mmeellbbaa ffoouunnddaattiioonn - recordings · melba foundation annual report submitted 14 nov...

MMeellbbaa FFoouunnddaattiioonn AAnnnnuuaall RReeppoorrtt 22001100--22001111

MMeellbbaa FFoouunnddaattiioonn AAnnnnuuaall RReeppoorrtt 22001100--22001111

CCOONNTTEENNTTSS

MMeellbbaa FFoouunnddaattiioonn’’ss MMiissssiioonn .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

CCEEOO RReeppoorrtt ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 22

CCoorrppoorraattee GGoovveerrnnaannccee SSttaatteemmeenntt ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 55

RReelleeaasseess...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 66

DDiissttrriibbuuttiioonn ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 66

RReelleeaasseess iinn 22001100 –– 22001111 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 77

PPrreevviioouuss RReelleeaasseess ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1111

RReeccoorrddiinnggss iinn 22001100 –– 22001111 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1144

AAcchhiieevveemmeennttss .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1188

LLiisstt OOff SSuuppppoorrtteerrss .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2211

DDiirreeccttoorrss .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2222

AAPPPPEENNDDIIXX: Audit Report

Melba Foundation Annual Report submitted 14 Nov 2011.docx Page 1 of 22

MMeellbbaa FFoouunnddaattiioonn’’ss MMiissssiioonn

OOuurr MMiissssiioonn Harness the talents of Australia‘s finest classical musicians

Achieve excellence in all aspects of record production, presentation and marketing.

Build its national and international reputation for excellence

Create a heightened awareness of Australian cultural achievement

Increase investment in our finest artists and their recordings

Preserve a recorded legacy of Australian performers

OOuurr AAiimm To promote Australian artists on the international stage and give them the recognition they deserve

OOuurr VVaalluueess Integrity: Artistic and production excellence

Leadership: To lead the Australian recording industry in excellence To lead the classical music industry in Australia

Innovation: To be at the forefront of all developments in all aspects of recording and digital delivery


CCEEOO RReeppoorrtt Melba Recordings remains by a country mile the best flagship Australian music possesses Leslie Howard, Pianist and Composer

During 2010-2011 the Melba Foundation has maintained its focus on promoting Australia‘s finest classical musicians on the world stage, maintaining excellence in all areas: performance, production, engineering, presentation, scholarship, concept and marketing.

With so many world class artists, how embarrassing for us that we didn‟t have an international standard, and internationally distributed CD label to promote this wealth of talent. Australia desperately needed a CD label to equal the standard of its virtuosos, and with Melba, we finally got it. Paul Dean, Artistic Director, Australian National Academy of Music

Melba‘s success is demonstrated by the worldwide enthusiasm for its work by music lovers; the phenomenal number of editorial accolades from the world‘s leading music media outlets; and the many letters of support from emerging and established Australian musicians and composers; as well as the endorsements from a wide variety of distinguished, internationally-prominent Australians.

Out of the musical landscape as remote and barren as Australia's fabled Outback, Melba's imagination and flair, its creativity and courage, its admirable attention to detail, and its astonishing capacity to deliver time and again recordings of the highest conceivable quality, has profoundly transformed the image of Australian classical music - and Australia's cultural identity - outside of its own shores. Michael Quinn, former Deputy Editor, Gramophone Magazine

2010-2011 has been a productive and innovative year, with much effort directed to the development of the new website, piloted in June and launched in August 2011. This new website now places us at the forefront of digital delivery in classical music, allowing wide international recognition for our artists. Digital downloads are offered in a variety of high quality formats, including CD and Studio Master quality.

Their website is impressive in not just promoting their recordings and artists but also through the options of downloading recordings in a variety of formats. No other recordings I have done in Australia in recent years have reached such a broad international audience Stephen Emmerson, Senior Lecturer in Music Literature and Cultural Studies, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University


Melba Recordings has created an internationally acclaimed label and developed new digital delivery platforms which are, at last, strongly and successfully providing access to recordings of Australian music of the highest quality both nationally and into the global arena. Malcolm Long, Managing Director Malcolm Long & Associates

Fundraising efforts have also been intensive and have born fruit. We secured donations of more than $280,000, exceeding last year‘s $255,400. Three events were held this year: Government House, Sydney, with SSO soloist Roger Benedict & Timothy Young, in October 2010; a soiree in a private home with performances by Guillaume Tourniaire and Timothy Young, in December 2010; and the third was our major fundraising event, in June 2011: a Gala Dinner at Mural Hall with Guest of Honour Barry Humphries. This dinner had a particularly high profile and was a very rare opportunity for music lovers and prominent music philanthropists to hear insights from Mr Humphries. Music was provided by two established musicians, Rosamund Illing and Timothy Young, and an emerging artist, Kiandra Howarth. Melba Foundation‘s growing family of Patrons and Benefactors have provided not only generous financial support but also invaluable in-kind support, sustaining our efforts to produce world class recordings of our talented artists.

