Early music specialists, The Marais Project, and electric viola da gamba ensemble, Elysian Fields, both led by the versatile Jenny Eriksson, return to The Independent Theatre on January 28, 2018 in a once off program titled, “My heart so grieves”. 

This innovative program features music inspired by the poets of the 16^th century.  The first half of the concert features The Marais Project – consisting of Dutch-born tenor Koen van Stade, lutenist Tommie Andersson and Jenny Eriksson, viola da gamba – performing songs of love and loss from the Elizabethan era including the incomparable John Dowland.  Van Stade features on The Marais Project’s most recent CD, “Spinning Forth”.

After interval, Elysian Fields will play music including pianist/composer Matt McMahon’s gorgeous song cycle, “What Should I Say”, settings of poems by Thomas Wyatt, a courtier to King Henry VIII.  Elysian Fields consists of some of Australia’s finest jazz musicians and composers including Matt Keegan, saxophones and Matt McMahon, piano.  Joining them and Eriksson is legendary bassist, Jonathan Zwartz, singer, Susie Bishop and drummer, Finn Ryan.

John Shand, the Walkley-winning SMH reviewer, wrote of the world premiere of Matt McMahon’s song cycle: “Here was an enthralling dialogue between past and present. McMahon has preserved Wyatt’s prevailing mood of courtly gentleness, but spiced it harmonically and texturally…The songs were exquisitely sung by Susie Bishop.”

The Marais Project is recognised widely as one of Australia’s most innovative early music ensembles. They have performed widely across Australia and released six critically acclaimed CDs.  Elysian Fields is a collaboration between Jennifer Eriksson and some of Australia’s most acclaimed jazz and world musicians. The six-piece group has rapidly gained a reputation for performances of rare beauty and subtlety that blur the boundaries between classical chamber music, jazz and world music. In 2017 they appeared at Vivid New Music at The Con, the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival and recorded their first CD.

3.30pm January 28, 2018, The Independent Theatre, 269 Miller St, North Sydney

For more information about MY HEART SO GRIEVES visit
http://www.theindependent.org.au/

Entry:     Includes afternoon tea, which is served from 2.30pm as part of The Independent Theatre’s “Prelude in Tea” Sunday Chamber Music Series