Strings News
String News
“New perspectives” in the Orchestra
This week at Orchestra we did an exercise called “New perspectives in the Orchestra.” Normally all the players sit together with the other people playing the same part as them. In this exercise, players spread themselves out through the orchestra so that the parts are all mixed up.
In our first attempt to play, we kept speeding up! The conductor does not have as much control in this seating and can’t give any cues! On our second attempt, we were already much better.
We had an interesting discussion about how it feels when the different sections are spread out. On the con side, it was harder to stick together with your section because you can’t just look in front of you (Edward). On the pro side, having the cellos spread out meant there were some cellos nearer you so you can get the beat from them (Niamh).
In the passage where one section plays a few bars then passes it to the next section who plays a few bars and so on, it sounded really good because you could hear the parts everywhere, from all around you [Lilou].
Open Morning Concert
The Start Up Strings and the Orchestra will be performing at the Open Morning concert at 11am on Wednesday 14th May in the hall.
The Start Up Strings are really looking forward to their first ever public performance! Exciting! The Orchestra is looking forward to putting their new awareness of the other sections into practice.
Opera for children at Darebin Performing Arts Centre
IPS Strings Co-ordinator, Margaret Butcher, will be performing with the Victorian Opera for a production of the children’s opera, “The Lyrebird’s Voice”. As well as performances in Frankston and Ringwood, there will be a performance at the Darebin Arts Centre on Friday 16th May, 6:30pm.
“In this family-friendly opera, one trickster lyrebird goes a step too far and gets in trouble with their friends in the flock. The other birds banish the lyrebird and curse them: never again will the lyrebird be able to use their own voice. From now on, it’s mimicry only.
Alone in the bush, the lyrebird meets a quirky assortment of Australian animals, where they discover the power of being different.
This sweet story was developed by Peter Rutherford and six youth participants of the New Work Opera Studio 2023. Told with colour, Australian spirit and a big dose of humour, this opera imparts important lessons on identity and the ways in which we use our voice.”
If you want to give your children a taste of opera, this is an accessible way to do it:
https://www.victorianopera.com.au/production/the-lyrebirds-voice-2/#details
Victorian Opera premieres its newest opera for kids, The Lyrebird’s Voice
Darebin Arts Centre
Friday 16th May, 6:30pm
Composer Peter Rutherford and librettist Jayde Kirchert created the story following
workshops with six 15–20 year olds from various cultural backgrounds, who reflected
on the difficulty of finding their place in Australia. The participants picked a lyrebird as
the protagonist, because one girl with an immigrant background said she would mimic
the way her friends spoke to try to fit in.
Set in the Australian bush, the story follows a trickster lyrebird who goes a step too far
and gets in trouble with her friends in the flock for her constant mimicry. Alone in the
bush, the Lyrebird meets a quirky assortment of Australian animals and discovers the
power of being different.
Packed with recognisable hits from the world’s best-loved operas, such as Carmen
and The Barber of Seville, The Lyrebird’s Voice is the perfect introduction to opera and
classical music for children. The production features a cast of 20 rising-star opera
singers performing alongside a 12-piece chamber orchestra to offer kids a chance to
hear the big sounds that opera boasts.
Book now via www.victorianopera.com.au