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ABC Classic and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra today announce the launch of WASO LIVE!, a new series of digital albums that will showcase the very best of this powerhouse ensemble’s live concerts, vividly recorded by ABC Classic’s team of live music engineers.The series will launch with Anton Bruckner’s monumental Symphony No. 8, conducted by WASO’s Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser Asher Fisch. A renowned conductor in both the operatic and symphonic worlds, Fisch is especially celebrated for his interpretative command of core German and Italian repertoire of the Romantic and post-Romantic era. Mahler, Richard Strauss, Wagner and Verdi all feature among the plans for future volumes.“Asher is one of the world’s finest conductors – almost unsurpassed in this repertoire – and the sound that he elicits from this orchestra is incredibly powerful,” says Hugh Robertson, Label Manager of ABC Classic. “I’m so excited that these scintillating live performances are now going to be available for everyone in the world to hear at any time.””WASO LIVE! is an exciting new collaboration and we are delighted to partner with ABC Classic to capture WASO’s exceptional performances,” says Mark Coughlan, WASO’s Chief Executive. “I am especially thrilled that the initial release showcases the outstanding artistic relationship that exists between Asher Fisch and his orchestra and the exhilarating music making that results.”The WASO LIVE! series artwork will feature bright, bold and iconic images of the unique natural landscapes of WASO’s home, Western Australia.Having celebrated its 90th year in 2018, WASO is already looking forward to its centenary. ABC Classic and WASO LIVE! will be there to bring you the very best from one of Australia’s great orchestras. The final symphony completed during Bruckner’s lifetime, the 8th is quite simply one of the most thrilling orchestral works ever written.Mahler once famously said, ‘My symphonies represent the contents of my entire life’; Bruckner seems to go one step further, as if fitting the entire sweep of the universe into his epic orchestral works. His Eighth Symphony is the ultimate example of this: the hellish, dissonant nightmare of the first movement, the counterpoint of that sublime, radiant adagio before – finally – we reach a state of cosmic bliss and serenity as motifs from all four movements are brought together in one perfect C major chord. TRACKLISTINGANTON BRUCKNER 1824–1896 Symphony No. 8 in C minor (1890 version) Allegro moderatoScherzo (Allegro moderato) – Trio (Solemnly)Adagio (Solemnly slow, but without dragging)Finale (Solemnly, not fast) West Australian Symphony Orchestra Asher Fisch conductor Recorded live at the Perth Concert Hall
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Sydney-based rockin’ soul and funky pop band, The Soul Movers, are readying the release of their new album, Bona Fide, out March 15 through ABC Music/Universal. Fans will get a taste of the new album with the first single ‘You Better Believe It!’ released this Friday-January 25. The Soul Movers features soul singer Lizzie Mack on lead vocals, ex-Red Wiggle and ARIA Hall of Famer Murray Cook on lead guitar, bass player Andy Newman (The Visitors), Marko Simec (Waiting For Guiness) on keys, and drummer Stuart Wilson (Loose Pills). Last year, the band traversed the US to record the tracks for Bona Fide at seven historic studios including FAME Studios, Royal Studios, Muscle Shoals Sound Studios and Sun Studio to name a few. Not only did they record in these hallowed studios, they were also lucky enough to play with some of the greatest session players. Bona Fidecrackles with the intensity of a band at the peak of their powers and is sure to wow audiences with its powerful, upbeatand memorable tracks. A highlight of their US recording odyssey was their two days at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio when The Soul Movers recorded with the legendary Swampers, Spooner Oldham and David Hood. The Swampers were part of the in-house band playing on over 500 recordings. These include 75 gold and platinum worldwide hits like Mustang Sally for Wilson Pickett, Respect for Aretha Franklin, Mainstreet for Bob Seger and Tell Mama for Etta James, just to name a few. “For me, the most amazing and surreal moment was playing guitar on our song, If I Could Ever, looking over and seeing two giants of modern music, Spooner Oldham and David Hood grooving along” says Murray Cook. “Here were two men who have played on many of my favourite records and some of the greatest music ever recorded - and they were playing keyboards and bass on OUR record!” Here’s a current EPK of The Soul Movers live shows plus a peek behind the scenes while touring and recording in the US. Bona Fide is The Soul Movers’ third album. It exemplifies soul music as seen through the Australian experience. The remarkable collaborations they had with their American musicians and singers, the hallowed studios they recorded in are all powerfully present in the resulting musical experiment. Studio imagery and jovial banter from the recording process bring the experience to life for the listener - Bona Fide - listen for yourself - it’s the real deal.