Recordings continue to be the essential calling card for musicians and Melba is the only classical music label in Australia providing this. Melba has reached the top of the tree internationally in a very short time because of its technical and artistic superiority Barry Tuckwell AC OBE FRCM FRSM Australian music has long deserved its own Deutsche Grammophon, a name synonymous around the world with excellence in recorded classical music. It now has this label in Melba. I urge Government, the corporate sector and philanthropists to support this company which has achieved so much for the national interest. It is a vital link in the cultural development of our Nation; a seminal example of what a contemporary and outward looking National Cultural Policy can achieve. Baz Luhrmann

There were three releases this year, including one featuring an emerging artists; and there were three recordings this year, including one with a brilliant young trio. The three releases were: Stravinsky: Diversions: the debut recording of the young and gifted violinist Ray Chen with associate artist, Timothy Young, one of Australia‘s leading pianists; Rakhmaninov: the celebrated Leslie Howard‘s debut on Melba Recordings; and Pure Diva: Cheryl Barker‘s tribute to her teacher, the great Dame Joan Hammond. The three recordings were: Smoke Encrypted Whispers with Samuel Wagan-Watson reading his 23 poems and Southern Cross Soloists performing the 23 musical works written by Brisbane composers to contribute to the diverse work; The Romantic Clarinet with Paul Dean and Stephen Emmerson performing the two Clarinet Sonatas of Brahms and the Fantasiestücke of Schumann; and Benaud Trio, three young instrumentalists bringing greatest verve and musical poetry to their chamber music performances. More recordings and releases are planned for 2011-2012 and the Foundation is seeking ongoing support to build on its important achievements


Melba‘s flexibility and innovation in the face of rapid technological and market changes have propelled it to a leading position in the international marketplace. It is delivering real benefit for Australian artists. This could not have been achieved without the support of the Australian Government and a strong family of Patrons and Benefactors. We thank our hard working Board of Directors and staff and look forward with optimism to the year ahead.

Maria Vandamme, CEO Melba Foundation

The packaged presentation of the Australian label is a model of its kind. [Believe in Love] Audiophile Audition

This is a demonstration quality disc that will please audiophiles. [Through a Glass Darkly]

Classical Lost and Found

All credit to the highly enterprising Australian label Melba for following up their excellent SACD Ring with such a rarity. … superior presentation, excellent notes, and a first-rate cast. [Hélène]

BBC Music Magazine


CCoorrppoorraattee GGoovveerrnnaannccee SSttaatteemmeenntt

The Melba Foundation is a charitable trust that promotes the Australian classical music field by supporting the production of state-of-the-art

audio and film recordings for the international and national markets. It aims to build a world-renowned recording label based in Melbourne, dedicated to the promotion of Australian classical musicians, soloists and orchestras. It aims to vastly improve the international profile and economic opportunities for Australia‘s classical music industry and preserve Australia‘s fine music heritage for future generations while presenting a distinctively Australian classical music culture to the world.

The Melba Foundation is committed to the highest standards of corporate governance.

This commitment applies to the dealings of the Foundation with all its stakeholders and is reflected in the Foundation‘s corporate values.

The Foundation has adopted a Board Charter that meets accepted best practice recommendations and a Code of Conduct that Directors agree to abide by at all times.

The Foundation has also entered into signed contracts which formalise management processes whenever a potential conflict of interest might arise with the Executive Directors of the Foundation.

The corporate governance framework of the Melba Foundation is geared towards promoting artistic and technical excellence in the field of classical music internationally through ensuring and improving the efficient use of resources, compliance with statutory and other external requirements and achieving best practice in administrative and financial management.

