CRUMB'S LYRE

Renowned for their exceptional artistry in their respective genres, pianist Sonya Lifschitz and vocalist Christine Johnston form one of Australia’s most dynamic powerhouse duos.

In this critically acclaimed reimagining of George Crumb’s groundbreaking Makrokosmos, Book 1, piano maverick and virtuoso Sonya Lifschitz is joined by performance artist Christine Johnston (The Kransky Sisters) as Madame Lark to unleash their duelling scores. Part cabaret, part recital, this audacious reinterpretation places Crumb’s zodiac-inspired fantasy pieces amidst the sounds of the Antipodes. As Sonya conjures mythical, primordial sounds from inside the piano, Madame Lark performs with her musical saw and overhead projector. Together, they bring George Crumb’s masterwork to life in an intriguingly whimsical and altogether unexpected way.

The worlds of classical music, performance art and comedy collide in this breathtaking performance, showcasing Sonya and Christine’s consummate musicianship, thrilling audacity and daring imagination.

Don’t miss the opportunity of seeing these exceptional artists in the intimate Lagavulin Concert Hall.

Artists
Sonya Lifschitz, piano
Christine Johnston, vocals/musical saw/ overhead projector
Max Lee, poetry

★★★★ ½ “Brilliant performance... wildly funny." Limelight

Christine Johnston combines vocal performance and music with her visual arts background in creating stand out work. Known for her particular bent on humour, dramatic visual style, musical-saw and bird calls, she has created a diverse range of works nationally and internationally. Along with self devised performances, including Madame Lark, she is also co-creator of the multi-­award winning comedic trio The Kransky Sisters.

Sonya Lifschitz is a Ukrainian-Australian pianist, performance-artist, and cultural leader at the forefront of classical and contemporary art music. With repertoire spanning five centuries, Sonya collaborates fearlessly across theatre, dance, film, and visual art, and has performed at the Barbican, Venice Biennale, and major Australian festivals. Praised by the New York Times for her “powerful” performances and celebrated for “miraculous keyboard technique and musicianship” (Woodstock Times), Sonya is the 2024 Australian Women in Music Excellence in Classical Music Award recipient. A Fulbright Scholar and PhD graduate she is currently Head of Music Performance and Creative Practice at University of NSW.

***

Harrigans Lane CoLab acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of these lands, dialects of the Western Bundjalung people, including Gidabal (Githabul), and pays our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.