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ARIA Award winning Melbourne Ska Orchestra never do anything by half measures! Not only does the band perform with up to 35 members on stage, but they also record and release material at break neck speed. So in 2018, paying respect to the Jamaican Sound System phenomenon, where artists would record and release new tracks on a weekly basis, MSO committed to doing the same. For one whole year, 52 new songs, over 52 weeks! We are not sure if any other band has done this before. It sure seems like a record of some kind has been broken. The final tally of the years recording of 52 songs, worked out as 4 x 13 track albums. Album 1 - The bands rendition of 13 ‘Ska Classics’, that had inspired the bands inception.Album 2 – Presented the bands renditions of TV & Movie themes (a tradition in the Ska genre),Album 3 + 4 – The band focused it’s full attention on original material, writing new songs for the project on practically a weekly basis. As a result two albums ‘Read All About It’ and ‘Transmission Friday’s’, totaling 26 songs shows the maturity and dedication to putting a unique and relevant stamp on the Ska genre.
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This International Women’s Day (March 8), ABC Classic is releasing Women of Note: A Century of Australian Composers – the first in a new series celebrating Australian female composers.Australia has always punched above our weight musically, our female musicians especially – Nellie Melba, Joan Sutherland and Eileen Joyce in particular loom large among the finest musicians of the twentieth century. But beyond these celebrated performers, the history of Australia’s female composers is equally outstanding.Miriam Hyde,Dulcie Holland and Margaret Sutherland were hugely influential in the early years of Australia’s musical development. Peggy Glanville-Hicks and Anne Boydlooked beyond our borders to the musical traditions of other cultures, and sought to find a place for Australia among the community of musical nations.Elena Kats-Cherninis a phenomenon unto herself, arguably Australia’s most popular and best known composer. Yuin woman Brenda Gifford brings insights from her Indigenous culture to the Western classical tradition. And composers such as Sally Whitwell, Maria Grenfell,Kate Moore,Nicole Murphy andOlivia Bettina Davies represent the myriad ways in which classical music is developing in the 21st century.This compilation is a fascinating journey through the history of Australian composition, highlighting just how much of that history has been written by women. TRACKLISTING CD 1MIRIAM HYDE 1913–2005Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat minor (1934)1 I. Allegro 2 II. Lento 3 III. Allegro scherzando Miriam Hyde piano, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Geoffrey Simon conductorDULCIE HOLLAND 1913–2000Piano Trio (1944)live recording 4 I. Allegro non troppo 5 II. Fast 6 III. Allegro maestoso Eggner TrioPEGGY GLANVILLE-HICKS 1912–1990Etruscan Concerto (1954)7 I. Promenade 8 II. Meditation 9 III. Scherzo Caroline Almonte piano, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Richard Mills conductor CD2MARGARET SUTHERLAND 1897–1984Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1960)1 I. Allegro 2 II. Adagio 3 III. Allegro Leonard Dommett violin, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Patrick Thomas conductorANNE BOYD b. 19464 As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams (1975)The Contemporary Singers, Antony Walker conductorELENA KATS-CHERNIN b. 19575 Russian Rag (1995 / 1996)Sydney Alpha Ensemble, David Stanhope conductorMARIA GRENFELL b. 1969Di Primavera (Of Spring) (1998 / 2001)6 I. Lively and steadily 7 II. Rubato, espressivo 8 III. With energy and bounce Claire Edwardes marimba, Karin Schaupp guitarSALLY WHITWELL b. 19749 Road Trip (2012)Sally Walker flute, Sally Whitwell pianoKATE MOORE b. 197910 Fern (2012)Ensemble OffspringNICOLE MURPHY b. 198311 Spinning Top (2016)Benaud TrioBRENDA GIFFORD b. 1965arr. Jessica Wells12 Bardju (Footprints) (2017)Ensemble OffspringOLIVIA BETTINA DAVIES b. 198813 Crystalline (2018)ACO Collective
