Media Release
Musica Viva presents recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey and harp extraordinaire Marshall McGuire
Published: 2 June 2021, by Musica Viva
One of the world’s leading recorder players, Genevieve Lacey, and one of Australia’s most sensational harpists, Marshall McGuire, will bring the unique combination of recorder and harp to stages across the country in Bower, from the 10th to 26th July.
Originally conceived as a project for the recording studio, Lacey was approached by Musica Viva’s Artistic Director Paul Kildea and asked if she could reconceive the work for the stage and live performances.
The program, which is comprised of 15 shorter pieces from 13 composers, is a juxtaposition of old and new music, including new Australian work. Some of the new works have been specially commissioned by Lacey, with composers helping create a new suite of music for this relatively unusual, yet beautiful, combination of instruments.
The performance involves amplified sound effects and recorded sounds, as well lighting design to highlight each piece.
Lacey said, “Bower is full of hope. It’s a musical sanctuary — early music alongside newly commissioned treasures, being brought to life for audiences for the first time. Working closely with lighting designer, Nik Pajanti, and my dear colleague and friend, Marshall McGuire, with whom I’ve been playing for 20 years, we’re creating a poetic, contemplative world.”
As a recorder virtuoso, Lacey makes regular appearances as a soloist with Australian and international orchestras (Australian Chamber Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, Tapiola Sinfonietta and Concerto Copenhagen, Melbourne, Tasmanian and Adelaide Symphony), has performed for Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey, and as a concerto soloist in the Royal Albert Hall for BBC Proms.
McGuire studied at the Victorian College of the Arts, the Paris Conservatoire, and the Royal College of Music, London. In his career, he has commissioned and premiered more than 100 new works for harp. McGuire has performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, English String Orchestra, Les Talens Lyriques, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Melbourne Symphony, and has appeared at international festivals including Aldeburgh, Melbourne, Milan, Geneva, Brighton, Moscow, Vienna, Huddersfield and Adelaide.
Tickets for Genevieve Lacey and Marshall McGuire are on sale now here.
BOWER - GENEVIEVE LACEY & MARSHALL MCGUIRE
Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne 10th July, 7pmMelbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne 13th July 7pm
Perth Concert Hall, Perth 15th July, 7:30pm
City Recital Hall, Sydney 17th July, 2pm
City Recital Hall, Sydney 19th July, 7pm
Llewellyn Hall (ANU), Canberra 20th July, 7pm
Adelaide Town Hall, Adelaide 22nd July, 7:30pm
QLD Conservatorium Theatre, Brisbane 25th July, 2pm
Hunter School of the Performing Arts, Newcastle 26th July, 7:30pm
PROGRAM
Music by John Playford, Jacob van Eyck, Cipriano de Rore, Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber and Henry Purcell (some arranged by Genevieve Lacey and Marshall McGuire), alongside Australian premieres:
SKIPWORTH Cavern
BENNETT Baiyan Woka (arr. Erkki Veltheim)
KELLER I Surrender
VAN REYK threaded in amongst the infinite threading
FLYNN AND HUMPHREY A mutual support for precarious times
VELTHEIM Nocturne over blue ruins
RODGERS Birds for Genevieve
For further information, images or interviews:
KABUKU PUBLIC RELATIONS
Belinda Dyer | Belinda@kabukupr.com.au or 0415 686 014
Amy Chilcott | Amy@kabukupr.com.au or 0414 041 512