The booklet is a model that other recording companies should emulate [Cherry Ripe]. Fanfare

Another ambitious project from pocket Australian label Melba; another triumph.[Hélène] The Age

The presentation of the album—both the music-making and the sound quality of the recording—attains a degree of perfection that would be difficult to surpass … Really spectacular! ... this disc is absolutely indispensable. [Tzigane] Mundo Clasico

Yet another triumph for Melba Recordings; the performers‟ excellence, peerless sound engineering and refined design-production lend this entire album inestimable added value [Hélène] Music and Vision Daily


RReelleeaasseess

DDiissttrriibbuuttiioonn All Melba releases are distributed internationally via three methods:

1. Internet sales on the Melba website (www.melbarecordings.com.au) and the major on-line music retailers such as Amazon.

2. Tunecore – Aggregation service which on-sells to iTunes, Napster, Amazon mp3, etc. Every track on every Melba release is available for digital download via the Tunecore service.

3. Supplied to shops via distributors in countries as follows:

Country Distributor

Australia Fuse Music

Austria Gramola

Czech Republic Euromusica

Finland Fuga Oy

France Integral

Germany Klassik

Hong Kong Shun Cheong Records

Japan King International

New Zealand Ode

Russia A-Ram Ltd

Sweden Euroton Music AB

Switzerland Musik Vertrieb

UK Proper Note

USA Albany

http://www.melbarecordings.com.au/


RReelleeaasseess iinn 22001100 –– 22001111

STRAVINSKY: DIVERSIONS RAKHMANINOV PURE DIVA

Everything engages me. I think Ray Chen plays better than Perlman here. Classical CD Review

An excellent, truthful recording balance, good notes and handsome packaging make this disc irrrestible. Gramophone (UK)

…the best-recorded and played performance yet. (Leslie Howard) brings such richness…that I would find it hard to live without. Fanfare

another compelling release from this consistently innovative label. . Audiophilia (Canada)

A really very beautiful release. Barker has the vocal armoury of a particularly expressive artist... FORUM OPÉRA

… full of emotion and exquisite pianissimo singing, Barker is at her best...the recording is first class ... so much to admire... MusicWeb International (UK)

http://www.melbarecordings.com.au/node/7009/lightbox2













RReelleeaasseess iinn 22001100 -- 22001111


STRAVINSKY: DIVERSIONS

A hugely exciting debut album BBC Music Magazine (UK)

An outstandingly well played and well recorded recital of enjoyable pieces. Another winner from Melba Music Web International (UK)

Delve into his inner musical heart by checking out this magnificent disc; I defy anyone not to be profoundly moved. The Classical Review (US)

A very attractive recital of Stravinsky‟s “on tour” violin and piano music, easy on the ears and very digestible Audiophile Audition (US)

RReelleeaassee DDeessccrriippttiioonn

Stravinsky: Diversions

Ray Chen, violin

Timothy Young, piano

CD released October 2010

Downloads of all tracks released in 4 formats (High quality MP3, WMA, FLAC & ALE)

Ray Chen, winner of the Queen Elizabeth International Music Competition, makes his recording debut recording with Melba Recordings and pianist Timothy Young, in Stravinsky Diversions. This disc of virtuoso chamber music shows Stravinsky in a mood to entertain. The recording was planned well before Ray Chen's competition win and was recorded at the Iwaki Auditorium in the months immediately following his success.

Timothy Young, Resident Artist and Coordinator of Piano at the Australian National Academy of Music, enjoys a reputation as one of Australia‘s leading pianists. This is Timothy‘s second for Melba, his first was Volupté: Music for Viola and Piano.

The repertoire —Suite after themes, fragments and pieces by Giambattista Pergolesi (Stravinsky's first treatment of his Pulcinella material), Duo concertante, Divertimento, ‗Russian Maiden‘s Song‘ from the opera Mavra and the ‗Danse russe‘ from Petrushka—is a perfect showcase for Chen‘s violinistic and musical strengths; his luminous tone, off-the-scale technique, singing cantelena and genius for vivid musical story-telling that have secured his international career. This recording marks Chen as an exciting musical personality as well as a fine virtuoso.






RAKHMANINOV

I own a lot of solo piano music, and have long agonised over which is the single finest recording. I agonise no more, because this is! Audiophilia (Canada)

In a very crowded field, this is standout Rachmaninoff playing, and an easy entry on my 2011 Want List. Fanfare

Leslie Howard is a colossus among concert pianists...the most authoritative interpretations and performances I‟ve heard.

