CompassionPresented in association with Musica Viva Australia

Lior and Adam Chalabi from Tinalley String Quartet

Lior

Tinalley Quartet

Contents

COMPANY PROFILE............................................................................4ABOUT THE SHOW..............................................................................4PERFORMANCE SPECIFICS................................................................5AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT...................................................................6MARKETING........................................................................................7PRODUCTION DETAILS.......................................................................8CONTACTS.........................................................................................9

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COMPANY PROFILEMusica Viva is the largest presenter of chamber music in the world, a truly national company with offices in every Australian state and territory, reaching approximately 360,000 people directly every year.

We are a Major Performing Arts organisation with over 70 years’ experience presenting and touring chamber and ensemble music. Regional touring has been part of the organisation’s activities since its inception. We partner with professional venues, festivals and regional conservatoriums to present around 65 concerts and workshops each year.

ABOUT THE SHOWSHOW SYNPOSISCompassion was written by singer/songwriter/composer Lior and composer Nigel Westlake and premiered with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House in late 2013.

Compassion is based on seven ancient Hebrew and Arabic texts, written in response to the vicious and implacable cycle of violence in the Middle East. Lior’s gloriously soulful voice and Westlake’s radiant music achieve the seemingly impossible: the uniting of Islam and Judaism in a joyful celebration of compassion and its ability to bring people together across the divides of race and fear.

A chamber version of Compassion has been commissioned for premiere at the 2018 Adelaide Festival by Tinalley String Quartet. This Octet version features some of Australia’s best musicians offers the opportunity to take this amazing and inspiring work to venues around Australia in 2019.

Compassion will be performed as the second half of the concert. The first half of the concert will feature works connected to the theme of Compassion performed by Lior, Tinalley String Quartet and the other musicians.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSCompassion by Lior and Nigel WestlakeLior, VoiceTinalley String QuartetDaniel de Borah, Piano*Claire Edwardes, Percussion*Andrew Meisel, Bass*

*Confirmed for Adelaide Festival Season. TBC for tours.

Chamber version of Compassion commissioned for premiere at the 2018 Adelaide Festival by Tinalley String Quartet with generous funding provided by Julian Burnside, Andrew and Theresa Dyer, Anonymous and the Ukaria Foundation.

BIOGRAPHIES

Lior burst on to the Australian music scene in 2005 with his stunning debut album - “Autumn Flow”. Recorded and released entirely independently, the album became one of the most successful independent debuts in Australian history with sales surpassing Platinum. A swag of accolades followed, amongst them three ARIA nominations - including Best Male Artist. Most artists set out with an ambition to build

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a career based on musical credibility and integrity whilst maintaining an independence and individuality in their craft. Lior is certainly part of that rare breed that has achieved this whilst garnering a great degree of success and critical acclaim.

Nigel Westlake is one of Australia’s most respected composers. Recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Music from the University of New South Wales, his compositions have earned many accolades, including the Gold Medal at the New York International Radio Festival, 15 APRA awards and the prestigious Paul Lowin Orchestral prize in 2013.

His film score credits include Miss Potter, Babe, Babe: Pig in the City, and the IMAX films Antarctica, Imagine, The Edge & Solarmax. He has conducted all the major Australian symphony orchestras in recordings & performances of his own works.

Internationally acclaimed for its ‘addictive sound’, ‘intuitive’ music making and ‘technical virtuosity’, the Tinalley String Quartet (TSQ) has established itself as one of the finest string quartets of its generation and one of Australia’s most awarded classical music exports.   Winners of the Grand Prize of the 2005 Australian Chamber Music Competition, the Quartet captured the world’s attention in 2007 when it was awarded First Prize at the prestigious 9th Banff International String Quartet Competition.

In addition to performing standard quartets of the repertory, the Quartet shares a passion for collaborating with artists outside of the classical sphere. Such projects have included appearances at the Perth International Arts Festival with UK jazz pianist Gwilym Simcock; ‘Beethoven’s Letter’ with actors John Bell and John Stanton, and more recently, two new commissions that combined the talents of singer/songwriter Lior and composers Nigel Westlake and Ade Vincent.

Formed at The University of Melbourne by founding members, Lerida Delbridge, Justin Williams and Michelle Wood, first violinist Adam Chalabi joined the Quartet in 2010.   The Tinalley String Quartet is named after the laneway that runs through The University of Melbourne Parkville Campus.

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICSDURATIONFirst half – 40minInterval – 20minSecond half – 50min

SUITABLE VENUESThe show is suitable for proscenium arch venues only, town halls, and other indoor cultural facilities.

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES PER WEEK4 performances

MINIMUM BREAK BETWEEN PERFORMANCESMax 1 performance per day

APRA OBLIGATIONSMusica Viva will submit and pay for APRA licences for each performance.

TOURING PERSONNEL

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The touring party consists of 9 people.

