A Katz' world

2011-07-30T01:26:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from an interview with Eckehard Stier on Kiss my Arts, Auckland

At what stage does the orchestra rehearse with the singers?

In a concert performance such as this, the singers get together with the full orchestra quite late on – four or five days before the performance. It makes the rehearsals very intense. Of course, everyone will have been practising their part for a long time before that. We’ve also held singing rehearsals with piano, and I really should acknowledge the work of repetiteur Rosie Barnes, and Andrea Katz, a wonderful vocal coach who has worked very closely with the singers.

For the full interview go to
http://kissmyarts.posterous.com/qa-apo-musical-director-eckehard-stier-on-das#comment

Also
Interviewed by Eva Radich on Radio NZ Concert

http://www.radionz.co.nz/concert/programmes/upbeat/20110728

News from ACRATH

2011-04-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

Follow this link to see some of our activities to help ACRATH raise money and awareness about human trafficking around the country.
Cd's sale have reached the $10,000 mark.

http://acrath.org.au/810/acrath-says-thank-you/

2010-10-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

The new Brochure for Resonate 2011 is out.

email: bookings@artgallerysociety.org.au
www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/member/events

Fortune my Foe has already raised more than $6,000 for the

Tenaganita Shelter.

If you are interested in supporting ACRATH and their fantastic work,

please go to http://www.acrath.org.au/, or shelter@tenaganita.net

Auckland 2009

2010-08-21T00:05:00.000-07:00

Andrea Katz plays Mozart with Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnyMG2sSsfM&feature=player_embedded

2010-05-23T00:51:00.000-07:00

Melbourne artists assist victims of human trafficking.

A CD of poetry and music of local artists, performed by local artists and produced by local artists is being launched. Soprano Merlyn Quaife and pianist Andrea Katz perform song cycles by Roger Heagney based on poetry by Graeme Ellis.

Merlyn says "the beauty power and depth of the music and poetry resonate well with the work of ACRATH (www.acrath.org.au) who assist victims of human trafficking”.

MOVE Records, ORYX, Regency Media, PMS Lithography and the Australian Broadcasting Commission have joined with the artists to produce the CD.

Money raised by the sale of this CD is totally channeled to ACRATH.

‘The artistic combination of Quaife and Katz is heartfelt and thrilling.’

It is available at Discurio and the Trading Circle 261 Victoria St Abbotsford VIC (Wed – Sat 10.00 – 4.00)

MOVE MCD 435

RRP $20 + GST (http://www.move.com.au)

Coming up performances

2010-04-07T04:51:00.000-07:00

2010 Liederfest, Melbourne, April 17 and 18

Andrea Katz and Jeremy Kleeman after winning the Best Ensemble Award

at the 2010 Liederfest

Melbourne April 18

Sunday 16 May 2010

Old Courts, Ground Level, Art Gallery of New South Wales

A Mezzo’s Journey

Acclaimed mezzo-soprano, Sally Anne Russell, returns to Resonate for her first solo recital in the series. Accompanied on piano by veteran of the Resonate concerts, Andrea Katz, Sally Anne will take you on a musical journey of Europe, from Austria to Germany, to France and Spain. She will sing songs by Haydn, Brahms, Duparc and Weill, along with other composers, in a sweet and sentimental musical pilgrimage.

The concert will be preceded by a champagne reception and private viewing of the Archibald Prize.

http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/events/cal/resonate_2010

Thursday 27 May 2010 7.30pm

Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak presents

A Fundraising Concert to support ACRATH

Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans

Merlyn Quaife

Performing 'Fortune My Foe'

