December 2011
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I should have clarified about the Alice-in-Wonderland album cover thing - the only thing about the Alice imagery that I’m interested in is some crazy mismatched proportions. No specific Alice imagery at all! It just occurred to me that the whole toy-instrument thing has surreal storybook overtones, as do many of the characters that have inspired my choices of music.
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Score!
I think I offended somebody with this post. Score!!
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I'm still blushing.
Feeling almost like properly famous - Whilst out doing some Christmas shopping with my mum this afternoon in Glebe, a stranger approached and complimented me on my Philip Glass album Mad Rush.
I’m still blushing.
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I got four and a half stars in The Weekend...
From The Weekend Australian - Review
17-18 December 2011
REVIEW
Classical
Mad Rush: Solo Piano Music of Philip Glass
Sally Whitwell, piano
ABC Classics
Sydney pianist Sally Whitwell presents a recital of piano music by minimalist composer Philip Glass for her debut album with ABC Classics.
As one may expect, Glass’s piano music is full of repetitive note patterns and rhythmic...
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Why does Amélie's sweet smell of success linger... →
wearehomegrown:
Ten years ago, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s syrupy story about a simpering busybody, played by Audrey Tautou, became a worldwide hit. So why is the dream still not over in 2011?
It lives on for me because a part of me will always identify with Mademoiselle Poulain and her socially awkward manner.
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Steinway vs. Stuart →
I’ve had to make a difficult choice between a Steinway piano and a Stuart and Sons piano. Perhaps not the choice I would make in an ideal world, but I have my reasons. Read them.
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Peninsula Summer Music Festival: 5 minutes with...
Peninsula Summer Music Festival (PSMF): What are your memories of the Mornington Peninsula?
Sally Whitwell (SW): The light! Those lovely long summer days are so much lovelier and longer the further south one travels and I just love it. I was so taken by the quality of light and must remember to bring a proper camera with me this time round.
PSMF: What are you most looking forward to in this Festival?
SW: I’m so looking forward to performing a recital with violinist Patrick Savage. I love performing chamber music, accompanying and working in ensembles of all sizes. Patrick and I have been thrown together by a musical matchmaker in the shape of the festival’s Artistic Director Julia Fredersdorff, and even though we’ve yet to meet (aside from Skype) I have a good feeling about it. Gosh, it’s almost like a blind date!
PSMF: What have you got going on between now and the Festival?
SW: At the moment, I’m working on putting together my second solo album. It’s a cinematically themed offering entitled The Good, the Bad and the Awkward (make of that what you will… I’ll leave it your imagination). I’ll be playing some of the repertoire from the album at my solo recital, the piano suite from the film Amelie by Yann Tiersen. For me, every December also means Gondwana Voices and Sydney Children’s Choir Christmas concert Voices of Angels. There will be lots of Latin American Christmas music of offer this year. Such fun, I’m really looking forward to it.
PSMF: How will you be preparing for the Festival?
SW: Making sure I have a few days of holiday?! I’ll be practising and rehearsing in my shopfront studio, trying to keep my youngest kitty from playing piano duets with me. She is particularly fond of the music of Joseph Haydn and Elena Kats Chernin. Such eclectic tastes! I like to think she takes after me.
PSMF: What are you listening to right now?
SW: I love Christmas so much, so I’m listening to Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. It’s such a wonderful thing, so full of wide eyed wonder. This kind of repertoire is why I love working with Gondwana Choirs. Is there anything happier than young people singing beautifully? Nothing, except the Peninsula Summer Music Festival!
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colorontheradio asked: Are there recordings of your original compositions online? I so, could you provide a link for a good one to get me started on your work .
mr-craig:
Knock knock. Who’s there? Knock knock. Who’s there? Knock knock. Who’s there? Knock knock. Who’s there? Knock knock. Who’s there? Philip Glass.
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Knock knock. Who’s there? John Cage. I’ve been standing out here for like four and a half minutes, didn’t you hear me?
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Knock knock. Knockknock. Knocknock. Knocnock. Knonock. Knnock. Knock. Knock. Who’s there? Steve Reich
Knock knock!