The Herald (Scotland)

Another outstanding release … a treat for all Rachmaninov and piano music lovers. Highlight: Sonata's original. Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)

...leaves the listener spellbound. Sunday Herald Sun (Australia)

RReelleeaassee DDeessccrriippttiioonn

Rakhmaninov

Leslie Howard, piano

CD Released May 2011


The celebrated Australian pianist Leslie Howard makes his debut on Melba Recordings with RAKHMANINOV‘s Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 28 from 1907, and the Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 36 in its original 1913 version.

Following its premiere performance the hyper-critical Rakhmaninov radically simplified the second sonata. In this release we hear the sonata in its original splendour. This is the world premiere recording of this coupling of the two Rakhmaninov Piano Sonatas.

The recording also includes four exquisite miniatures written by Rakhmaninov for his own entertainment, Three Piano Pieces from1917 and Nunc dimittis, Op. 37 No. 5, arranged for piano solo as Vesper Mass – V – Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace‘ St Luke, 2:29.

Leslie Howard is an authority on Russian music with important world premiere performances of works by Anton Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky, Glazunov and Stravinsky. His passion for new musical experiences shines through in performances which combine a formidable technique with a wealth of scholarship illuminating rare and mainstream repertoire. Born and raised in Melbourne, Leslie Howard studied at Monash University, focussing on both musicology and performance. He is renowned for his complete recordings of the piano music of Liszt which have earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the completion of the largest recording project ever undertaken by a solo recording artist.



PURE DIVA: Tribute to Dame Joan Hammond

a beautiful recital ... dramatic engagement at every turn, distilling passion or melancholy according to the arias. Parutions.com (France)

This fine tribute to Joan Hammond will further enhance Barker‟s reputation as a soprano of great versatility. SA-CD.NET (UK)

Cheryl Barker has put together a wonderful tribute to her teacher, Joan Hammond...a true pleasure to experience Melba‟s sound. Fanfare

Release Description

PURE DIVA: Tribute to Dame Joan Hammond

Cheryl Barker, Guillaume Tourniaire, QSO

SACD released June 2011


Pure Diva is soprano Cheryl Barker‘s heartfelt tribute to her singing teacher and mentor Dame Joan Hammond. It features Barker performing a range of Dame Joan Hammond‘s signature repertoire with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra conducted by French maestro Guillaume Tourniaire. Pure Diva captures one of the great international Australian singers at the height of her powers, her voice well matched to the core repertoire of her mentor. This is a disc Barker says, ―that feels as if it‘s been a long time coming‖.

The QSO‘s performances under Tourniaire are exemplary and demonstrate the excellence that Australian orchestras can achieve given the appropriate preparation. The orchestral scenes are high drama to the last reverberation. Barker‘s lyric soprano soars above Guillaume Tourniaire‘s orchestral textures in operatic scenes and arias made famous by Hammond. Barker‘s encore tributes with piano accompaniment provide a contrast to the preceding high drama: These are pieces beloved of Joan Hammond‘s wartime audiences

The recording features illuminating CD Notes by the late and great vocal commentator John Steane who was an insightful witness to Dame Joan Hammond and the great singers of her era.

Hammond made best-selling recordings of popular arias such as ‗Love and Music‘ (‗Vissi d‘arte‘) from Tosca, ‗One Fine Day‘ (‗Un bel dì‘) from Madama Butterfly, and ‗They Call Me Mimì‘ (‗Mi chiamano Mimì‘) from La bohème. Lauretta‘s then equally unknown aria from Puccini‘s Gianni Schicchi. ‗O My Beloved Daddy‘, (‗O mio babbino caro‘) was first released as the B-side to Tosca‘s ‗Love and Music on 78 RPM. The coupling became the first operatic recording to sell more than one million copies and went on to be awarded a gold record. It has never been out of the catalogue since.