Songs by Roger Heagney

with Associate Artist Andrea Katz

Thursday 27 May 2010 7.30pm

Chapel of Christ the King

10 Mandeville Crescent, Toorak

Light refreshments at 8.45pm in the Oak Parlour

Tickets $40.00 - all pro ts donated to ACRATH

Bookings essential by Friday 21 May 2010

Online: www.loretotoorak.vic.edu.au

Enquiries: Yvette Stanley

9823 8136

yvette.stanley@loretotoorak.vic.edu.au

ACRATH is passionate about eliminating human trafficking in Australia, the Asia Pacific region and internationally. ACRATH raise awareness; advocate for change; network; offer direct service. ACRATH are endorsed by Catholic Religious Australia, an organisation representing 8,000 women and men who belong to religious orders.

www.acrath.org.au

Loreto Toorak’s Fundraising Concert featuring Merlyn Quaife and Andrea Katz will raise money specifically for the ACRATH project, Tenaganita Shelter for Trafi cked Women and Children.

Tenaganita, is a Malaysian NGO whose name means ‘women’s strength’. The Tenaganita Shelter for Trafficked Women and Children was established in May 2006 to provide care, protection and safe repatriation to trafficked survivors. By December 2009 the Shelter had housed 238 traf cked survivors. Because of its commitment to empowerment of traf cked people it has been chosen by ACRATH to be the recipient of ACRATH fundraising since December 2009.

ACRATH members have been linked with Tenaganita as they organised two rescues of young women coming to East Malaysia from the Philippines; the young women thought they would earn a good income in the hospitality industry. The women found themselves in a brothel and were unable to escape. One still had her mobile phone so she phoned home; her family alerted some Filipino sisters who in turn asked the Malaysian Tenaganita to help. Tenaganita organised the rescue, found sisters who could offer support, and then helped Malaysian authorities to understand how highly traumatised women with no passports could be safely repatriated.

ELEKTRA

WESTPAC OPERA IN CONCERT

FRI 6 AUGUSTS 7.30PM

AUCKLAND TOWN HALL, THE EDGE

Eckehard Stier

CONDUCTOR

Elizabeth Connell*

ELEKTRA

Nicole Youl

CHRYSOTHEMIS

Helen Medlyn

CLYTEMNESTRA

Tuomas Pursio

ORESTES

Richard Greager

AEGISTHUS

Also featuring

Morag Atchison, Anna Pierard, Rachelle Pike, Rebecca Ryan, Kate Spence, Jenny Wollerman

Music preparation Andrea Katz

http://apo.co.nz/2010_concerts/westpac_opera_in_concert_elektra.aspx

About me

2010-03-08T06:03:00.000-08:00

A pianist, accompanist and vocal coach of extraordinary versatility, Argentine born Andrea Katz is equally at home with Chamber Music, German Lieder and Grand Opera.

Since becoming an Australian resident in 1990, she has worked with all major musical organisations in the country: Guest Répétiteur with Opera Australia, Sydney Symphony, Sydney Festival and Brisbane Festival, Western Australia Opera and the recently created Victorian Opera in Melbourne.

In association with the Art Gallery Society of NSW she presents every year the Lieder and Art Song concerts for the Resonate series. In a collaboration lasting 10 years she has presentd an array of programmes that have included performances of Schubert's Die Winterreise and Schwanengesang and Brahms Four Serious Songs with Australian baritone Jonathan Summers (and a subsequent recording for ABC Classics), Love and Death songs from Schubert to Britten with soprano Merlyn Quaife, Wolf Lieder with baritone Peter Coleman-Wright and recitals with sopranos Yvonne Kenny, Emma Matthews and Sara Macliver.

In collaboration with the Sydney Omega Ensemble she has also performed her own arrangements of Astor Piazzolla Tangos, a chamber adaptation of El Amor Brujo (1915) by Manuel de Falla and of the Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss.

In 2006 she released her first CD, Lest we Forget , with Melbourne soprano Merlyn Quaife,for the Tall Poppies label.

2007 saw her established in Melbourne, starting her year as one of the solo pianists for Les Noces (Stravinsky) with Victorian Opera, teaching at the Faculty of Music and working with the MSO on Fanciulla del West.

In 2008, she returned to the concert platform performing Chopin Concerto #2 with the Ushuaia Festival.

