Across the Lawn Concerts: NOSTALGIA - Arias, Melodies and Polish Watercolours

CONCERTS ACROSS THE LAWN

Intimate concerts on a small stage nestled against the stunning  Illawarra escarpment.  Our home lends itself to the display of artwork. Each concert allows for an immersive experience in nature and art. Sit around tables or relax on couches; enjoy light refreshments and the company of friends and music lovers.  

NOSTALGIA

This concert will delight and be a celebration of artistic and family relationships. Polish soprano Marta Nowicka, has made a life for herself in Sydney and will be joined by her mother, watercolour artist  Janka Piechowicz, and creative partners, pianist Bradley Gilchrist and flautist Phillip Murray. 

Janka Piechowicz is a graduate of the Wł. Strzemińanski Academy of Fine Arts, where she majored in graphic design.  

Her subtle painting style and extraordinary use of shadows and lights gave her European recognition. She participates in individual and collective exhibitions in Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Italy and Spain.  Her paintings of still life, landscapes and animals have found many buyers worldwide.

She cooperates with theatres, music festivals and other artistic institutions creating posters and scenography. For many years she made visual images for the Powszechny Theatre in Łódź and is the author of over 50 theatre posters, several dozen programs for theatre performances, and scenography. In addition, she created a sign for the 26th International Festival, "Chopin in the Colours of Autumn".

Janka was awarded a Meritorious Culture Activist Medal by the Minister of Culture and Art of the Republic of Poland and a Silver Cross of Merit, awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland.

Janka is passionate about watercolour: I am fascinated by the lightness and subtlety of this technique. However, the greatest joy for me is direct painting outdoors, where there is a constant dance of light and shadow, imposing the rhythm of the watercolour work. Painting with watercolour gives me a sense of freedom, satisfies the need to create, and simultaneously is a priceless breath for me from crazy, rushing reality.

Marta Janina Nowicka is a polish soprano of international reputation. Renowned for her voice of remarkable beauty, warmth, character and expression, Marta Janina Nowicka has established herself as one of her generation's leading opera and concert singers.

She made her debut in 2016 at the Schlosstheater Schönbrunn in Vienna in a leading part of Vitellia in "La Clemenza di Tito ". Since that time, she has sung principal roles in the world's great opera houses, in the major concert halls and with the world's leading orchestras.

Her many roles include Violetta (La Traviata), Gilda (Rigoletto), Musetta (La Boheme), Magda (La Rondine), Amina (La Sonnambula), Roxana (Krol Roger), Alcina; to mention a few.

Marta has sung at opera houses such as Theater an der Wien, Opera Warszawska in Poland, Teatr Wielki in Poland, Staatstheater Klagenfurt, Musikverein Wien, Vienna State Opera, Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Dresden Semper Opera, Schlosstheater Schönbrunn and worked with Nicolaus Harnoncourt, Krzysztof Janczak, Wojciech Kilar, Erwin Ortner, Peter Marschik, Valery Gergiev.  

Marta has enjoyed considerable success in important European vocal competitions, including Internationaler Hilde Zadek Gesangswettbewerb, Cesti Wettbewerb, Belvedere and Ada Sari International Vocal Artistry Competition.

She holds three degrees from the world-famous Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna, including a Master in Stage Performance (Opera and Musical Drama) for which she wrote and subsequently published the thesis "Vitellia oder der Triumph der Hysterie".

Bradley Gilchrist completed a Bachelor of Music at the WA Conservatorium of Music and post-graduate studies in accompaniment and piano performance in Sydney and Madrid. Bradley has numerous concerto performances, including the KhachaturianConcerto with the WA Symphony Orchestra and the Grieg Concerto with the Slovakia.
Philharmonic Orchestra and Beethoven's First and Second Concertos with the Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra. Bradley has given solo and chamber music recitals across Australia, South Korea, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Bradley broadcast two solo programmes for the ABC Young Australia program. Bradley enjoys chamber music and has performed in various ensembles but has specialised in piano trio, flute, and piano duo repertoire.

As a repetiteur, Bradley's early interest in ballet repertoire has extended to opera. It has been a repetiteur for many of Sydney's chamber opera companies, as well as being in demand as an accompanist and vocal coach for auditions, recitals, examinations and concert performances.

Philip Murray graduated from the WA Academy of Performing Arts, where he studied flute with Brian Warren and Neil Fisenden. He also completed a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Western Australia. With the assistance of the Syd Donovan Award and a Youth Music Australia Opportunity Grant, he pursued further private flute study in the UK and Germany.

Philip toured Australia and overseas as Principal Flute of the Australian Youth Orchestra and has worked for many years as a freelance flautist in Perth and Sydney. He has performed with the WA Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and performed regularly as a soloist and chamber musician.

Philip currently maintains a busy teaching schedule at several Sydney schools and also sings professionally with several ensembles, including the Choir of Saint James', Cantillation, the Australian Brandenburg Choir and Sydney Antiphony.