BY LUCY RASH
Love is the the air… and this weekend, it’s on the music stand as well.
On the afternoon of Sunday 17 August, students from the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) will present ‘Love Songs’, a specially curated concert showcasing interpretations of some of the greatest odes to love and intimacy of all time. We spoke to Director Madeleine Jevons about the creative processes involved in programming – and bringing a concert to life.
Tell us a little about your background, and your journey into programming.
I’m a violinist in my final year at ANAM, which is basically a full time job – often the hours are actually longer! I came up through VCASS and the VCA after beginning violin at age five. Last year, I was lucky enough to receive the annual St. Silas ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ from ANAM, which came with the opportunity to program this concert. My experience with programming up to this point has been primarily solo recitals, so it’s been fantastic to get to involve chamber music this time.
What processes were involved in coming up with the theme for this weekend’s concert, ‘Love Songs’?
Basically, I’m a big ol’ softie. I’ve always associated music with love, and I really believe that love is always valid subject matter – often making for the best work. No matter how many soppy odes to love are out there, there’ll always be those truly great works which overshadow anything overly sentimental.
I also really wanted to showcase a variety of styles in this concert (despite being a classical musician I listen to a lot of non-classical music in my down time), and with such a universal theme it felt quite natural to make the transition between the more contemporary and more classical styles.
How do you go about choosing repertoire and artists for a concert?
In this instance, pure selfishness. I have chosen repertoire I love, and performers I love. And they all have to do my bidding, muahaha!
No, really, I am completely spoilt for choice by the musicians in my life. I heard Matt Laing play Brett Dean’s piece a couple of years ago at ANAM, and have been itching to hear it again ever since. Georgie and James are two of Melbourne’s best improvisers and personal favourites of mine – I’ve been wanting to hear them in a duo for some time now – and this concert was the perfect opportunity. I’ve heard Aidan – the pianist playing the Mozart sonata with me – perform incredibly so many times I really just had to make an excuse to work with him. So yeah, pure selfishness really.
What about this idea of ‘risk taking’? What elements of risk are involved in programming, and how do you look to deal with them?
There is always a bit of a risk when you program a large-scale work such as the Janacek. It’s not really that long but it is completely jam packed with mammoth technical and musical content. I was actually worried my quartet would say no (bless them!). That wonderful Bernstein quote is constantly on ones mind at a place like ANAM: “To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan and not quite enough time.” So we made a plan!
There is also a risk in putting more contemporary elements in a concert advertised primarily to the classical community. However, in my experience, the audience is glad for the change of pace, and music is music at the end of the day.
Do you have any advice for people interested in programming a concert for the first time?
I would say just dive in! I never thought I’d get the opportunity to program a full concert, and it seemed daunting, but honestly it is really exciting and rewarding. Local venues and churches are often on the look out for new ideas and performers, so be proactive. Then if you can, work with people who inspire you and with music that you can’t get enough of – you’ll be investing a huge amount of emotional energy in the concert, and will want to be surrounded by positive forces!
So tell us about this concert on Sunday!
There are four works programmed – a solo (Dean), two duos (Mozart, Joni Mitchell) and a quartet (Janacek). All of them were composed with intimacy and love as their catalyst, and are all, in my opinion, complete masterpieces.
(Psst…don’t tell anyone, but there may be a bonus tune from Georgie and James – you’ll have to come along to hear what it is!)
‘Love Songs’ will be held at 2.30pm on 17 August at Albert Park in Melbourne. Madeleine’s quartet website can be browsed at www.pennyquartet.com.
This story is part of CutCommon’s Friday Forays series, showcasing emerging talents in the Australian music industry.
Image supplied.