Pure Diva is Cheryl Barker‘s second recording with Melba following on from her feted 2003 recording Puccini≡Passion, with Richard Bonynge and Orchestra Victoria which has been included in Limelight magazine‘s 100th issue celebration: ―The Greatest 100 classical recordings we‟ve ever reviewed‖



PPrreevviioouuss RReelleeaasseess

Melba Recordings Releases (prior to 2002)

Amoureuse: Sacred and Profane Arias (Massenet) CD Richard Bonynge, Rosamund Illing

Massenet: His Life and Music (DVD, VHS) Film (documentary)

Richard Bonynge, Rosamund Illing, various artists/interviewees

Seduction: Tenor Arias by Strauss CD Simone Young, Steve Davislim

The Power of Love: British Opera Arias CD Richard Bonynge, Deborah Riedel

The Floral Dance & Other Peter Dawson Favourites CD David Lloyd-Jones, Gregory Yurisich

Bach: The Leipzig Chorales 2-CD-set John O‘Donnell

Melba Foundation Releases to June 2011

Puccini ≡ Passion CD Richard Bonynge, Cheryl Barker

David Tong: Rakhmaninov, Chopin, Liszt CD David Tong

La somnambule SACD Richard Bonynge, Orchestra Victoria

Grand CD Sydney Dance Company, Scott Davie

Wager: Das Rheingold 2-SACD-set State Opera Company of South Australia, Asher Fisch, Adelaide

Symphony

Wager: Die Walküre 4-SACD-set State Opera Company of South Australia, Asher Fisch, Adelaide

Symphony

continued overleaf …




Wager: Siegfried 4-SACD-set State Opera Company of South Australia, Asher Fisch, Adelaide

Symphony

Wager: Götterdämmerung 4-CD-set State Opera Company of South Australia, Asher Fisch, Adelaide

Symphony

Amoureuse: Sacred and Profane Arias (Massenet)

Repackaged, remastered & re-released as SACD

SACD Richard Bonynge, Rosamund Illing

Seduction: Tenor Arias by Strauss Repackaged, remastered & re-released as SACD

SACD Simone Young, Steve Davislim

The Power of Love: British Opera Arias Repackaged, remastered & re-released as SACD

SACD Richard Bonynge, Deborah Riedel

The Floral Dance & Other Peter Dawson Favourites Repackaged, remastered & re-released as SACD

SACD David Lloyd-Jones, Gregory Yurisich

Believe in Love: Rare French & Italian Opera Arias SACD Richard Bonynge, Elizabeth Whitehouse, Orchestra Victoria

Shostakovich: Symphony No.10 in E minor SACD Alexander Anissimov, Australian Youth Orchestra

Back from Oblivion CD Nick Byrne, David Miller

Gothic Toccata CD Calvin Bowman

Through a Glass Darkly CD Roger Smalley, Australian String Quartet, Darryl Poulsen, Paul

Wright

Phoenix Story SACD Pei-Jee Ng, Pei-Sian Ng, David Tong

Hélène / Nuit Persane 2-SACD-set Guillaume Tourniaire, Orchestra Victoria, Rosamund Illing, Steve

Davislim

continued overleaf …




Tzigane SACD Kristian Winther, Anthony Romaniuk, Michelle Wood

Encore My Good Sir SACD Lin Jiang, Ben Martin

Rhapsodie SACD Ben Jacks, Barry Tuckwell, The Queensland Orchestra

Cherry Ripe SACD Deborah Riedel, Richard Bonynge, Arcadia Lane Orchestra

Winterreise SACD Steve Davislim, Anthony Romaniuk

Benjamin Britten Folksong Arrangements SACD Steve Davislim, Simone Young

Beloved of the Gods: Mozart and Mendelssohn SACD Dean Emmerson Dean, Tinalley String Quartet

Sublime Mozart SACD Paul Dean, Grainger Quartet, The Queensland Orchestra

Turbulent Heart: Music of Vierne & Chausson SACD Steve Davislim, Guillaume Tourniaire, The Queensland Orchestra

The Galant Bassoon SACD Matthew Wilkie, Kees Boersma, Neal Peres Da Costa

J.S. Bach Organ Sonatas, BWV 525-530 SACD Christopher Wrench

Volupté CD Roger Benedict, Timothy Young

Stravinsky: Diversions CD Ray Chen, Timothy Young

Rakhmaninov CD Leslie Howard

PURE DIVA: Tribute to Dame Joan Hammond SACD Cheryl Barker, Guillaume Tourniaire, QSO


RReeccoorrddiinnggss iinn 22001100 –– 22001111

Smoke Encrypted Whispers

Southern Cross Soloists Recorded: January 2011

The Romantic Clarinet Brahms: Clarinet and Piano

Paul Dean, Stephen Emmerson Recorded February 2011

Benaud Trio

Lachlan Bramble, Ewen Bramble, Amir Farid Recorded March 2011

RReeccoorrddiinnggss iinn 22001100 -- 22001111


RReeccoorrddiinngg DDeessccrriippttiioonn

Smoke Encrypted Whispers

Southern Cross Soloists

Recorded: January 2011

The musical work Smoke Encrypted Whispers is based on Samuel Wagan-Watson‘s cycle of 23 poems of the same name. 23 Brisbane composers have each contributed one piece of 90 seconds duration in response to a designated poem, giving the whole work a diversity, a wide range of contrast but a coherence growing from Wagan Watson‘s masterful poetry.