Together with mezzo-soprano Lauren Easton she was awarded the ABC Recording Prize at the 2008 Mietta Song Recital Award.

In 2009 the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales will celebrate 10 years of the series Resonate with a magnificent programme. For more information go to www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/member/events.

In 2009 she will participate in the development of the newly created The Opera School, Melbourne, as Head of Music. For more information go to www.theoperaschool.com.au

Picture Gallery - Private

2009-03-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

Mum

Best friend

Most beautiful flower in my garden

Eric

New adventures

2009-03-10T08:26:00.001-07:00

The Opera School Melbourne is a new, independent training organisation that enables singers to experience the process of learning, rehearsing and performing, guided by internationally recognised opera professionals and expert... Read Mores. Providing vital, on-the-job training, performing to diverse audiences in multiple locations, The Opera School Melbourne is offering a one year program, with intensive coaching and rehearsing to prepare for mainstage, chamber and childrens' opera in a variety of venues. The program provides links to the industry as well as a supportive environment for cultivating and refining a distinctive artistic personality through performance. A not-for-profit incorporated organisation supported by The National Theatre, St Kilda.

Email: theoperaschool.com.au

Website: http://www.theoperaschool.com.au

Location: Melbourne, Australia

* * * * *

Resonate cellebrates 10 years

Art Gallery of New South Wales: Resonate 2009

Source: www.artgallery.nsw.g...

Resonate 2009. Classical music concerts in the Gallery's old courts, from March to November 2009.

The Art Gallery Society is thrilled to present the 10th Anniversary season of Resonate in 2009. In its 10 years Resonate has grown from four concerts a year to eight and established itself as a significant part of Sydney’s fine music scene.
n a truly unique experience, audiences are able to view the extraordinary variety of exhibitions on display in the Art Gallery of NSW, with complimentary refreshments, before each of the concerts, giving a visual enhancement to the sublime musical offerings presented in the Gallery’s beautiful Old Courts. In our 10th Anniversary year it is also a privilege to welcome the generosity of Resonate’s new supporter the Trust Foundation.

To take full advantage of Resonate’s special ambience and be guaranteed the best seats in the house you can obtain reserved seating by subscribing to the entire series.

Come along and celebrate Resonate’s 10th Birthday.

Proudly supported by the Trust Foundation

* * * * *

AvaTãra- the Opera

‘The drama of human life, played out in the microcosm of the cell’

Join us in this unique new work that celebrates the power of the human voice as a transformative theatrical experience. AvaTãra tells of extraordinary events that unfold in the lives of ordinary people- through the catalyst of a cancer diagnosis. The opera follows an inspirational journey of emotions and revelations and draws on the history of medicine to provide a rich landscape infused in a lyrical setting.

AvaTãra is based on five contemporary stories first told in the award winning documentary “Opera Therapy” that followed the creation of a new work drawing on the personal journeys of Bruce McCulloch, Dianne & Marla Graham, Lisa Kanidiadis & Mary Doggett-Williams with composer/facilitator Emma O’Brien.

This completed work of AvaTãra is a significant creative development of the piece written in 2004 whilst still honoring the original participants. The work uses multi media projections and puppetry as powerful story telling devices and the music is set with a chamber ensemble and for five voices.

Featuring world-renowned performers, Ian Cousins, Judith Dodsworth,

Merlyn Quaife, Michael Bishop & Emma O’Brien,

with puppeteers Jacob Williamson and Sarah Kriegler

Directed by Robert Draffin Music Director Mark Shiell

Designed by Indira Shanahan & Ivanka Sokol.

Composed by Emma O’Brien

@ Space 28, 28 Dodds Street, Southbank, Melbourne

WORLD PREMIERE

Strictly limited showcase season for four performances only

Thursday 16th April, Friday 17th, & Saturday 18th at 8pm.

Sunday 19th April at 5.30pm.

