Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

From the most delicate and sensual to the most vibrant and vivid rhythms, colours and energy, Elements is fire, ice, earth, dance, love, and sorrow on piano. This recital will reflect the diversity of the repertoire for two pianos and the incredible passion of this music. The performance will feature the world premiere of Bird Morning, a new Ross Edwards composition written especially for this talented trio.

Bonnie Brown has performed to critical acclaim across Europe, Asia and Australia in prominent music festivals and performance venues, as well as with Australia’s leading orchestras and on Australian radio. She received numerous internationally competitive scholarships from France and Australia to support her performance research in Paris, including the highly prestigious Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship.

Louisa Breen, too, has been the recipient of a vast number of accolades, including the Chappell Gold Medal in 1999 at the Royal College of Music in London, their highest prize for piano. She has toured Australasia as a member of the RCM Premiere ensemble and performed regularly throughout the UK, including at Wigmore Hall, the Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields and Winchester Cathedral.

The multi-talented Russell Smith, a Pitjantjatjarra man from the Central Desert region of Australia, plays didgeridoo, acoustic and electric guitar. Russell is a founding member of the award-winning and highly sought after Manta trio, which fuses indigenous, classical and folk traditions with didgeridoo, acoustic guitar and classical cello.

The program will also include:

Sculthorpe – Island Songs for two pianos and didgeridoo: 1. Songs of Home (dedicated to the Brown & Breen Piano Duo);
Rachmaninoff – Symphonic Dances op. 45 for two pianos, four hands: 1. Non allegro;
Piazzolla – Selected Tangos for two pianos;
Lutosławski – Paganini Variations for two pianos;
Brahms – Selected Waltzes for piano duet; and
Ravel – La Valse.

Featured non-Australian music: Rachmaninoff, Piazzolla, Lutoslawski, Brahms, Ravel

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on (02) 4723 7600 or by email to boxoffice@jspac.com.au

Featured Australian Works

	Bird morning : chamber ensemble by Ross Edwards — World premiere — performed by Russell Smith and Brown and Breen Piano Duo
	Island songs : for two pianos and didjeridu (2013) ['Song of home'] by Peter Sculthorpe — performed by Russell Smith and Brown and Breen Piano Duo

Featured artists

• Performer Brown and Breen Piano Duo
• Performer Russell Smith