Duo Sol and Trub Brown Duo - Hush volume 4
Duo Sol
Recognised as one of Australia's premiere ensembles, Duo Sol, comprising Caroline Almonte (piano) and Miki Tsunoda (violin) perform with exhilarating energy, technical virtuosity and great sensuality, creating a remarkable rapport with the audience. The ensemble has established a unique identity by creating innovative programs coupled with musical integrity. The Duo has been described as 'exhilarating', 'spontaneous and full of life' and with a 'creamy sound that seduces the audience'.
Duo Sol is the first Australian ensemble to have won first prize at Italy's prestigious International Chamber Music Competition, 'Premio Trio di Trieste' in 1999, resulting in a highly successful series of concert tours throughout Italy and South America. Other awards include being finalists at the ARD in Munich, 'Vittorio Gui' Florence, and at the Trapani International competitions.
Duo Sol has forged ahead ever since, performing throughout Italy, UK, Russia, South America, Canada, Japan, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Australia. Highlights of the Duo's appearances include the Teatro Colisseo in Buenos Aires, Palazzo Chigi in Siena, Teatro Verdi in Trieste, Hamarikyu Recital Hall in Tokyo and the Melbourne International Festival.
As well as their international commitments, Duo Sol are regular performers for Musica Viva Australia; nation- wide tours in 2002 and 2004, appearances at the Domain Chandon Yarra Valley Festival and performances through the Country Wide program across regional Australia including Alice Springs, Coffs Harbour and Albany.
The 2005 season highlights includes performances at the World Expo in Aichi, Japan, during Victoria week, the Hunter Valley and Port Fairy Festivals, soloists with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in the rarely heard Mendelssohn Double Concerto, and presenting the second season of the newly invented 'Six in the City' series in Melbourne and Sydney.
'Six in the City' uniquely initiated by the two artists, is a long term project the Duo aims to continue with a strong emphasis on attracting a wider range of audiences. It is designed for patrons to drop in after work and enjoy an exquisite 60 minute program accompanied by Wine from Box Stallion at the Mornington Peninsula .
The project was a natural progression of the Duo's commitment and desire to play a prominent and proactive part in highlighting the general awareness and the importance of live chamber music performances in our society today.
Renowned for their eclectic and innovative programming, whether playing the great standards of the duo repertoire or daring contemporary works, the ensemble instinctively reaches the core of the music, presenting each one with precision and sublime expression.
Their repertoire ranges from the classical period through to the contemporary music of Astor Piazzolla, Somei Satoh, Alfred Schnittke and John Adams. Duo Sol also actively work with Australian composers, performing pieces by Matthew Hindson, Alan Lee, Stuart Greenbaum and Gordon Kerry - whose latest work, 'For Desire of the Sky' was commissioned by Julian Burnside.
Since the formation of their ensemble eight years ago, Almonte and Tsunoda have been regular artists at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada, where they recorded and produced their debut CD.
Duo Sol's second recording, 'Infinite Heartbeat' was released by ABC Classics in 2003. Appearing in 2001 as Duo Sol, the name embodies several illuminating meanings and connections. Debussy's Sonata in Sol mineur was the first piece performed by the ensemble, and as the pitch name 'G', signifies principal strings shared by both instruments.
Future projects include a double concerto written by Jonathan Mills, to be performed with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in 2006.
Duo Sol is based in Australia and continues to promote chamber music, aspiring to increase the profile and importance of the Arts. Duo Sol acknowledge the support of patron, Julian Burnside QC.
Price: $24.95 - Order via RCH Shop Online
Trub-Brown Duo
Following more than ten years of concerts, it has become clear that cellist Niall Brown and pianist Isabelle Trub have created something quite special in chamber music that the press have unanimously recognised. Their eloquent and refined interpretation of the great masterpieces of the repertoire as well as their enthusiasm for contemporary works enables them to cover three centuries of musical composition with ease.
The Duo, since 1997 a resident of Adelaide, has given concerts and participated in Festivals in Switzerland, France, Spain, Great Britain, South America as well as in Australia. They have been invited on many occasions to perform for ABC Classic FM and RSR Espace2 (Switzerland) as well as on Sunday Live for the ABC and its sister program L'Heure Musicale in Switzerland.
The Duo performed the complete Beethoven Sonatas in two concerts in Adelaide broadcast by the ABC and has recorded four CDs to critical acclaim; works by Swiss composers, Paul Hindemith, Johannes Brahms and Gabriel Faure.
Caroline Almonte
Born in Melbourne, Caroline Almonte commenced music studies at the age of four with the Yamaha Music School. She studied with reknowned Australian pianist Stephen McIntyre whilst completing her education at University High School and the Victorian College of the Arts.
In New York, Caroline continued her post-graduate studies at the Juilliard School with Oxana Yablonskaya, (piano performance) and Samuel Sanders (chamber music). She is the only Australian and one of 100 Alumni across Music / Dance / Drama to be featured in the Juillard School Centenary Publication.
Caroline has participated in masterclasses with Yvonne Loriod, Gyorgy Sebok, Menahem Pressler, (Banff Festival), Michele Campanella (Accademia di Chigiana) and David Takeno in London.
