Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

The “sublime singing” (Gramophone, 2017) of Soprano Miriam Allan has been enjoyed across the world, most recently during the funeral of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

The Tait Trust is delighted to present a gala concert to celebrate our return to live music in the beautiful surroundings of St Paul’s Church Knightsbridge, on Tuesday the 25th May at 12 noon. A first for the Tait this concert will be livestreamed to our Tait Tuesdays digital audience in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Miriam  is arguably one of the world’s leading sopranos, she is critically acclaimed for outstanding musicianship, tonal beauty and for her breathtaking technique. The “sublime singing” (Gramophone, 2017) of Soprano Miriam Allan has been enjoyed across the world, from her native Australia, through Japan and Singapore, as well as at festivals throughout Europe and North America.

Before the pandemic she sang Bach St Matthew Passion at Wigmore Hall with Dunedin Consort and John Butt, returned to Australia in the role of Josabeth (Athalia, Handel) for Pinchgut Opera, Sydney, toured books of Gesualdo Madrigals with Les Arts Florissants and made her debut with Portland Baroque performing Messiah.

A recent performance of this same work inspired the Sydney Morning Herald to write “the vocal magic of the night…she took the audience’s breath away.”

Other recent highlights have included Bach cantatas at the BBC Proms, a recital of Dowland lute songs within the enclaves of Windsor Castle and performances with the Queensland Orchestra and Erin Helyard.

Miriam is to be supported by Luke Bond, the Assistant Director of Music at St George’s Chapel, Windsor after appointments at Clifton College, The Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick and eight years as Assistant Director of Music at Truro Cathedral.

The ultimate goal of the concert is to raise a substantial sum which will be added to our Tait Emergency Relief Fund to support young Australasian performing artists. This will be a very popular concert so book early as places are strictly limited.

Program

Bach/Gounod - Ave Maria
Fauré - Pie Jesu
Nadia Boulanger - Lux Aeterna
Langlais - Pie Jesu, Ave Maria, O Salutaris, A la vierge Maria, Alleluia Amen
Stanford - Six Bible Songs - Song of Freedom, Song of Trust, Song of Hope, Song of Peace, Song of Battle, Song of Wisdom (after which this programme is named)
Drury - What Child is This
Anderson - I Gave My Lord an Apple
Bannan - A Prayer of St Francis
Purcell - Evening Hymn

Featured non-Australian music: Bach/Gounod, Fauré, Nadia Boulanger, Langlais, Stanford, Purcell, Drury

Featured Australian Works

	I gave my Lord an apple : for soprano and organ (2016) by Andrew Anderson — performed by James Orford and Miriam Allan
	A Prayer of St Francis by Nicholas Bannan

Featured artists

• Music of Nicholas Bannan
• Performer Miriam Allan
• Performer James Orford