OMEGA CONTINUES ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS MUSIC THAT APPEALS TO VARIETY OF PALETTES Omega Ensemble’s program for the 20 July performance at City Recital Hall features Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 in a unique arrangement by Klaus Simon for chamber ensemble. It retains Mahler’s unmistakable orchestral sound within an intimate and innovative chamber setting. The ensemble is joined by New York-based Australian soprano Jane Sheldon for the symphony’s final movement presenting a child’s view of heaven as a place of serene delight. Accompanying this German epic are two Australian works including the world premiere of a Chamber Symphony for ensemble and soprano commissioned especially for Omega Ensemble. The ensemble’s David Rowden says: “I don’t think Omega Ensemble has a particular ‘sound’ as the duty as performers is to offer our audience the most diverse range of music possible. “I find there are a lot of similarities between music and food: how often do you go to a restaurant a have a three-course meal, and absolutely love everything served to you? Programming music is a similar process, you present your three best dishes, all contrasting, and hope that your audience gets something positive out of each dish,” he tells Fine Music magazine. “Also if our audience is not exposed to new tastes in music, how will they ever develop their musical palettes?” he asks. When asked about the name of the ensemble, Rowden said: “My father gave me an Omega watch for my 17th birthday, so it was as simple as that. It is however the last letter in the Greek alphabet, the Ultimate”. Rowden founded the ensemble in 2005 on returning from studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. “I was always interested and passionate about chamber music, and founded a wind quintet in London called the Omega Wind Quintet. We had some wonderful performance opportunities, and even played in Buckingham Palace, performing a work by the Queen’s composer Peter Maxwell Davies,” he said. After returning to Sydney he thought it would be great to combine a string quintet and piano to have an ensemble that could perform works drawn from the entire chamber music repertoire. Rowden has now been performing music with wife Maria Raspopova for many years and most recently with Omega Ensemble. “We met at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and now have two children. We are lucky to have such amazing support to be able to rehearse and perform together,” said Rowden. 4
July 2015
fineMusic 102.5
Omega Ensemble performing at City Recital Hall on 11 May.
“It is special to be able to perform together on such incredible repertoire as in the next program; from Mahler, to Stanhope and working with composer Mark Isaacs.” As artists-in-residence at Fine Music 102.5, Omega Ensemble has had a strong relationship with the station since its formation ten years’ ago. “Fine Music has recorded the majority of our performances since,” said Rowden. “It is also wonderful to connect with the wider community and share our music with so many classical music lovers in Sydney”. Following the ensemble’s performance of Maher’s Symphony No. 4, it has another date at the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House to present Beethoven’s late String Quartet. “In September we are performing Chamber to Charleston with guest artist Daniel De Borah. I have known Daniel for many years, as we were at the Royal Academy together over 10 years ago now. I have always wanted to work with him, and I am so pleased to be able to make our first collaboration possible in 2015. “In November we are performing The Nutcracker in a special arrangement for Nonet and double bass to conclude the season.” The ensemble will also travel to Melbourne for the first time and perform in the Salon and in July will undertake a regional New South Wales tour in partnership with the Mitchell Conservatorium of Music, Bathurst. When it comes to repertoire they’d like to tackle, Rowden says of Omega Ensemble: “We have always wanted to commission a work by the composer Nico Muhly. I got the opportunity to work with him in a collaboration with the Royal Academy of Music and the Juilliard
School of Music whilst we were both students, performing his work By All Means”. At the time Muhly was working as Philip Glass’s assistant, and has gone on to have an illustrious career, composing for soloists, ensembles and organisations including pianist Emanuel Ax and mezzo soprano Anne Sofie von Otter, Bjork, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra to name only a few. “I recently performed Schubert’s Octet with Omega Ensemble, and listened to a recording many times with Janine Jansen, some of the most incredible playing and beautiful phrasing. I would love to work with her at some stage in the future,” said Rowden, adding that one can always dream. Omega Ensemble and Jane Sheldon will also perform at Fine Music’s own Live from Town Hall on 18 July at Sydney Town Hall – see page 29 for details. - Allan Scott-Rogers EVENT 20 July Omega Ensemble featuring soprano Jane Sheldon “Mahler’s Fourth” City Recital Hall www.cityrecitalhall.com/events/ mahlers-fourth
Thursday 16 July, 8–9.30pm LIVE AND LOCAL Omega Ensemble plays Mendelssohn’s Quintet