La DAMOISELLE ELUE
We are thrilled to present Syrinx, The Music Estuary’s ensemble in residence joined by Soprano Gaynor Morgan and Pianist Ayesha Gough for a very special program of works from impressionism and contemporary composers.
Debussy’s cantata ‘La Damoiselle Élue,’ in 1887 and his ‘Ariettes Oubliées’ represent the composers early impressionistic style. Both works reflect his deep connection to poetry and its lyric expressions and delicate harmonies transport us to a dreamlike realm, capturing the essence of longing and beauty. ‘Clair de Lune’ and ‘Reflets d’Eau’ celebrate Debussy’s remarkable ability to evoke emotion in an instrumental setting without words.
Maurice Duruflé’s motet ‘Tota Pulchra Es’ written in 1960, for womens choir a capella is based on a Gregorian theme. Honouring the Virgin Mary the text reflects on themes of purity and grace and is infused with a sense of serenity and reverence.
‘Notre Père,’ – from the oratorio ‘In terra pax’ by Swiss composer Frank Martin – combines plainchant with an harmonically expressive piano setting and carries a profound message of hope and peace.
The program will conclude with Hungarian composer György Orbán’s ‘Missa Nona.’ This contemporary mass setting combines traditional liturgical text with folk influences and rhythmic vitality and carries an engaging experience of joy.
SATURDAY, 3 MAY,
6:00 – 7:30 PM
Village Uniting Church, 2 Burleigh St, Burleigh Heads
TICKETS
NORMAL $25 CONCESSION $20 CHILDREN FREE
SUNDAY, 4 MAY,
3:00 – 4:30 PM
The Music Estuary – St Mary’s Ballina
GAYNOR MORGAN
Gaynor studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Dram, London, and went on to complete the Guildhall Post-Graduate Opera Course under Johanna Peters. Gaynor also studied at the European Opera Centre in Belgium with the aid of scholarships from the Countess of Munster Trust.
Gaynor made her UK debut for Glyndebourne Touring Opera, singing Barbarina in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro under the direction of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. She was then invited to make her Glyndebourne Festival Opera debut in the same role in 1991 under Sir Andrew Davis. At Glyndebourne, Gaynor also covered several major roles in the Festivalincluding Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Miss Wordsworth in Britten’s Albert Herring, Zdenka in Arabella and Mrs Frestln in the World Premiere of The Electrification of The Soviet Union.
Gaynor performed roles throughout the UK with English Touring Opera including Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Miss Wordsworth, Albert Herring, Papagena in Die Zauberflote, Nannetta Verdi’s Falstaff, under Ivor Bolton and Stephen Barlow. Norina for the Cheltenham Festival. For Music Theatre London, she sang Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte at the Kammerspieltheater in Hamburg. Gaynor made her debut in France with Jean-Claude Malgloire and the Atelier Lyrique de Tourcoing singing Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte in Massy, Brest, and San Brieuc.
As a concert solist Gaynor has performed at major concert venues throughout the UK including the World Premiere of Elgar’s The Spanish Lady with Bryn Terfel at St John’s Smith Square, London. She has also sung the soprano solo in Rossini’s Stabat Mater with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg with the BBC Symphony Orchestra (recorded for BBC Radio 3).
Gaynor’s recordings include Milhaud’s Les Malheurs D’Orphee for ASV label with the Matrix Ensemble under Robert Ziegler and Mozart’s Le Nozze Di Figaro for Auvidis Astree under Jean Claude Malgloire in Paris.
In 2005, Gaynor made her Australian Operatic debut with Opera Queensland in the role of the Governess in Britten’s Turn of the Screw. She also covered the role of the Countess in Mozart’s Le Nozze do Figaro, singing the final performance in the season. She has since covered the role for Opera Australia in Melbourne and Sydney. Other roles for Opera Queensland include Praskowia in Merry Widow, and First Lady in Mozart’s Magic Flute.
Ayesha Gough
Australian pianist Ayesha Gough is known for her captivating performances, combining superb technique with deeply emotional interpretations. Her performance with the Russian National Orchestra, under the baton of Mikhail Pletnev, was described by Moscow’s Musical Life Magazine as virtuosic and sensitive.
First prize-winner at the 2015 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition, Ayesha has performed with the Queensland Symphony, the Queensland Conservatorium Symphony, and the Queensland Pops Orchestra under such conductors as Edvard Tchivzhel, Nicholas Braithwaite, Daniel Carter, and Marco Bellasi. Her recital opportunities have taken her throughout Australia, as well as New Zealand, Italy, Japan, and China. She regularly works with the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra and the Coolamon Singers.
Ayesha has developed her own style of unique and engaging performances grounded in traditional pianism. As the recipient of the 2022 Michael Kieran Harvey Scholarship, she created the project ‘Landings’, an exploration of the Australian landscape via improvisation, videography, and poetry. More of Ayesha’s compositions can be found on SoundCloud.
Ayesha studied under Oleg Stepanov for 10 years, both at a pre-tertiary and tertiary level at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University. Throughout 2018, she continued study in Italy with Boris Petrushansky at the Accademia Pianistica Internazionale “Incontri col Maestro”. In 2020, she graduated from the Royal College of Music, London, with a Masters with Distinction. At RCM she studied with Andrew Zolinsky and Gordon Fergus-Thompson whilst undertaking research concerned with pushing the boundaries of the piano recital.
She has been awarded the Theme and Variations Foundation Award, the Brisbane Club Award, the QCGU Postgraduate Prize, the Ena Williams Award, the Joyce Campbell Lloyd Scholarship, the Allison/Henderson Scholarship, and in early 2017 she participated in the Hamamatsu International Piano Academy. Ayesha has been supported by Variety, the Children’s Charity, of which she is an International Ambassador.
SYRINX – a capella Ensemble
Syrinx, meaning the ‘vocal organ of songbirds’ is an all-female Northern Rivers a capella ensemble who breathe new life into classic musical compositions and explore a more contemporary classical repertoire. Like songbirds welcoming the new day with joyful song, they delight in sharing their joy of music. Formed originally out of a musicianship class in Mullumbimby the group has expanded since under the leadership of their musical director Hamsa Arnold. Syrinx are performing concerts regularly since 2019 and have become known as one of the finest choral ensembles in the Northern Rivers.