MIDSUMMER MENDELSSOHN GALA
with guest artist, Chris Moore (viola and narrator)

Felix Mendelssohn Arrangement of A Midsummer Night’s Dream incidental music by Iain Grandage, intertwined with text from Shakespeare’s play; Chris Moore (narrator)

Calvin Bowman The Curly Pyjama Letters; Chris Moore (narrator)

Johannes Brahms Viola Quintet No. 2 in G major Op. 111; Chris Moore (viola)

William Hennessy once said that all musicians possess a little of the actor within them. FQ takes this one step further, giving Chris Moore the dual role of Puck and violist. (We always knew that if Puck played an instrument, it would be the viola!) Iain Grandage, together with the quartet and Chris, reimagine Mendelssohn’s score with the support of director, Richard Piper, in a concert that will grab the imagination. As a little entrée, Chris will narrate Leunig’s poignant The Curly Pyjama Letters with Calvin Bowman’s accompanying score. Commissioned and premiered by FQ in 2012, its delightful quirkiness has struck a chord with audiences.

Juxtaposing this is the purely romantic, melodic world of Brahms. Described as a man “steeped in force”, Brahms’ G major quintet brings us back to the purity of music with musicianship of the highest order.

PROGRAM NOTES

Violins Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba & Nicholas Waters
Viola Helen Ireland
Cello Zoe Knighton
Guest viola & narrator Chris Moore

Chris Moore’s participation is generously supported by Yvonne von Hartel AM and Robert Peck AM peckvonhartel architects

Concert Dates

BALLARAT Sunday 29 April, 11.00am
ROMSEY Sunday 15 July, 2.30pm
ELTHAM Sunday 22 July, 2.30pm
MELBOURNE* Tuesday 24 July, 1.00pm
HAWTHORN Thursday 26 July, 7.30pm
SYDNEY Sunday 29 July, 3.30pm

* Collins Street series (one-hour program)