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Birgit Nilsson – soprano Sydney Symphony Orchestra Sir Charles Mackerras – conductor Australia’s musical landscape changed forever on the evening of 29 September 1973, when the brand-new Sydney Opera House opened the doors of its Concert Hall to the public for the first time. In front of a packed, emotion-charged house, the great Australian conductor Sir Charles Mackerras made a triumphant homecoming in an all-Wagner concert that sent the critics searching for superlatives.ABC Classics is proud to release on DVD the original television footage of highlights from the concert, accompanied by the complete audio from the occasion on CD. Featuring the greatest Wagnerian soprano of the 20th century, Birgit Nilsson, as soloist, this was an electrifying opening for the iconic building. Forty-six years on, the excitement of that magic night is still palpable, and Mackerras’ ability to bring the best out of the Orchestra of which he himself had once been a member remains awe-inspiring. A priceless memento of one of the greatest days in Australian music, this DVD+CD package captures two master-artists at the height of their creative powers with an orchestra playing at its peak. TRACKLISTING DVD1 IntroductionGötterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods)2 Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt (Siegfried’s Journey to the Rhine)3 Trauermarsch (Siegfried’s Funeral March)4 Schlussgesang der Brünnhilde (Brünnhilde’s Immolation Scene) CDDie Meistersinger von Nürnberg (The Mastersingers of Nuremberg)1 PreludeTannhäuser2 Elizabeth’s Greeting: Dich, teure Halle (Dear Hall of Song)Tristan und Isolde3 Prelude4 Liebestod (Love–Death)Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods)5 Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt (Siegfried’s Journey to the Rhine)6 Trauermarsch (Siegfried’s Funeral March)7 Schlussgesang der Brünnhilde (Brünnhilde’s Immolation Scene)
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Renowned Brisbane mashup rock/electro/punk/poppin’ funtime outfit Regurgitator have cooked up a sugar-soaked record written especially for kids! Having performed at a number of children’s events in recent years, the inimitable band have developed the kids music project Regurgitator’s Pogogo Show - a typically manic playground that careers between punk, hiphop, funk, electro-pop and everything in between. The new collection of songs - The Really Really Really Really Boring Album - is about as silly and cheeky as a record can get, whilst still offering a G-rating suitable for the tiny folk. Featuring instant-ear wriggles such as ‘The Box’ and ‘Games On My Computer’, it’s sure to bring a smile to long-terms fans as well as the young ones in their life. The band have never been more excited: “We’ve got our tiny amplifiers warmed up, our teeny drum kits tuned and plenty of soap for our filthy little mouths. We’re ready to shout till our voices are wrecked, if you’re ready to scream till your parents are deaf!” Keep all eyes out for Regurgitator’s Pogogo Show kids concerts throughout 2019.
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Homegrown country songsmith, Felicity Urquhart, has announced the release of her first studio album, Frozen Rabbit, to be released on April 26, through ABC Music. The album will be her first solo release in over a decade and the lead single, Chain Of Joy, is available today. As any rabbit will tell you, a lot can happen in a decade. For Felicity, the past ten years have held all manner of changes: from marriage, to motherhood, to the increasing demands of a busy radio and television schedule. “The gathering and the song-collecting for this album has taken a few years,” says Felicity. “It comes with ten years of life experience. It’s about finding out that there needs to be truth in everything you do.” Frozen Rabbit reaffirms Felicity’s status as one of the nation’s best-loved and most respected singer-songwriters, showcasing her celebrated vocal poise, captivating lyricism, and reverence for country music tradition as never before. Produced by Felicity’s husband and long-time collaborator, Glen Hannah (Kasey Chambers), the album is one that radiates the warmth of family life.The lead single, Chain Of Joy, was co-written with Kim Richey and is an irresistible jaunt and a timely reminder to draw on our personal reserves of joy in the face of adversity. “There are many crazy things happening in the world and when you have little faces looking to you for guidance, I think it’s important to bring positivity and ideas they can understand. For them to know happiness and how to access that in their hearts when things aren’t so grand,” Felicity relates. Felicity, the host of ABC’s ‘Saturday Night Country’, has solidified herself as one of the most popular and recognisable country music artists in Australia. She has also accumulated an extensive list of accolades to her name. A seven-time Golden Guitar winner with seven studio albums behind her, she has also been nominated for an ARIA, won the CMA International Broadcaster award and performed for both the Pope and the President of the USA. Her 2018 album with Bennett and Bowtell, ‘Weeds’ is currently nominated for three Golden Guitars – with their first album winning two Golden Guitars. Recently signed to ABC Music, Felicity Urquhart’s back catalogue also finds a new home at the label; which is available today through all digital partners.
