PianoWorks
Linda Kouvaras’s piano works respond to three places: Ormond College at Melbourne University, bayside St Kilda, and Bundanon on the Shoalhaven. Each set reflects lived experience of a distinct site.
The first is a residential college at Melbourne University, the second the inner Melbourne bayside suburb of St Kilda, and the third a working farm and historic homestead on the Shoalhaven River in NSW.
Recorded on the Steinway in the then-new Iwaki Auditorium, these are premiere recordings with the composer at the keyboard.
The Bundanon Suite for Piano (1999) is the outcome of a midsummer stay on the Shoalhaven River near Nowra on the NSW south coast, sponsored by the artist-in-residence program at Bundanon – Arthur and Yvonne Boyd’s gift to the nation. Kouvaras’ sojourn at Bundanon provided an invaluable opportunity to explore the beauty, magnitude and isolation of a complex ecosystem of unspoilt bush, vestigial rainforest, the Shoalhaven River, a working farm, and historic homestead built in 1866. “Lament for Helen”, described by Kouvaras as the most programmatic work in the collection, is a response to a tragic drowning event of 1922.
Helen, aged 11, and her father both drowned when their horses inexplicably got into difficulties whilst crossing the river. A more personal association arose during the writing of this piece when Kouvaras learned of the death of her colleague and friend since childhood, musicologist Dr Naomi Helen Cumming (1960–1999).
Reviews
a collection of pieces that tantalises by its secrets … thoroughly delights … in hearing it one is almost bewitched by its wistful turns of melody, subtle chord-building and apparently improvisatory forms.
Linda Kouvaras has established a unique language of keyboard music in the tradition of the great composer/pianists … remarkable
PianoWorks shows the composer's intellectual grip and interpretative freedom … the playing is articulate and expressive
The music and the performance are inspiring, enthusiastically tackling life in a spiritual sense while providing a spontaneity in a physical manner with the music itself.
the piano is the sole story-teller of many different scenes and personal thoughts. Kouvaras gives a faultless performance
Artist
Linda Kouvaras
Linda Kouvaras is a pianist, composer and musicologist with a particular focus on contemporary Australian music. She has recorded, commissioned and premiered numerous new works for piano, and performs widely in city and regional centres.
Audio preview
Tracks
- City Views from the Sixth Floor, McCaughey Court 3:38
- postlude 1:10
- Tower 5:49
- postlude 2:17
- Chapel 5:42
- postlude 1:33
- The Yearning 4:57
- postlude 2:20
- i. 3:22
- ii. 3:04
- iii. 4:32
- Secrets of the Amphitheatre 4:49
- Shimmering Haze on the Shoalhaven 5:32
- Lament for Helen 4:17
- Haunted Point 5:17
- Bundanon Rhapsody 3:05
- Old Forest Growth 2:27
The Ormond Collection Linda Kouvaras
Three St Kilda Sketches Linda Kouvaras
Bundanon Suite for Piano Linda Kouvaras
Performers
Where to listen
PianoWorks is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
PianoWorks is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3233
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 63 minutes 51 seconds
- Recording Engineer
- Jim Atkins
- Editing Engineer
- Jim Atkins
- Venue
- ABC Studios, Melbourne
- Thanks to
- Ian Potter Foundation
- Release date
- 2000
- Musical work
copyright - © 2000 Linda Kouvaras
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2000 Move Records
- Categories
- Australian, Classical, Keyboard
- Genre
- Contemporary Classical
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574323320
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