The genesis of the piece was the brief by the Southern Cross Soloists‘ music director Paul Dean for a work to fit with the theme of the ensemble‘s 2008 ―Music and Words‖ series of concerts.

Samuel Wagan Watson‘s poetry for Smoke Encrypted Whispers is highly evocative of the essence of the urban Brisbane where he grew up and although of indigenous heritage the experience that his poetry gives voice to is all inclusive. It is fitting that the musical contribution and response comes from composers who have an intimate feel for the nuance and the atmosphere of a Brisbane that is now disappearing.

The format of Smoke Encrypted Whispers is very audience friendly with each poem being read and followed by the ensembles musical reaction. The pieces are brief and the poetry offers a valuable entry point for audiences that may not have experience with more challenging contemporary music. All of the above add up to an enjoyable musical experience.

Southern Cross Soloists are one of Australia‘s most respected chamber ensembles. The group features the unusual instrumentation of oboe, clarinet, bassoon, piano and voice. This disposition of instruments at once offers a great deal of flexibility and variety in repertoire but also necessitates generation of repertoire specific for the use of the full group. Smoke Encrypted Whispers is one of the groups most significant commissions.

Curation and oversight of the composition process was undertaken by Gerard Brophy and the individual composers are Robert Davidson, Paul Dean, Richard Mills, Toby Wren, Stephen Cronin, William Barton. Ralph Hultgren, Mary Mageau, Stephen Stanfield, Peter Rankine, Louis Denson, Damien Barbeler, Sean O‘Boyle, Lisa Cheney, John Gilfedder, Tom Adeney, Freeman McGrath, Marianne Scholem, Peter Clarke, Betty Beath, Michael Knopf, Stephen Leek and Gerard Brophy.




The Romantic Clarinet Brahms: Clarinet and Piano

Paul Dean, Stephen Emmerson

Recorded February 2011

The two Clarinet Sonatas of Brahms and the Fantasiestücke of Schumann represent the high watermark in the romantic repertoire of the solo clarinet, indeed the Brahms music is some of the most profound music entrusted to a wind instrument. These pieces build on a great tradition of seriously conceived music for the clarinet that takes in the sonatas of Weber and the Chamber music and concerto of Mozart.

In the Brahms sonatas can be seen the composer‘s deepening awareness of the ineluctable finality of things the dwindling of creative inspiration, and the slow, inexorable dimming of his life force. His rage at the dying of the light and his grasping to recapture the vivacity and vitality of his youth are also caught, blazing through in passages of fire and frustration.

Paul Dean is the ideal performer to be entrusted with the intricacies of these masterpieces. He is a clarinettist with gifts of peerless virtuosity and a profound musical understanding. He performs with long time collaborator Stephen Emmerson. Their performances go beyond technical ability, beauty of tone and even lucidly articulated musical language and reach a deeper level of musical poetry- giving voice to an emotional world at once highly abstract yet immediately understandable.

Few friendships in music have been as close as Brahms and the Schumann‘s. Brahms knew the family intimately since he was an energetic and athletic young man, so far removed from the image of the serious ―Pappa Brahms‖ from the end of his life.

The Three Fantasiestücke of Robert Schumann are virtuoso pieces brimming with lyrical beauty and, at times, bursting out of their skin with unrestrained energy. They are entertaining music pure and simple and provide a fine vehicle for Dean to show off his incomparable cantilena, virtuosity and beauty of tone. These pieces leaven the seriousness of Brahms sonatas with something simple, life affirming and exciting.




Benaud Trio

Lachlan Bramble, Ewen Bramble, Amir Farid

Recorded March 2011

The Benaud Trio is at the forefront of Australia‘s burgeoning chamber music Renaissance.

