet is the product of a curious ear. This performance at City Recital Hall in 2016 was the Australian Premiere. Help us to premiere more works by supporting our 2020 Resilience Fund at omegaensemble.com.au/donate

07.01.2022 Back in February, we were fortunate to work with a group of young talented musicians from Sydney Youth Orchestras on a weekend-long contemporary chamber music workshop. As part of the workshop, we opened up our commission archives and explored works from over 15 years of commissioning with fresh ears and new insight. Help us to connect with young musical talent by donating to our 2020 Resilience Fund. Make a tax-deductible donation at omegaensemble.com.au/donate... Photo: Ruari Campbell / SYO

07.01.2022 One year ago today, we were wrapping up our second studio album with ABC Classic, before our acclaimed world premiere performance with Nico Muhly. Today, our Ensemble is separated by cities and hemispheres, but we remain connected through these memories, and our commitment to perform together again as soon as possible. Support our 2020 Resilience Fund by making a tax-deductible donation at omegaensemble.com.au/donate

05.01.2022 Listen to Dutch-born Australian pianist (and Omega Ensemble Ambassador) Gerard Willems talk to Mairi Nicolson on ABC Classic about entering the history books with his marathon mission to record all of Beethovens major piano works.

05.01.2022 We haven't performed in Melbourne since February this year, but we've continued to connect with our audience down south throughout the year, including some high-school students who have been enjoying our digital performances while in lockdown.

05.01.2022 ** New Release - Nielsen: Wind Quintet, Op. 43 ** Carl Nielsens fondness of wind instruments is closely related to his love of nature; a fascination for living, breathing things. The Wind Quintet, composed deliberately for five friends, is cunningly made to suit the individuality of each player, and has remained one of the most popular and beloved pieces in the wind repertoire since the premiere in 1922. Start Listening... ------------------- Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/nielsen-spotify Apple Music: https://tinyurl.com/nielsen-apple Google Play: https://tinyurl.com/nielsen-google See more

05.01.2022 "... the contribution of live performance to our city is far more significant than just the music it produces." A message from our Artistic Director, David Rowden. Support our 2020 Resilience Fund with a tax-deductible donation at omegaensemble.com.au/donate

04.01.2022 We're thrilled to be making our 2020 Season return as part of the Sydney Opera House's Digital Season. Recorded in the Joan Sutherland Theatre, this exclusive performance features the world premiere of Gordon Kerry's Clarinet Quintet, which was scheduled to receive its premiere performance in June as part of our 2020 Season. Now, from the Sydney Opera House stage direct to your living room, we hope you will join us for this very special premiere event.... WATCH LIVE 8:00pm, Saturday 12 September 2020 Premiering at sydneyoperahouse.com//omega-ensemble-gordon-kerry-clarinet

04.01.2022 #WhatsOnWed Tune in to Melbourne Concert Hall's Sydney Satellite Night next Wed 27 May for our good friends Ensemble Offspring performing a program of all Australian music.

03.01.2022 Were back. #staytuned for something special.

02.01.2022 The uncertainty facing the Arts continues to present daily challenges for those who rely on it for their livelihoods, as well as those for who it represents a fundamental part of their personal identity. Today is R U OK Day, and we encourage you to reach out and start a conversation with someone who might be struggling. It wont always be obvious when someones not doing so well, but a simple question like "R U OK?" could help someone open up long before theyre in crisis. For tips on how to start the conversation, visit ruok.org.au/how-to-ask

02.01.2022 We're excited to announce our new Master Series collection with ABC Classic. Over the coming weeks we'll be releasing new recordings of chamber music masterworks, and what better way to start than with Beethoven's glorious Quintet for Piano and Winds, out today! Start listening: abcmusic.lnk.to/OmegaMastersAC

01.01.2022 With the end of financial year fast approaching, now is not only the perfect time to make a tax-deductible donation, but also a time when your support is truly needed. Donate before 30 June 2020 and help us continue to expand our education programs, stand at the forefront of new musical works, connect with more audiences and support the livelihoods of talented Australian musicians and composers. Make your EOFY donation today at omegaensemble.com.au/donate

01.01.2022 Gordon Hamilton's work 'Requiem-Recomposed', which we premiered in November last year with The Australian Voices, has been nominated for Choral Work of the Year in the APRA AMCOS Art Music Awards! The Awards will be held virtually on 8 September streamed live on Youtube. Help us continue to premiere award-winning compositions by supporting our 2020 Resilience Fund. Make a tax-deductible donation at omegaensemble.com.au/donate

01.01.2022 ** New Release: Hindemith's Kleine Kammermusik ** Listen now to the latest release in our new Master Series recordings with ABC Classic. Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/hindemith-spotify... Apple Music: https://tinyurl.com/hindemith-apple Google Play: https://tinyurl.com/hindemith-googleplay ABOUT THE MUSIC -------------------- Composed in 1922, Kleine Kammermusik is the second work in Hindemith's Kammermusik ('chamber music') series. Composed for wind quintet, it is perhaps the only true chamber-scale work in the series, the subsequent six works written for large ensembles and marked as 'concertos'. The work is most notable as one of the first examples of Hindemith's new 'impersonal' approach to harmony. While invoking the outdoor wind divertimentos of the 18th-century, the work also rejects the 'indulgence' of 19th-century expressionism. At its premiere, it was a thrilling departure from anything heard before.