Tickets are now available through M-TIX

www.m-tix.com.au

Phone 9685 5111

Full price $35, Concession $25

www.avataratheopera.com

Photo Gallery - Concerts

2009-03-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

Art Gallery of NSW, May 16, 2010, with Sally Anne Russell

Auckland October 2008

Ushuaia April 2008

With Gil Shaham, Sydney 2002

With Pablo Ziegler, Sydney 2001

Lest we forget

2009-03-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

Lest we forget (TP185)

MERLYN QUAIFE : soprano *ANDREA KATZ : piano

*Walter Würzburger Vereinsamt

* Victor Jara Manifiesto

* Randy Newman Political Science

* Dennis Vaughan Mary 's plea

* Henri Duparc Elégie

* Alec Volkoviski Schtiler, schtiler

* Abel Meeropol (aka Lewis Allen) Strange fruit

* Cabaret songs from Kamp! (Maria Theresia the Empress ,

Theresienstadt Questions, The Little Café in Terezin,

Letter to my Child, A Suitcase Speaks)

* Arnold Bax Rann of Exile

* Oscar Straus Altes Ghettoliedchen, Op 108

* Francis Poulenc C

* Dennis Vaughan Words are history

* Kurt Weill Und was bekam des Soldaten Weib

* John Lennon Imagine

* Randy Newman In Germany before the war

* Franz Liszt Über allen Gipfeln ist Ruh

Welcome to the world 's first "classical " protest CD. The music is wide ranging, from Germany, France, England, Austria, Chile, USA, and Australia, covering issues as diverse as world wars, the Holocaust, dictatorships and the stolen generation. It is a no-holds-barred plea for humanity to get a grip on humanitarian values, before it is too late.

This CD has been undertaken as a labour-of-love by the artists and by Tall Poppies, and the profits will be shared with the Fitzroy Learning Network in Melbourne.

This organisation gives educational and other assistance to refugees in Australia. (www.fitzroylearningnetwork.org.au/)

"This collection of songs began as a protest against recent events in our country, to remind ourselves that the relaxed and

comfortable culture our government was intent on bringing us was in fact based on lies, fear, threats, apathy, hatred and the glorification of small-minded selfishness. Above them all, and most perniciously, came the vaunting fallacy that this selfish

indifference was quite acceptable, the idea that not caring is somehow simply human and a harmless and innocent thing to do.

Listen to our songs. Not caring is never harmless.

All the songs were written by and about people whose plight was caused because others did not care enough to see; or even worse, they saw and did not care enough to stop what was happening. The songs, born of suffering or the knowledge of suffering,

demonstrate compassion and even love. That is what gives them their strength: the real voice of humanity."

Merlyn Quaife and Andrea Katz

Distribution to Australian retailers by Tall Poppies.

ph: 02 9552 4020 * fax: 02 9552 4395 * email: tpoffice@iinet.net.au

For further media information and review copies please contact:

Carli Ratcliff, Publicist 02 9960 4878 /0407 438 002 carli@publicite.com.au

View Tall Poppies ' complete catalogue online at www..tallpoppies.net

Tall Poppies is unique in Australia in that it commissions works for recording.

In its 15 year history, Tall Poppies has commissioned over 50 new works.

Tall Poppies CDs are distributed in the UK, USA, Japan, Switzerland and on-line.

ABC Classic CD of the week

for the week beginning Monday 24 April 2006

Lest We Forget

Tall Poppies TP185

Merlyn Quaife, soprano Andrea Katz, piano

This is a remarkable and moving testament to human endurance and spirit. This collection of songs is inspired by war and its appalling human cost, and by our longing for peace. It's far from a run of the mill recital disc - the composers include Poulenc, Victor Jara, Bax, Weill and John Lennon, among others. There are art songs of all kinds, as well as cabaret songs from the infamous Theresienstadt camp.

The Sydney Morning Herald

June 2006

"... The sequence of some tracks is so hard-hitting as to almost defy listening in a single session."
Peter McCallum