As both soloist and chamber musician, Caroline has been recipient of many awards in Australia and Overseas; including winner of the Keyboard section of the ABC Young Performer's Awards, the Frances Quinn Arts Encouragement Award, the Hepzibah Menuhin Award, finalist in the Gaudeamus Competition in the Netherlands , the ARD in Munich and with violinist Miki Tsunoda, 1st prize at the International Concorso 'Trio di Trieste' in Trieste for Piano and Strings.
Caroline has performed as soloist in Australia and internationally, performing concerti ranging from Mozart and Beethoven, to Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Bartok and Ginastera, with conductors Sir John Hopkins, Hiroyuki Iwaki, David Porcelijn, Brian Stacey and Markus Stenz.
As a chamber musician, she has worked with many artists including the Fine Arts Quartet, the Flinders Quartet, Pro Arte chamber soloists, Prudence Davis, Alexander Ivashkin, Sue Ellen Paulsen, Liwei Qin, Elise Milman and the Melbourne Symphony Chamber players.
Caroline has also recorded with Yvonne Kenny, and was a producer of 'Salley Gardens - A Treasury of English Song' released by ABC Classics.
During the past twelve months, Caroline has performed as concerto soloist, in piano and chamber music recitals in Italy and New Zealand with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, ProArte and the Melbourne Symphony Chamber players. Her appearance at Airdrie Armstron-Terenghi's Summer Music Festival in Tuscany was kindly sponsored by Jane Matthews QC through the VCA.
In 2006, Caroline will perform Mozart Piano Concerto with Orchestra Victoria, as soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in the MSO Pops series, and perform with Miki Tsunoda the premiere of a double concerto for violin, piano and orchestra composed by Jonathan Mills with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Duo Sol will also perform in Japan and continue another season of 'Six in the City' at BMW Edge.
Duo Sol, Caroline's chamber music partnership with Miki Tsunoda has performed throughout Italy, UK, South America, Japan, and Canada. Duo Sol has two CDs also released by ABC Classics.
Julian Burnside is Duo Sol's Patron and in 2005, he commissioned a new work composed by Gordon Kerry which was premiered at the Port Fairy Festival and then performed in one of the 'Six in the City' Concerts at the BMW Edge in Melbourne.
Caroline is passionate about working with young people, and has been involved in several MYO and AYO programs, as well as recording for the AMEB Series 15 Piano Syllabus. She is active both as a regular adjudicator and examiner and giving masterclasses in piano and chamber music across Melbourne, regional Victoria, Sydney, Alice Springs, Christchurch and Singapore. From 1996 - 1998 Caroline was lecturer in Keyboard at the VCA. Since 2000 Caroline has taught piano at the University of Melbourne.
Miki Tsunoda
Violinist Miki Tsunoda began studying at the age of seven in Japan. She moved to Australia at the age of twelve and later studied at the Victorian College of the Arts secondary school/tertiary, under Spiros Rantos and Marco van Pagee.
Tsunoda has performed at major international music centres and festivals including the Spoleto Festival in Italy, International Musician's Seminar in U.K, the Orlando Festival (Netherlands) and at the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Italy-Australia Festival in Vicenza, Melbourne International Festival and Port Fairy Festival in Australia.
An experienced chamber musician, Tsunoda's special affinity with chamber music began during her secondary school years, where she was one of the founding members of the Binneas String Quartet. In 1987, as the youngest group they were awarded the 'Prize of Hope' at the Inaugural International Shostakovich String Quartet Competition held in St. Petersburg. The following year they took up the invitation to study at the Liszt Academy in Budapest under Andras Mihaly, whose playing style and musicianship has had a great influence. Other teachers with whom she studied with during the three years include Ferenc Halasz and Sandor Devich on violin and Ferenc Rados and Gyorgy Kurtag for chamber music. In 1995, they were Quartet-in-residence at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Tsunoda completed her studies with Lorand Fenyves at the University of Toronto before returning to Australia.
Now based in Melbourne, Tsunoda has built a solid career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician in Australia and Japan over the past five years. She is a regular soloist and performer with the Melbourne and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras and was a finalist in the String Section of the 1996 ABC Young Performer's Award, as well as a recipient of the Arthur Boyd Scholarship for fostering Australian talent.
In 1999, with the invitation of Maestro Hiroyuki Iwaki, Tsunoda made her debut in Japan performing the Alban Berg Violin Concerto with Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra. On her return engagements she has performed with Ensemble Kanazawa, Kyoto Symphony and Nagoya Philharmonic. Chamber music collaborations have included performing with Caroline Almonte, Brett Dean, Piers Lane, Li Wei, Julian Smiles and Kees Boesma.
Tsunoda's collaboration with pianist, Caroline Almonte began in 1998. Now known as Duo Sol, their passionate and committed performances have received the highest acclaim, winning first prize at Italy's prestigious International Chamber Music Competition, Premio Trio di Trieste in 1999. They were also finalists at the International Competition ARD in Munich (1998), Vittorio Gui in Florence (1997), and Trapani (1998). Duo Sol is recognised as one of Australia's most exciting musical partnerships.
