MLIVE is reinventing the piano recital with their event series Wood, Metal and Vibrating Air, where four pianists from contemporary, classical or progressive backgrounds will give a performance from June 27 to September 26.
After a successful run at the Robert Blackwood Hall, this year’s event will be at the newly opened Sound Gallery at the Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts at Monash University Clayton campus. This venue is a new 130-seat intimate space with incredible acoustics that will be on show through this series.
On June 27, the first performance will be from acclaimed Japanese pianist Tomoe Kawabata. She is a champion of contemporary Japanese composers and will explore the links between the likes of Akio Yashiro, Akiro Miyoshi, and their European counterparts.
Two Juilliard alumni will also be performing during the series. Australian pianist Benjamin Martin will move from Busoni to Bach and Beethoven on July 25, and US-born Elyane Laussade is rounding out the series on September 26. She will be uncovering forgotten masterpieces with her focus on Schubert’s final piano sonata, as well as paying homage to classics by Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninov.
One of the more unconventional recitals in the series comes from local composer Luke Howard. He uses both multimedia performances and improvisation techniques while onstage to create a multi-sensory performance that he has toured all over the world. Catch him on August 22.