A beautiful surprise came in today via Richard Jackson, the executive director of Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Music and arts reviewer Tony Way had written a gorgeous review of the MCO concert of Sinfonia No. 1 on the weekend. Here is what he had to say about my piece, Embracing Duarte;
'Two sinfonias by 17th-century Flemish musician and composer Leonora Duarte preceded the premiere of a commissioned work by Melbourne-based composer and cellist Caerwen Martin. Sinfonia No. 1 Embracing Duarte is a broad, imaginative sonic canvas that embraces elements of Duarte's writing for viols and reinterprets them in a sympathetic contemporary harmonic and textural language. Among some heart-warming moments came a demanding violin cadenza brilliantly rendered by MCO director Sophie Rowell.' Tony Way The AgeThank you Tony Way, for your beautifully elegant writing and your eloquent description of my work with MCO. If you would like to read the full article 'Joyous team spirit in symphony celebration', it was published in The Age newspaper on Tuesday 29th of August 2023. Repeat Performance Thursday 31st of August at Elizabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, 7:30pm.
Composer Caerwen Martin with Artistic Director and Concert Master Sophie Rowell with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Elizabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Sunday 27th of August 2023. Photo Credit: Robert McIntyre