Pleasing Prospects

Coming lunchtime concerts promise to be exciting. This week the ensemble includes Roy Tankersley (harpsichord), Geoffrey Coker (counter tenor) and Marion Olsen (mezzo soprano) presenting a programme of music by French composers. Included are works by Debussy and Ravel and a piece by the seventeenth-century composer, Andre Campra. Most famous now for his operas, Campra was for many years musical director at the cathedrals of Toulon, Aries and Notre Dame in Paris. For this reason his operas were originally produced under his brother's name, but even so he lost his job with the church, though he was finally reinstated.

On 13th July, visiting Australian pianist, David Lockett will give a solo recital. His programme includes Haydn and Liszt plus two contemporary works by Australian composers. Sydney composer, Richard Meale became greatly influenced by Spanish music when he visited Spain in the 1960s. Two works, Las Alboradas (1963) and Homage to Garcia Lorca (1964) put him in the forefront of the Australian avant garde. Pianist and composer, Meale's work is notable for its complex technical prowess. Larry Sitsky was born in North China in 1934, of Russian Jewish parentage. He came to Australia in 1951 and studied piano in Sydney. Though he has now withdrawn all his early works - those written before 1959 - his opus now numbers 25, and includes two operas, music for films and ballet plus a variety of instrumental works. Don't miss David Lockett's performance.

Julia Millen