Fiona Campbell mezzo-soprano
David Walker countertenor
Ironwood
Neal Peres Da Costa director

Francesco Cavalli (1602–1676) L’Ormindo; La Calisto
Agostino Steffani (1654–1728) La libertà contenta*
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) “Caro autor di mia doglia” – Duet, hwv 182b*; Alcina; Giulio Cesare in Egitto; Susanna; Alexander Balus and Theodora:
Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643) / Benedetto Ferrari (c.1603-1681) L’incoronazione di Poppea
* WORLD-PREMIERE RECORDING

Fiona Campbell mezzo-soprano, is an accomplished international performer and recording artist. She sings regularly with the major orchestras and ensembles in her native Australia and around the world. www.fionacampbell.com.au

American countertenor David Walker is highly sought after as an operatic and oratorio artist in a diverse repertoire. In 2010 David started a dual master’s degree in arts and business administration, in preparation for the next stage in his career: arts and music management. www.davidwalkercountertenor.com

Neal Peres Da Costa director. Neal is a Senior Lecturer at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (University of Sydney). He was co-founder of Florilegium and now performs and records regularly with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Pinchgut Opera, Ironwood, and many others. His book on performing practices in Romantic piano playing will be published by Oxford University Press in 2011.

Ironwood is a chamber ensemble and orchestra, specialising in the repertoire of the baroque, classical, romantic and contemporary eras on period instruments. Ironwood's musicians are some of Australia's most respected chamber musicians. Ironwood alos records for ABC Classics and regularly present concerts Australia-wide. www.ironwoodchamberensemble.com/

“Baroque Duets” is the inaugural release of the innovative classical music production and recording enterprise Vexations840. Based in Sydney, they plan to assist and encourage the making and recording of music that would otherwise not happen.

Recorded 29 July – 1 August 2010 in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Ultimo Centre, Sydney.

Available from Vexations840 and some music outlets.
Buy online: http://baroqueduets.com
Or contact Anna Cerneaz:
ph: 02 9389 8117 or email: anna@vexations840.com
$25.00

Cantillation, Jane Sheldon, Ironwood, Sydney Chamber Choir, Gondwana Voices & Southern Cross Soloists
ABC 476 3870

Exquisite, evocative vocal music from a rising star in Australian music. Paul Stanhope is a Sydney musician who is Musica Viva’s Featured Composer for 2010. This album brings together some of his loveliest works for choir and for solo voice, with a variety of accompaniments. As Gordon Kerry writes in the CD booklet, ‘He does not seek to ‘paint’ or evoke specific locales, so much as to give a powerful sense of being at ocean’s margin, in the hush of a rainforest, or by a lagoon shimmering in the moonlight, and to explore human emotions and feelings in those geographical contexts.’

Sea Chronicles
Songs for the Shadowland
Lux aeterna
Three Geography Songs
Songs of Innocence and Joy
Steal Away (arr. Paul Stanhope)

ABC 476 3673

Johann Sebastian Bach wrote sublime music for the oboe; here it is performed by Australia’s leading early music experts Ironwood, featuring our own world-renowned Diana Doherty, one of our most charismatic performers (and one of ABC Classics’ best-selling artists!).

This uplifting album is enhanced by a bonus DVD. Interspersed with footage of the recording sessions is an interview with Diana Doherty in which she talks about the music and her experience of playing and recording it.

Concerto in D minor for Oboe, BWV1059R
Concerto in D major for Oboe d’amore, BWV1053R
Concerto in A major for Oboe d’amore, BWV1055R
Sinfonia in F minor from Cantata BWV12, ‘Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen’
Sinfonia in C minor from Cantata BWV21, ‘Ich hatte viel Berkummernis’
Sonata in G minor, BWV1030b

"You can well understand that they have performed internationally with some of the most distinguished period ensembles in existence when you hear their world class accompaniment in this recording."

Critic's Pick *****
Fine Music 2MBS