Mozart & Edwards | Cossom & Penderecki

Streaming from Thursday 25 November 7.30pm AEST, musicians of the MSO bring to life a kaleidoscope of chamber music. Although chamber music by name, Mozart’s Oboe Quartet is in some ways a miniature oboe concerto. The composer’s elegance, ingenuity, and virtuosity are delivered with panache by Associate Principal Oboe Thomas Hutchinson. Binyang, meaning 'bird' in the First Nations language Dharug, takes a striking birdcall and delivers a unique work for clarinet and percussion evoking Ross Edwards' two characteristic styles, maninya and sacred. From the vivacious and jazz infused first movement, to the contemplation of the second, this music is utterly evocative. Composed for his ‘Adopt A Musician’ supporters Drs. Rhyl Wade & Clem Gruen, Rob Cossom’s Dragonfly seamlessly blends spacious textures with rhythmic energy. Opening with a plaintive oboe call, the driving percussion takes over and guides the ensemble on a colourful musical journey. Performed twice at its premiere by audience request, Krzystztof Penderecki’s Quartet for Clarinet and Strings is a powerful work, although perhaps not as such a reception might suggest. This music feels perfectly distilled: icy, crystalline, at times achingly expansive and at others severe to the point of brittleness. FEATURING Musicians of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Tair Khisambeev, violin Gabrielle Halloran, viola Rohan de Korte, cello Rob Cossom, percussion Thomas Hutchinson, oboe Ann Blackburn, oboe David Thomas, clarinet PROGRAM MOZART Oboe Quartet performed by Thomas, Tair, Gabrielle & Rohan ROSS EDWARDS Binyang performed by David & Rob ROB COSSOM Dragonfly for Rhyl Wade and Clem Gruen performed by Anne, David, Tair, Rohan & Rob KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI Clarinet Quartet performed by David, Tair, Gabrielle & Rohan