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Join ABC Jazz on a trip to the decline of human connection to its environment and reality, and the rise of inhuman order, control, rules, regulations and limits.Descent of the Freeis the latest album by Sydney-based double bass performer Elsen Price, an astonishing 40-minutes of virtuoso solo double bass drones, loops and overdubs. This is a concept album demonstrating the new world of double bass, an instrument often found in background of music, but here used to create new unique sounds and act as a fully capable tool for composition and performance.ABC Jazz label manager, Hugh Robertson, says, “This album is a remarkable creation. With just one instrument, Elsen has conjured up an entire world of sound, expression and emotion. It defies categorisation, except for one obvious thing: this is astounding music. Elsen Priceis an Australian Double Bassist and composer based in Sydney, Australia. As a featured artist, Elsen has performed both locally and internationally at BassEurope (Prague), Yilan International Art Festival (Taipei), Audio Foundation (Auckland), Sydney Festival, Vivid Festival, MONA and Woodford Folk Festival. He has performed alongside Josh Groban, Mike Patton (Faith No More), Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) and many others.Elsen has pursued a career specialising in New Music and World Music, performing new works by Andrew Batt-Rawden, David Hush, P. Kellach Waddle, Elena Kats-Chernin, Keyna Wilkins and many others. Elsen also collaborates with many traditional performers from Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Armenia. TRACK LISTING: Descent of the FreeI. Birth: The Spirit BeginsII. Divide: The Spirit SeparatedIII. Isolate: The Spirit ContainedIV. Assemble: The Spirit ControlledV. Fall: The Spirit RememberedAlternate Take – Isolate 1Alternate Take – Isolate 2 Elsen Price double bass
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Join Emma, Lachy, Simon and Anthony as they take us through the fun and excitement of a day out attending a ballet performance. Join them on their big ballet day as they figure out what you can wear to the ballet, get some tasty popcorn, discover ‘The Alphabet Ballet’, and even plan a trip to the toilet at the theatre as you sing ‘The Toilet Song!’ The album features beautiful new songs that offer children an unforgettable first foray into ballet. The wide variety of musical styles featured on the album reflect the diversity of the wonderful art form that ballet is. In an exciting development, The Wiggles’ Big Ballet Day! sees the introduction of a brand-new Wiggly character,‘Shirley Shawn the Unicorn’, who is sure to be a new favourite with young fans. Blue Wiggle Anthony Field remarks, “We hope this brand new and fun Wiggly music inspires the child listeners’ imagination to dress up like the characters in the songs and express themselves through their own form of ballet. We really enjoyed making this album and I think the joy shows through, so we hope the young and older listeners love it too”.
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Now in its 26th year, triple j’s Hottest 100 remains the most talked about and listened to radio event of the year, counting down the hottest songs of 2018.This year’s Hottest 100 Volume 26 will be jam packed with the year’s biggest and best songs and wrapping up another huge year in music on this awesome double album! Track Listing: CD 1: 01. Ocean Alley - Confidence02. FISHER - Losing It03. Amy Shark - I Said Hi04. Travis Scott - SICKO MODE05. Billie Eilish - when the party's over06. Skeggs - Up In The Clouds07. The Wombats - Turn08. Childish Gambino - This Is America09. Dean Lewis - Be Alright10. Mallrat - Groceries11. Hayden James - Just Friends (Ft. Boy Matthews)12. A$AP Rocky Ft. Skepta - Praise The Lord (Da Shine)13. Ruby Fields - Dinosaurs14. Hockey Dad - Join The Club15. Wafia - I'm Good16. KIAN - Waiting17. The Rubens - Never Ever (Ft. Sarah)18. RÜFÜS DU SOL - Underwater19. Broods - Peach20. Hilltop Hoods - Leave Me Lonely21. Ball Park Music - The Perfect Life Does Not Exist 22. Vera Blue - All The Pretty Girls CD 2: 01. Kendrick Lamar - All The Stars (with SZA)02. Cub Sport - Sometimes03. Ziggy Alberts - Love Me Now04. King Princess - 195005. Post Malone - Bettter Now06. Peking Duk - Fire07. DMA'S In The Air08. G Flip - About You09. Mac Miller - Ladders10. Bring Me The Horizon - MANTRA11. Angie McMahon - Missing Me12. Thundamentals - I Miss You13. Alison Wonderland - Church14. DZ Deathrays - Like People15. San Cisco - When I Dream16. BENE Soaked17. Baker Boy - Mr La Di Da Di18. Vance Joy - We're Going Home19. Khalid - Better20. The Presets - Martini21. Meg Mac - Give Me My Name Back 22. BROCKHAMPTON - BOOGIE
