Alexandra Mathew
Alexandra Mathew is from Readings State Library Victoria
Review — 25 Apr 2016
Mendelssohn: Works for Piano Trio by the Streeton Trio
Australia’s Streeton Trio is going from strength to strength. Their 2011 debut recording of Ravel and Brahms trios was well received, and they currently enjoy a busy performance schedule –…
Review — 25 Apr 2016
Divine Karina by Karina Gauvin
‘Precision’ was the word that sprang to mind on first hearing soprano Karina Gauvin in her compilation Divine Karina. In the opening ‘Strike the viol’, Gauvin’s consonants–particularly the plosives–are…
Review — 22 Sep 2014
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
I first met Don Tillman while living in London. One morning a parcel appeared through the small letterbox in my front door. Inside was a fluorescent orange book entitled The…
Review — 29 Mar 2016
Magdalena Kožená: Monteverdi
There are two types of mezzo soprano voices: foggy, broad and thick; or dark, silvery, and fine. Magdalena Kožená possesses the latter. For this reason, her voice – proven versatile…
Review — 29 Mar 2016
Ravel: Complete Works For Solo Piano
When I listen to the music of Ravel I feel like I’m seated at the foot of Le Lion de Belfort in Montparnasse, at dusk, watching the world pass by…
Review — 29 Feb 2016
Lalo, Bruch, Saraste by Renaud Capuçon
During the early stages of composition Max Bruch wrote to his teacher, ‘I do not feel sure of my feet on this terrain. Do you think that it is very…
Review — 29 Feb 2016
The Kiss by Nicole Car
I first heard soprano Nicole Car ten years ago at a master class in Melbourne. Her voice was beautiful. The conductor turned to the audience and said, ‘Melbourne sure knows…
Review — 24 Jan 2016
Giovincello by Edgar Moreau
Twenty-one year old cellist Edgar Moreau is ‘keen to break down … stylistic barriers’. Whatever he does, it’s certainly impressive, and I can’t help but compare him to the young…
Review — 24 Jan 2016
Mozart: The Weber Sisters by Sabine Devieilhe
Mozart’s concert aria Vorrei Spiegarvi, oh Dio, composed for the soprano Aloysia Weber, is one of the most challenging and beautiful in the repertoire. The singer calls out to…
Review — 24 Jan 2016
Les Éléments: Tempêtes, Orages et Fêtes Marines by Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations
Christmas Day. It’s thirty-five degrees, I’m stuck on the freeway, and my air-conditioning has packed it in. A hot wind pummels the side of my car. I’m desperate to get…