Simon Tedeschi
While only about 30 people attended the Omega Ensemble’s concert at All Saints’ on Saturday evening, all who were there agreed that it was a rare treat to be right there amongst it with such world class musicians at the top of their game. Four Sydney based musicians, currently “musicians in residence” at Sydney’s iconic City Recital Hall at Angel Place, include a young Russian born pianist, Maria Raspopova who trained at Sydney Conservatorium and in Berlin. A clarinet, viola and bassoon were joined by the visiting virtuoso French clarinetist Paul Meyer,who travels the world playing with some of the most famous orchestras and ensembles. They played works by Mendelsshon, Debussy, Mozart and a modern piece composed in New York by the New Zealander Ben Hoadley who played the bassoon.
The Mitchell Conservatorium at Bathurst asks several times a year if their members, visiting soloists and ensembles can perform at All Saints’, the beautiful old gothic style church whose vaulted timber ceilings pro- duce, they say, about the best acoustics in the central west. The other great draw card is the church’s magnificent 8 foot concert grand piano, built in England in 1956 by Collard & Collard for the then director of Sydney Conservatorium Isadore Goodman.
Anyone who regretted missing this concert can come and hear pianist Simon Tedeschi who is returning to Canowindra on Saturday 4th October to play it again, following his sellout concert last year. The Tim Clarkson Jazz Trio from Sydney, favourites of the ABC, are also hoping to come to Canowindra for a gig at All Saints’ on Sunday 13th July. Watch this space for details.
By Richard Statham