Normally when you hear the Sydney Symphony Fellows in concert they’re playing Bach, Beethoven, Brahms… the big names in classical music. But next month, four of the Fellows will get to branch out, supporting jazz trio Elixir in the Sydney shows of their First Seed Ripening tour.
Spearheaded by Katie Noonan, one of Australia’s most talented singing voices, the trio has become known for their soft, dulcet tones and amazing accompaniment from some of Australia’s leading string musicians. And that’s where the Fellows come in. On Thursday 15 and Friday 16 September, the Fellowship String Quartet will present an opening slot performance before joining Katie, guitarist Stephen Magnusson and saxophonist Zac Hurren on stage at the Sydney Opera House.
“It’s great to be able to play with Elixir, and to perform with someone as reputable as Katie Noonan is always a privilege. Katie is obviously a very talented musician and I think getting to play with her is really reinforcing how important it is for the Fellows to stay open to all forms of music.
The cross-format, cross-genre shows we’ll be performing are exciting because despite the differences between the two groups, we both work really well together aesthetically. Our string quartet is complimentary to the Elixir sound and vice versa, so I think the audience will be very receptive to the pairing and our performances.
Ultimately it’s a chance for all the musicians involved to bring something new to the table and produce something that is fresh and artistically expressive.” – Adam
The nationwide tour celebrates the launch last week of Elixir’s second album, First Seed Ripening. It begins in Brisbane on Friday 9 September, taking in all the major Australian cities with the help of vibrant local string quartets. The Sydney and Canberra shows with the Fellows will not only give audiences what Katie Noonan calls “gentle, intimate music…all about freedom and spontaneity”, but they’ll be a wonderful opportunity for the Fellows to diversify and refine their contemporary musical repertoire.
We’ll keep you posted on the event with insights from the participating Fellows. Meanwhile, if you want more information about the Sydney shows please head to the Sydney Opera House website.
