Exquisite Harmonies – album launch concert

A fundraising concert for Musica Viva Australia in Schools

The Marais Project, acknowledged Australian masters of the baroque, are turning their Exquisite Harmonies album launch into a fundraiser for Musica Viva Australia in Schools. Each of the musicians is donating their time to enable every dollar from ticket sales to be contributed to Musica Viva in support of their work in schools.

The Marais Project’s Jenny Eriksson and Anthony Abouhamad cemented their musical relationship while touring for Musica Viva Australia in Schools, going on to perform and record together on many occasions. Their share their positive experience with the Schools’ program with talented singer and violinist, Susie Bishop, the ensemble’s third member.

Eriksson led Musica Viva in Schools ensembles groups for three decades, notching up almost 3,000 concerts. She summarises the sentiment of her colleagues:

‘There are many fine music education programs in schools, but in my experience, Musica Viva Australia is the standout. The quality of the musicians, the link to key learning areas in the curriculum, and the fact Musica Viva goes just about everywhere across rural, regional and urban Australia makes the program truly unique. It is incredibly impactful for students, teachers and parents.

‘Quite simply,’ says Eriksson, ‘Musica Viva Australia in Schools changes lives.’

The delightful Exquisite Harmonies program takes listeners through a veritable playlist of the finest baroque music for the viola da gamba. The menu includes suites and sonatas for viola da gamba by Telemann, Marais and Carl Friedrich Abel as well as songs and instrumental works. The album itself features a ‘Grand Suite’ that Jenny assembled with music by Sainte-Colombe, Caix d’Hervelois, Marin Marais and Forqueray - a venerable ‘who’s who’ of French baroque viola da gamba composers and virtuosi!

Complementary drinks will be served after the performance.

‘There aren’t enough superlatives to do justice to this performance by Eriksson, soprano and violinist Susie Bishop, countertenor Russell Harcourt and Tommie Andersson on theorbo and guitar.’ (Limelight Magazine -5-star review)