Click here to download the full Southern Cross Soloists Brochure for 2006.

Showcase Subscription Series – Concert 1

Wednesday 22 February 2006 6.30pm
Conservatorium Theatre, Griffith University
Special Guest: Yossi Arnheim

I am thrilled to welcome Yossi Arnheim, Principal Flute of the Israel Philharmonic as our guest artist for the opening concert of the year. I have known Yossi for over ten years now, ever since I got my first ‘big break’ playing with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. I recall being amazed at the brilliance of Yossi and we have been friends and colleagues ever since.

Over the years the Soloists have joined forces with some of Australia’s, and indeed the world’s, leading musicians. We are excited to be able to present, with Yossi, some of the greatest works of the wind repertoire by Poulenc and Saint-Saens, beautiful songs by Copland and others, plus a new piece by leading Israeli composer, Lior Navok – Mysterious Pond.

I hope you enjoy this dazzling concert with its array of musical gems as much as we will enjoy performing it for you!
Tania Frazer

Showcase Subscription Series – Concert 2

Wednesday 26 April 2006 6.30pm
Conservatorium Theatre, Griffith University
Special Guest: Slava Grigoryan

Slava Grigoryan and I have been mates since we first met in 2000 on a tour with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. In 2002 we shared the stage again at the Melbourne Festival in a fabulous concert called Sibling Strings when Slava, his brother Leonard, Michael Kieran Harvey and his sister Bernadette joined with my brother Brett and I in a family get-together around the piano…watched by two thousand people. Then Slava and Leonard joined the crew at the 2003 Bangalow Festival for some of the most memorable moments in the Festivals short history.

Now for a full blown concert (and Australian Tour) with Southern Cross featuring two new works specially written for us…Welcome aboard Slava…and by the way…put your seatbelt on.
Paul Dean

Showcase Subscription Series – Concert 3

Mozart’s 250th Birthday Party
Wednesday 18 October 2006 6.30pm
Conservatorium Theatre, Griffith University
Special Guest: Shannon Chad Foley

With this being our final Subscription Series concert for 2006, we are delighted you can join us to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth. This program presents some of his most renowned music, as well as several less performed, yet exquisitely crafted, songs for voice and piano.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s operas are universally acclaimed masterpieces. We have great pleasure in welcoming baritone Shannon Chad Foley in the excerpts from The Magic Flute, an opera with a special significance for both of us. Papageno was Shannon’s first major principal role with Opera Australia, and for me it was the first opera I really fell in love with as a young singer. Since that time I have performed all but one of the soprano roles in The Magic Flute.

In this concert, Southern Cross Soloists honour Mozart in a program representative of the inspirational nature of his music. We hope you enjoy the performance as we wish him Herzlichen Glueckwunsch zum Geburtstag!
Margaret Schindler

Music and Architecture Series – Concert 1

Sunday 28 May 2006 3pm
Great Hall, Brisbane Grammar School, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane

The first piece of orchestral music I ever heard was Dvorak’s New World Symphony. Next to Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd it was the best thing I had ever heard! The first and last piece I played as an orchestral musician was Brahms’ Second Symphony, and the first piece of chamber music I performed as a uni student was the Schubert Octet. It is safe to say that all of these composers (including Pink Floyd!) have had a significant and positive influence on my musical tastes.

When we planned the programs for 2006, I was tremendously excited at the prospect of having these composers appear on the same program. Whether it is the genius of Schubert’s lieder, the melodic beauty of Brahms or the excitement of a Dvorak Slavonic dance, this concert promises something for everyone.

I can’t wait to be a part of this performance, and hope that you get as much pleasure from this music as I will!
Peter Luff

Music and Architecture Series – Concert 2

Sunday 24 September 2006
Holy Trinity Church, 68 Hawthorne Street, Woolloongabba

The most exciting aspects of playing with Southern Cross has been the discovery and development of our repertoire. Our initial knowledge didn’t include more than just a handful of pieces, but now it gives me great satisfaction to have to search in my huge folder of SCS music even to find the Mozart Quintet (even though unlike my husband’s folder it is in impeccable alphabetical order). The Witt Quintet in this program is one of our really interesting finds…full of melody and instrumental colour and many challenges for the players. Together with a fabulous collection of German and Austrian music this program promises to be a real joy to prepare and perform.
Leesa Dean

Music and Architecture Series – Concert 3
Sunday 26 November 2006 3pm
Brisbane City Tabernacle Church, 163 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane

I have always had a great love for the music of Russia. Its melodic richness, the colour of its harmony and instrumentation and its rhythmic vibrancy, together with its passion and panache, make it quite irresistible for me. This programme will include some of the best - great ballet music by Tschaikowsky and Prokofiev alongside beautiful songs by Rachmaninov, Moussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakoff.
Kevin Power