These three young instrumentalists bring greatest verve and musical poetry to their performances and in their substance show that chamber music is not an effete, elitist and ethereal pursuit only accessible to a few initiates but a flower of genius to be shared with all who have ears to hear.

Benaud are participants in a thriving musical culture and are committed to contributing to the growth of the art-form, through championing and commissioning the work of contemporary composers, making it abundantly clear that contemporary music and its performance can be exciting, attractive and capture the imagination of audiences and can sit comfortably along side the great masterpieces of the repertoire.

Their debut recording is on Melba Recordings and focuses on contemporary Australian composers, featuring Ross Edwards‘ Piano Trio (1998), Paul Stanhope‘s Piano Trio „Dolcissimo Uscignolo‟ (2007) Matthew Hindson‘s Piano Trio (2007) and Nicholas Buc‘s Trailer Music .(2010)

Benaud Trio combine the greatest commitment to excellence in performance with an ensemble persona that displays an Australian lack of reverence for what is widely perceived as a po-faced classical music scene. They capture the essence of youth, talent and joie de vivre together with a steely determination to achieve greatness. As distinguished Australian composer Ross Edwards has said ―The Benaud Trio is just what Australian music needs – excellence combined with youthful vitality and a dedication to showcasing the new and refreshing the old.‖


AAcchhiieevveemmeennttss As per the indicators specified in the Melba Foundation Business Plan:

CORE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 2010-2011 OUTCOMES COMMENTS

Artistic/Repertoire

One CD by young/emerging artist

Recording of the Benaud Trio

These three young instrumentalists based in Adelaide and Melbourne bring great verve to their performances of classical pieces as well as their important Australian repertoire. They capture the essence of youth, talent and joie de vivre together with a steely determination to achieve greatness.

Positive media reviews

Sales*

External review panel feedback

All reviews positive

Sales in line with the number of releases.

Highly favourable

All reviews were excellent, with nearly 70% of the total being international and 85% noting excellence in sound quality.

Sales numbers per CD as planned. As some CD release dates were postponed this affected the sales income which will flow into next financial year. Forecasts have been reviewed because the global market trend for physical CD sales is in decline. Digital downloads is an important element and Melba developed a state-of-the-art website during this year. *Melba Recordings collects all sales income and applies this directly to the related project‘s costs. Whilst all the sales details are reported to the Melba Foundation Board of Directors and the Australia Council, the details of sales income are commercial-in-confidence.

Technical Excellence

Favourable media reviews

Favourable feedback from artists

Achieved

Achieved

The vast majority of media reviews highlighted the excellence in Melba‘s sound quality

Artists have passionately endorsed Melba‘s excellence.



All recording projects documented

Project budgets met

Achieved

Achieved

Sales & Marketing

Implement on-line sales strategy targets

Develop and implement new targets for marketing

Implemented in August 2011

Progressing

The new Melba website development has a high level of complexity and content. It was launched in August 2011.

Meet sales* forecast with distributors & current on-line sales

Sales in line with the number and timing of releases.

*As per previous note, Melba Recordings collects all sales income and applies this directly to the related project‘s costs. The details of sales income are commercial-in-confidence.

Per recording:

5 favourable reviews, 3 international, 3 technical/sound excellence

All targets exceeded

The 3 new releases exceeded these indicators

Development Program

$300,000 in development income achieved

98% achieved A total of $293,980 raised from $275,980 donations and $18,000 from tickets to the highly successful gala dinner.

Development Program documented. Philanthropic proposal template and Patrons program prospectus established

Achieved

High quality events and improved functionality of Melba‘s supporter database were further developed this year.



Governance/Administration

Full staffing achieved within budget

Managed staffing within budget by appointing consultants

Undertake review and commence recruitment for gaps in skill areas.

Achieved

Further restructuring of staff roles and responsibilities to streamline procedures and improve quality assurance.

Identified risks mitigated with particular focus on risks with highly negative consequences – Federal Government funding, succession planning and staffing

Achieved

The fundraising drive to balance the reducing government funding has continued.


