World’s Apart: From Spanish Baroque to Contemporary Australia Concert

Performers: Beatriz Pomés-Jimenez, Johanna Selleck, Peter Bartels, Greg Lee (flutes), Caroline

Almonte (piano), Jane Matheson (harpsichord), Jane Robertson (clarinet), Barbara Hornung (viola),

Caerwen Martin (cello), Arwen Johnston (percussion), Sophie Marcheff (guitar)

The music of nineteenth-century Spanish composer Pablo de Sarasate (1844–1908) and esteemed Melbourne

composer Helen Gifford (1935–) are an unlikely mix, but their juxtaposition provides a tantalizing contrast

as will be demonstrated in this adventurous concert. A line-up of distinguished musicians will take us

through a journey from the Baroque era to Romantic-period Spain to modern-day Australia. Works for flute

and piano form the centerpieces of the program, offset by various combinations of flute, oboe, clarinet,

harpsichord, guitar, vibraphone, viola, and cello.

Beatriz Pomés-Jimenez is a PhD student at Melbourne University, studying under the mentorship of

Michael Christoforidis and Johanna Selleck. Beatriz shares her hometown of Pamplona in Spain with

Sarasate, and his music forms the focus of her doctorate. She has completed a set of beautiful arrangements

for flute and piano of eight of Sarasate’s entrancing and virtuosic dances for violin and piano, which will be

featured at the concert. This is a major win for flute players around the world and promises to be a

substantial addition to our showpiece repertoire.

The much-awarded Australian composer Helen Gifford is also a graduate of the University of Melbourne,

where she studied in the 1950s Roy Shepherd and Dorian Le Gallienne. The Victorian Flute Guild is both

honoured and proud to present the work of this extraordinary composer. The programmed works are:

Fantasy for flute and piano; Skiagram for flute, vibraphone, and viola; Lyric for flute, clarinet, and cello;

and Sonnet for flute, guitar, and harpsichord.

Enquiries and bookings: phone Johanna on 0419 107 308 or email johannas @unimelb.edu.au