Name Role

Lior Vocals

Adam Chalabi – Violin

Lerida Delbridge Violin

Justin Williams Viola

Patrick Murphy Cello

Daniel de Borah (TBC for tour) Piano

Claire Edwardes (TBC for tour) Percussion

Andrew Meisel (TBC for tour) Bass

TBC Sound engineer

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Year Venue Number of performances2018 Adelaide Festival 12017* Melbourne Recital Centre 22014* Sidney Myer Music Bowl 12014* Adelaide Festival Centre 12013* Perth Concert Hall 12013* QPAC Concert Hall 12014* Sydney Opera House 3

* Symphony orchestra version of Compassion

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENTOVERVIEWCompassion will be performed by 8 of Australia’s best ensemble musicians including renowned singer-songwriter Lior.

These musicians can provide excellent opportunities for local and student musicians to develop skills through masterclasses and workshops. In addition to instrument-specific masterclasses (e.g. violin, percussion), and chamber music masterclasses for local chamber groups, Lior can present songwriting workshops for local contemporary musicians.

DESCRIPTION / DETAILSMasterclasses offer participants and observers a highly enriching learning experience. Participants will perform a piece of their choosing and be supported by the visiting musicians to develop their performance technique and interpretation of the music in an open-lesson format.

Observers will be able to see a variety of teaching techniques employed by the mentors to enhance the student’s playing.

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A song writing workshop with Lior offers the opportunity to learn from one of Australia’s most acclaimed singer-songwriters in an intimate and supportive environment.

COSTMasterclasses and workshops will be at additional cost of $250-$400 depending on duration.

TARGET AUDIENCE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTMasterclasses and workshops are aimed at local music students and musicians.

MARKETING

MARKETING COPYOne lineCompassion a symphony of songs that unites the soulful power of Lior's voice with the radiance and vivid drama of Nigel Westlake's orchestral style.

ShortCompassion is a symphony of songs that unites the soulful power of Lior's voice with the radiance and vivid drama of Nigel Westlake's orchestral style. Performed by an octet comprising some of Australia’s best ensemble musicians, this unique collaboration celebrates the liberating power of compassion that can bring people together across the divides of race and fear. Poetic, beautiful and rewarding.

ExtendedCompassion was written by singer songwriter composer Lior and composer Nigel Westlake and premiered with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House in late 2013.

Compassion is based on seven ancient Hebrew and Arabic texts, written in response to the vicious and implacable cycle of violence in the Middle East. Lior’s gloriously soulful voice and Westlake’s radiant music achieve the seemingly impossible: the uniting of Islam and Judaism in a joyful celebration of compassion and its ability to bring people together across the divides of race and fear.

The chamber version of Compassion has been commissioned for premiere at the 2018 Adelaide Festival by Tinalley String Quartet. This Octet version offers the opportunity to take this amazing and inspiring work to venues across Australia in 2019.

MARKETING SUMMARYMusica Viva can provide marketing copy, promo footage, reviews, high res images, and print material templates. The tour can be shared via Musica Viva’s and the artists’ social media networks which have a large combined national reach.

Lior is a compelling performer with strong stage presence and a searing, unique voice. His 2005 album Autumn Flow and subsequent tours and activities have raised his profile to one of Australia’s most recognised and respected musicians, straddling the classical and pop worlds.

MEDIA QUOTES

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“The collaboration between TSQ and Lior was both inspired and inspiring” Weekend Notes“An exciting and imaginative programme, Tinalley is to be commended not only for a stellar performance, but also for continuing to break down the socially constructed barriers between popular and art music styles. With such an interesting blend of Australian and international music – old, new and reinvented – there really is something here for everyone to enjoy” CutCommon Magazine“an impressive and highly enjoyable work, to be counted among his [Westlake’s] finest.” The Australian

VIDEO LINKShttps://vimeo.com/176699856 Tinalley Quartet and Lior performing Sim Shalom

IMAGESHigh Res images available via shared dropbox. More will be available following Adelaide Festival March 2018 season.

CONTENT WARNINGS / AUDIENCES TO AVOIDn/a

PRODUCTION DETAILS

TECHNICAL SUMMARYFull tech specs sheet and stage plan will be available late November 2017.All musicians to be amplified. Touring party includes Sound Engineer. Sound needs to be finely balanced.

CREW REQUIRED FROM VENUE1 lighting, 1 sound operator required from venue for 4 hrs each.

STAGETuned grand piano4 orchestral chairs or hard-backed armless chairsTwo stools

Musica Viva to supplyAll instruments except piano

Venue to supply1 x vocal mircrophone (preferably Sennheiser)1 x foldback monitor1 x acoustic guitar DI

LIGHTINGSimple lighting – warm white lighting from overhead so the musicians can read the music without shadows, and some warm wash lighting of the performance area. LX sheet to be provided.

SOUNDVenue to provide PA (TBC as per forthcoming tech specs sheet). FREIGHT NOTES

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Musicians to bring own instruments aside from piano which venue is to provide.

CRITICAL ISSUESThe sound between voice and instruments must be balanced well.

CONTACTSMelissa Cannon, CountryWide Manager mcannon@musicaviva.com.auOther contacts to be provided once tour is confirmed.

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