ANAM will play host to a special night of concerts on 11 April – three performances across the same evening dedicated to the music of Pierre Boulez, his substantial legacy on contemporary composers and his own inspirations.
The middle concert of the triptych will feature his work Sur Incises, the rarely performed chamber masterwork scored for three pianists, three harpists, and three percussionists. It was premiered in 1998 and takes its inspiration from a solo piano work Boulez wrote four years earlier, Incises. Expanding on its material, the 40-minute chamber work highlights the extreme timbral qualities of the piano, with harps and keyboard percussion instruments supporting, and at times, competing with the piano, in a frenzy of sonic colour and virtuosity.
Last performed in Australia (by the Argonaut Ensemble at the Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music) back in 2015, this landmark performance will bring together ANAM’s two harp alumni – Melina van Leeuwen (2014, harp) and Jessica Fotinos (2012, harp) – to perform alongside harpist Marshall McGuire, and ANAM’s piano and percussion faculty and musicians to realise Boulez’s celebration of the piano.
For Jessica, this will be her first time performing any work by the great French composer and conductor. “I’m so excited to be performing this work,” says Jessica. “Boulez was a leading figure of the last century, and his works are highly intricate and technically challenging for performers.” She is also looking forward to performing in a chamber ensemble, as her performance career has been largely focused on orchestral performance. Up until recently she spent seven years in China as Principal Harp with the International Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, before returning to Australia to perform this season with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
Boulez’s use of instrumental colour is what draws Jessica most to this work. “In Sur Incises, the piano is indeed the star of the show. But Boulez uses the harp and percussion in exciting combinations to explore the unique sound world of the piano. The harp in particular expands upon the piano’s resonant qualities.”
There are quite a few tricky passages for the harpists too, and Jessica is enjoying preparing her part ahead of rehearsals at ANAM. “There are several fast moving, articulated passages that are quite tricky. I appreciate that Boulez has written the work with the technical capabilities of the harp in mind. Luckily the pedal work in these sections isn’t too crazy, which makes them just possible to pull off!”
Hearing the harp up close and performing such avant-garde repertoire is a rare treat, but to hear not one, but three performing in the same ensemble is highly unusual! Jessica is looking forward to sharing the stage with her old friends and colleagues. “Melina and I go way back – before ANAM, we were both at high school together at VCASS (Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School). And coincidentally, I first met Marshall when he returned to VCASS as an alum to perform for us, so it will be great to reunite and perform this work together.”
Words by Laura Panther, Senior Alumni Coordinator
Photo credit: 蒋文龙
BOULEZ RULES!
Friday 11 April
6pm Mélange – A Community of Innovation
8pm Sur Incises – An Explosion of Sonorities
10pm The Power of Idea – Boulez at the Piano
Venue Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent
Tickets $20-$60