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Nigel Westlake: Spirit of the Wild Diana Doherty oboeSteve Reich: The Desert Music Synergy VocalsSydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nigel Westlake and David Robertson “Nigel Westlake’s brand new oboe concerto, Spirit of the Wild teems with untamed life.” - Angus McPherson, Limelight MagazineTwo thrilling contemporary works combine on this new recording by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, with the world premiere recording of Nigel Westlake’s Spirit of the Wild paired with the Australian premiere recording of Steve Reich’s legendary The Desert Music.Both works examine humanity’s relationship with the natural world, and our habit of destroying the wonders that have been gifted to us.Westlake’s concerto Spirit of the Wild was inspired by a trip to the pristine beauty of Tasmanian's Bathurst Harbour, which reminded the composer of “the preciousness of the wilderness, and of our human propensity to become subsumed by materialism, neglecting our connection to country and the wonders of the natural world.” Written for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Oboe Diana Doherty, and recorded here under the direction of the composer, Spirit of the Wild “teems with untamed life” (Limelight), a thrilling virtuoso work that is a major addition to Australian music.Reich’s The Desert Music features some of the finest examples of the composer’s trademark pulsating rhythmic energy, which serves as a setting for the poetry of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet William Carlos Williams. It is a meditation on the act of listening and the very purpose of music in a post-Hiroshima world where, as Williams writes: "Man has survived hitherto because he was too ignorant to know how to realize his wishes. Now that he can realize them, he must either change them or perish." Recorded live in concert at the Sydney Opera House, featuring internationally acclaimed ensemble Synergy Vocals, with SSO Chief Conductor and Artistic Director David Robertson conducting, this mesmerising performance is sure to be remembered for years to come. TRACKLISTING NIGEL WESTLAKE born 1958 Spirit of the Wild – Concerto for oboe1 I. = 96 – cadenza2 II. = 963 III. Tranquillo (= 48) – Liberamente – = 96 –4 IV. Agitato (= 96) Diana Doherty oboe Sydney Symphony OrchestraNigel Westlake conductorSTEVE REICH born 1936 The Desert Music5 I. [Fast] –6 II. [Moderate] –7 IIIa. [Slow] –8 IIIb. [Moderate] –9 IIIc. [Slow] –10 IV. [Moderate] –11 V. [Fast] Synergy Vocals Sydney Symphony Orchestra David Robertson conductor
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Matt Withers guitar | Acacia Quartet ABC Classic is proud to announce the release of Imaginations, an album of Australian compositions for guitar and string quartet – including eight world premiere recordings – performed by Matt Withers and Acacia Quartet. Imaginations features the winning works of the 2018 Matt Withers Australian Music Composition Competition – Wade Gregory’s Water Music, Rick Alexander’s Storming and Nava Ryan’s Solitude – coupled with new commissions and pre-existing favourites for the ensemble combination.Established works by Richard Charlton, Nick Wales and the late Phillip Houghton are featured alongside premiere recordings of Robert Davidson’s solo guitar work Forest, Gordon Kerry’s String Quartet No. 5 and Moya Henderson’s Kudikynah Cave.The competition called upon composers to submit an original composition inspired by the visual artwork of Queensland based artist, Sue Needham. As with Needham’s artwork, the works featured on Imaginations are rich in sonic colour and texture, conjuring visions of striking natural landscapes and seascapes.“Matt is an inspiration in his artistry and in his boundless enthusiasm for new Australian works, and he has exceptional collaborators in the brilliant Acacia Quartet”, says ABC Classic Label Manager Hugh Robertson. “Imaginationsis an album rich in colour and movement, and gives audiences their first opportunity to hear recordings of a number of exciting new pieces.”Matt Withers is an ambassador for Australian music, a well-established classical guitar pedagogue, performer and role model for musicians across the country. His career to date has seen him perform with highly esteemed artists of the likes of William Barton, Sally Whitwell, many national orchestras as well as maintaining strong commitments in the leading Australian chamber music group Guitar Trek alongside Timothy Kain.In just eight years of existence, Acacia Quartet have won great respect for their versatile and inventive programs. They have recorded six albums, with ‘Blue Silence’ earning a nomination for an APRA-AMCOS Art Music ‘Award for Excellence’. TRACKLISTING RICHARD CHARLTON Shorelines* 1 I. Dark Horizon 2 II. The Lonely Shore 3 III. Storm DanceWADE GREGORY Water Music* 4 I. Clouds 5 II. River 6 III. OceanMatt Withers & Acacia Quartet ROBERT DAVIDSON 7 Forest*Matt Withers MOYA HENDERSON 8 Kudikynah Cave*NICK WALES 9 Harbour LightAcacia Quartet NAVA RYAN 10 Solitude*ROBERT DAVIDSON 11 Landscape*PHILLIP HOUGHTON In Amber 12 I. Dance 13 II. Dream 14 III. InitiationMatt Withers & Acacia Quartet GORDON KERRY String Quartet No. 5* 15 I. Bright Summer 16 II. Seascape 17 III. Scherzo 18 IV. Fantasia on ‘Hyfrydol’Acacia Quartet RICK ALEXANDER 19 Storming*Matt Withers & Acacia Quartet *World Premiere Recordings Matt Withers guitarAcacia QuartetLisa Stewart violin Myee Clohessy violin Stefan Duwe viola Anna Martin-Scrase cello
