CIMF starter

I'm recording a swag of concerts in this year's Canberra International Music Festival.  Just audio, given how many there will be.  And just outside Snow Concert Hall, the central CIMF venue with its own recording systems in place.  And also missing some because they conflict with a few local choral concerts I've been asked to record.  So a busy few days, none-the-less.  First up was a fabulous introduction, Ensemble Liaison, I think essentially out of Melbourne but international in reputation: clarinet, cello and piano.  It's not a combination that I know, but I was entranced.  The theme was popular music in art-music settings.  Thus, Beethoven Trio for Clarinet, cello and piano (apt enough!), the Gassenhauer, with theatrical flair.  Then a take on Kate Ceberano Bedroom eyes, arranged by Nat Bartsch, bowing in one of the pics, a string of popular songs by Manuel de Falla.  But the master work for my ears and emotions was Gershwin Rhapsody in blue.  Fabulously played by the trio with addition of violin and button accordion, arranged from a two-piano arrangement, so very demanding on piano, and immensely popular, lyrical, expressive.  And in this case, tear jerking.  I felt emotional twangs and one person admitted to crying.  I could understand.  As a bottom ender, I was entranced by Svetlana's precise cello of easy rapidity.  David's clarinet was a beauteous tone, and his intros were informative and just easily friendly.  Timothy was doing the work of two pianos, so exceptionally busy, and always on top of the role.  Then Lina joining on violin adding harmony in strings and a very buoyant seating, where she's almost jump out of her seat while expressed the tune.  And James, here with an ever-present chordal part.  Loved this starter, especially the Gershwin which will remain a stunning memory.

Ensemble Liaison comprised David Griffiths (clarinet), SvEtlana Bogosavljevic (cello) and Timothy Young (piano).  EL performed Beethoven, Ceberano and de Falla.  They were joined by Lina Tur Bonet (violin) and James Crabb (button accordion) for Gershwin at Wesley for CIMF2026.

Days of wonder #1

Two gigs, one day. First was Ensemble Liaison at Stage 88 for Floriade. This was the final concert of the ANU School of Music series at Floriade. Ensemble Liaison is a Melbourne-based trio of clarinet, piano and cello. I’d expected classical and I got classical chops but with an intriguing jazz-cum-classical-cum-world playlist.
They started with an arrangement by Percy Grainger of Gershwin’s Man I love. What a nice song is this, but I didn’t like the rhythmic feel in the melody. The eighth notes were stodgy dotted quavers that refused any swing. I guess it was Grainger’s take on this, because the outfit was nothing like this! Nothing, nothing. They moved on to another Percy Grainger, then Gershwin’s Concert fantasy on themes from Porgy and Bess and I was taken. This was real jazz feels and authentic emotions, every passing chord given its due, earthy effects with harmonics and slurs and clarinet tonguing. These were wonderful skills but more: a valid and satifying interpretation. It was their major piece and they’d recently recorded it, so they were on top of it, but this was impressive. Add Elena Katz-Chernin’s Russian rag, and any LNL listener will be won over. It’s so pretty and wistful. Then Scott Joplin’s Elite syncopations and some classics, the Swan on cello and piano and a Gershwin prelude on piano. Then Piazzola’s Oblivion and Libertango and some Klezma and some Irish folk arranged by Benjamin Britten, and an end with more Klezma. I was totally convinced after the Porgy & Bess and the rest was the metaphorical icing. The gig was on Stage 88 with a vast space in front and not much of an audience at that time, so this was an informal interaction. It was delayed, too, as Timothy rebooted his iPad. He was using a bluetooth pageturner and somehow it made another bluetooth connection. Embarassing but then paper charts have their own problems. The repertoire was popular but challenging, the ensemble looked the part and enjoyed themselves. So did I. I’d hoped for nothing so satisfying but I lucked out on this one. Ensemble Liaison is David Griffiths (clarinet), Svetlana Bogosavljevic (cello) and Timothy Young (piano).