Duo Sol has performed extensively throughout Italy, Japan, UK, South America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Since their formation five years ago, they have been regular artists at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada, where they recorded and produced their debut CD, released by ABC Classics. The CD appears under the former duo title, Duo Tsunoda Almonte. A recent CD 'Infinite Heartbeat' has also been released by ABC Classics.
During 2006 season highlights include the World Premiere of Jonathan Mill's Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra with the Tasmanian Symphony in July, while the 'Six in the City' concerts continue at the BMW Edge in Melbourne. As part of the Australia-Japan Year of Exchange program, this concert will be presented in Japan later in the year. Tsunoda will also be participating at the Townsville Chamber Music Festival.
Teaching at Monash University has become a recent addition to Tsunoda's activities as well as tutoring at the Queenstown Violin Summer School and the National Music Camp.
Tsunoda's other role is in making a difference to the under-privileged children around the world as an Ambassador of Unicef Australia. Activities include organising an annual Gala concert to raise funds as well as performing at various Unicef functions.
Niall Brown
Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, Niall Brown started studying the cello aged six. Early on his talent was recognised by Yehudi Menuhin, offering him a place at his school in England where his professors were the distinguished cellists, Maurice Gendron and William Pleeth. He completed his studies with Radu Aldulescu in Switzerland and Holland, and went on to be a prize winner in competitions for 'cello and chamber music in Great Britain and Holland.
Niall has performed as soloist with the Camerata Bern, Camerata Lysy Gstaad, Lausanne Chamber Orchestra and the Scottish Ensemble, and partnered such artists as Yehudi Menuhin, Gary Karr, Alberto Lysy and Janos Starker to name a few.
Niall's passion for chamber music has led to his forming a long partnership with pianist Isabelle Trub and more recently the Australian String Quartet.
Isabelle Trub
Swiss pianist Isabelle Trub commenced studies in Vevey, Switzerland with her mother, the distinguished concert pianist Edith Fischer. She completed her studies with the help of a Goehner Migros scholarship at Indiana University, USA, where her mentors were the celebrated pianists Alfonso Montecino, Shigeo Neriki and Gyorgy Sebok. At this stage her talent for chamber music had already emerged, and concerts and masterclasses followed with such partners as Janos Starker, Bruno Giuranna, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Alberto Lysy as well as many others.
Isabelle has also been closely associated as accompanist with the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland, Freiburg Hochschule and Villa Musica in Germany, Hindemith Foundation in Switzerland and more recently Youth Music Australia. Isabelle is currently teaching piano at the University of Adelaide.
John Rowland
John Rowland has been recording sound for over thirty years. In the seventies he ran a studio in London for Virgin. Built on a Barge on London's Regent Canal it's work was known all over the world. During those times John also recorded at many of London's studios including Abbey Road.
Since back in Australia John has headed Rowlands, one of Melbourne's mainstream recording studios.
This year he won the Best Sound Design award at Flickerfest Film Festival for his work on the short film 'Jasper Morello', directed by Anthony Lucas and commissioned by SBS. The film has also gone on to win the Grand Prize at the Annecy Film Festival in France and has been nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. Apart from recording Hush Collection for the children's hospitals, John is the CEO of Comic Relief Australia.
On the disk - Hush Volume 4
Listen to track 3 - MP3 file, 1 minute and 47 second, 2.50 MB
Listen to track 10 - MP3 file, 1 minute and 27 second, 2 MB
| 1. | Serenade | Frank Bridge (performed by Duo Sol) |
| 2. | Humoresque | Antonin Dvorak (performed by Trub-Brown) |
| 3. | Romance | Ferdinand David (performed by Duo Sol) |
| 4. | Valse | Peter Ilyich Tschaikowsky (performed by Trub-Brown) |
| 5. | Drink to me only with thine eyes | Roger Quilter (performed by Duo Sol) |
| 6. | Moment Musicale | Franz Schubert (performed by Trub-Brown) |
| 7. | Berceuse | Ferdinand David (performed by Duo Sol) |
| 8. | Gavotte | David Popper (performed by Trub-Brown) |
| 9. | Notte d'Amor | Angelo Menardi (performed by Duo Sol) |
| 10. | Song without words | Peter Ilyich Tschaikowsky (performed by Trub-Brown) |
| 11. | Garden Scene | Erich Korngold (performed by Duo Sol) |
| 12. | Salut d'Amor | Edward Elgar (performed by Trub-Brown) |
| 13. | Berceuse | Frank Bridge (performed by Duo Sol) |
| 14. | Rondo | Luigi Boccherini (performed by Trub-Brown) |
| 15. | Undine | Charles J Smith (performed by Duo Sol) |
| 16. | Nocturne | Frederic Chopin (performed by Trub-Brown) |
| 17. | Adagio from Spring Sonata | Ludwig van Beethoven (performed by Duo Sol) |
| 18. | Serenade | Franz Schubert (performed by Trub-Brown) |
| 19 | Gymnopedies | Erik Satie (performed by Duo Sol) |
| 20. | Spring Song | Felix Mendelssohn (performed by Trub-Brown) |