New York based opera star Paul Whelan in Australia for one concert only. The Australian Premiere of Melbourne composer Alan Griffiths’ new song-cycle ‘Such A Fine, Sunny Day’.
A dramatic piano duet performed by Australian virtuoso and international multi-award recipient Nicholas Young and Taiwanese concert pianist Megoe Chen will accompany Paul.
Special Guests are Australian multi-award winning string players cellist Gemma Kneale and violinist Zoe Freisberg. ANAM Alum Zoe, Gemma and Nicholas will perform some of Alan’s well-received chamber work. The concert includes two Australian Premieres of Alan’s recent piano pieces.
Alan wrote the lively ‘Such A Fine, Sunny Day’ during Melbourne’s second lock-down in fear of a possible war with Russia. It is dedicated to the 1940s 21-year-old Munich University student Sophie Scholl who defied Hitler.
Paul gave the 2022 song-cycle’s world premiere recorded last year at The Piano Centre for Arts and Music, Christchurch, New Zealand, to a standing ovation. Nicholas Young and New Zealand’s multi-award winning concert pianist Anna Maksymova accompanied Paul. One of the world’s top audio/tech companies TM Stagetec Systems sponsored the recording and concert. Stagetec is currently promoting a video about this recording project on their new NEXUS system in their 37 offices worldwide.
SONY sponsored and filmed Alan’s second album launch in 2018. The Rare View World Premiere at Beleura House, Mornington, garnered international attention as it premiered the new Big Beleura. A 108-key 4-pedal, Stuart & Sons Concert Grand Piano.
Alan’s self-produced albums and concerts have attracted glowing international reviews. ANZCA Music Examinations chose 15 of his pieces for inclusion in their 2018 – 2014 piano syllabus. ANZCA operates in six South East Asian countries and has sponsored two of Alan’s concerts in Australia and New Zealand.