LLiisstt ooff SSuuppppoorrtteerrss Founding Benefactor Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE

Patron In Chief Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

Founding Honorary Patrons Richard Bonynge AO CBE Commandeur de L‘ordre National des Arts et des lettres, The Earl of Harewood KBE AM, Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Member of the Order of Australia, Lady Potter AC, Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE

Ambassadors The Hon Richard Alston, Cheryl Barker, Sir Zelman Cowen AK GCMG GCVO, Laurence G Cox AO, Dr Terry Cutler, Lisa Gasteen, Peter Griffin AM, Rodney Hall AM, Dr Leslie Howard AM, Dr Alastair Jackson, The Hon Dr Barry Jones AO, Malcolm Long, Baz Luhrmann, Donald B McDonald AC, Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE, Marilyn Richardson, Dr Jeffrey Smart AO, Nathan Waks, Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AO, Grand Officier de l‘Ordre National du MÉrite, Governor of Queensland, Maureen Wheeler, The Hon. E.G. Whitlam AC QC, James D Wolfensohn KBE AO

Principal Benefactors Dr Douglas G Mitchell, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE, Jeanne Pratt AC , The Robert Salzer Foundation, Lady Southey AC

Diamond Benefactor Mr Andrew Sisson

Gold Benefactor Robert O Albert AO & Mrs Libby Albert, OAK Foundation,

Artistic Benefactors Rick Amor, Chris Deutscher, Barry Humphries AO CBE, Tom Lowenstein, Rod Menzies, Margaret Olley AC, John Olsen AO OBE, Garry Shead, Tim Storrier AM

Benefactor Patrons The Lynley Aitken Trust, The Hon Richard Alston, Betty Amsden OAM, Beleura - The Tallis Foundation, Terry & Christine Campbell, The Hon. Stephen Charles, Finkel Foundation, Peter Griffin AM, Bill Henson, Patricia O‘Donnell, Ms Robin Potter, Dr Christine Rothauser Chevalier de l'Ordre National du MÉrite, Carol Sisson, The Vizard Foundation, Igor & Claire Zambelli

Patrons Bardas Foundation, Helen Blythe, Di & Lino Bresciani, Diana Burleigh, Peter Clark, Sandy Clark, Peter Clemenger AM, Nola & Ernest Dawes OBE, Tab & Eva Fried, Helen Gannon, John M Haddad AO, Peter Hordern, Holding Redlich, Peter & Karen Kacser, The Hon Rod Kemp, Dr Janine Kirk AM, Jenny Lemmoné-Hill, Malcolm & Helen Long, Brian Loton AC, Peter Lynch, Dr Alice Murkies, Mutual Trust Pty Ltd, Charles & Maureen Northam, Barry Novy, Jennifer Shaw, Deborah Thomas, David Walsh, Lyn Williams AM, Dr Peter Wylie Johnston

The Melba Chorus Jasmine Brunner, Bernard Capicchiano, Geoffrey Court AO CMG, Dr Alastair Jackson, Dr Garry Joslin, Wanda Naeff, Maurice Newman AC, Sir Gustav & Lady Nossal, Kerryn Shade, Dr Valerie Tarrant, Geoffrey Tozer Estate, The Hon. E G Whitlam AC QC, Estelle Wilson, Anonymous


DDiirreeccttoorrss

Dr Douglas G Mitchell (Chair), Ex-Chancellor Swinburne University of Technology

Mr Greg Flood, Lawyer and Company Director

Mr Terry Lane, Freelance journalist

Dr Christine Rothauser, Honorary French Consul in South Australia

Prof Barry Tuckwell AC OBE FRCM FRSM, Consultant & Conductor

Ms Maria Vandamme (CEO, Executive Member), Executive Producer

a defining moment for the high resolution audio format [Wager: Die Walküre] SA-CD.NET

Verdict: Our Australian cousins give us a lesson in taking our heritage seriously. The redoubtable Dame Nellie Melba may have lent her name to a peach dessert and very, very crisp toast, but I would imagine she would be much prouder to be associated with the sterling work of the Melba Foundation. This is an organisation which, with the welcome leg-up of a $5 million ($6.3 million) government grant, is catching the best of Australia‟s singers and other musicians on CD. [Benjamin Britten] ***** 5 stars The New Zealand Herald Weekend Overall this is second only to the excellent presentation we have come to expect from Opera Rara. Together they put most other companies to shame. [Cherry Ripe] MusicWeb International A lavish, beautifully produced, packaged, illustrated and annotated release [Wager: Die Walküre] American Record Guide The recording and packaging are top-notch, even by the lofty standards Melba Recordings have established in recent years. [Sublime Mozart] Readings Monthly

mmeellbbaa ffoouunnddaattiioonn - recordings · melba foundation annual report submitted 14 nov...

Documents