This month, ANAM is delighted to welcome back soprano Sara Macliver to perform a special program of works from the eighteenth century, with members of Melbourne-based period ensemble Genesis Baroque alongside ANAM musicians. And whilst ANAM has had a long association with Sara, this is our first collaboration with Genesis Baroque.
Amongst their ranks are several ANAM alumni, including Meg Cohen (violin 2021). Originally from Sydney, Meg has remained in Melbourne since her ANAM training and established a vibrant freelance career. One of the many strings to her bow (pun intended) is her passion for early music. After playing in the university baroque ensemble in her first year at Sydney Con (somewhat by accident), she developed a love for historically informed practice. “It’s chamber music, in essence. What drew me in was the collegiality, and the sense that everyone in the ensemble has an artistic voice, and a responsibility to the larger group. It’s mentally stimulating, plus I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the gut-string sound.”
Indeed, it’s something that audiences resonate with too – the beauty of the sound, and the expansive expressive palate offered by gut strings. Meg firmly believes that this makes the music timeless. “This music was written hundreds of years ago, and yet it expresses the same pure human emotions we feel today. It's the range of affects the sound evokes, it brings the music to life. I'm also looking forward to working with Sara, her beautiful voice really adds another dimension to the emotional expression of our performance.”
Meg is delighted to see Melbourne’s baroque music scene grow over the last decade in particular, with Sydney previously the focal point of Australian early music performance, home to the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Pinchgut Opera and their Orchestra of the Antipodes, and the Australian Haydn Ensemble. “How exciting to have a home-grown Melbourne ensemble like Genesis Baroque, a baroque force built up by the incredible [Artistic Director] Jennifer Kirsner.”
Meg is particularly looking forward to meeting current ANAM musicians, and working alongside them in the week-long residency. “My poor desk partner, they might be subject to some unsolicited career advice! But seriously, I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for ANAM musicians to build their community, and make new connections, especially for those who, like me, stay in Melbourne after completing their time at ANAM. With so many of ANAM’s alumni going on to develop independent freelance careers, diverse performance experiences like this historically informed program are a vital part of our musical training. And the experience of playing side-by-side with professionals [whilst at ANAM] stays with you for years afterwards.”
GENESIS BAROQUE WITH SARA MACLIVER
Saturday 10 May 7pm 2025
Venue Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent
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Words by Laura Panther, Senior Alumni Coordinator
Photo credits: Meg Cohen by Cameron Jamieson (violin 2017); Genesis Baroque by Albert Comper