ThoroughBass is a baroque ensemble with a difference. Founded in 2008 by harpsichordist Diana Weston, the group consists of between three and ten members. We pepper the special sound of baroque music on period instruments with transcriptions, arrangements, unusual combinations and contemporary works. Drawing upon a pool of Sydney’s finest singers and instrumentalists – both experienced and emerging musicians – this formula guarantees a fresh and vigorous quality.
The ensemble holds a regular concert series at St Luke’s Church, Mosman, under the banner of the church’s own St Luke’s Concerts series. Our focus is on the local community, and with the intimate setting and warm resonance of the St Luke’s acoustic making this a particularly appealing venue, we are rapidly growing in popularity.
ThoroughBass’ guest artists have included members of Sydney’s most prestigious early music ensembles – Monika Kornel (The Sydney Consort), Stan Kornel (The Sydney Consort, Sydney Symphony Orchestra), Tim Chung (Australian Brandenburg Choir), Susan Christie (The Renaissance Players), Anthea Cottee (Australian Brandenburg Orchestra), Anna Fraser (The Song Company, Pinchgut Opera), Belinda Montgomery (Cantillation), Inara Molinari (Australian Opera, The Tall Poppeas), Hester Hannah (The Tall Poppeas) amongst others.
Next year’s program is already taking shape and looking to be a wide-ranging and fascinating one. It includes the Flamboyant (Bach’s Brandenburg No.4 arranged for 2 harpsichords and 2 recorders), the Intimate (songs inspired by Shakespeare) and the association of Pain with Beauty (based on concepts from Greek mythology and Neitsche). In addition, Elena Kats-Chernin’s arrangement of her Reinventions will be premiered, and a new work commissioned from promising young composer Nadje Noordhuis. We are also very excited about the prospect of performing a more substantial work – an oratorio by Marcello, noteworthy for its abundance of marvellous melody and bad text. Members of The Song Co. again join us for this great project.
In July 2012 Thoroughbass takes part in a collaboration with The Tall Poppeas, in the staging of a short chamber opera by Francesca Caccini, La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina. This is the first opera written by a woman and an Australian premiere. We simply can’t wait!
image shows group from Sensuous Pleasures
biographies
Diana Weston – Director, Harpsichordist Diana has a Masters in Music (Hons, Performance Research) from the University of New England. Originally studying as a pianist with European concert artists Igor Hmelnitsky, Winifred Burston and Tessa Birnie, Diana has spent many years as an ensemble player and accompanist in Sydney. In 2004 she began studies on harpsichord performance and continuo accompaniment with Monika Kornel, further refining her skills under the guidance of Prof. Lars Ulrik Mortensen. Since exchanging piano for harpsichord, Diana has performed with large and small ensembles throughout Sydney including the Sydney University Grad Choir and Orchestra, the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra, The Tall Poppeas, The Sydney Consort, The Marais Project and others. She has appeared with the New England Bach Festival on several occasions, as well as local festivals such as the Willoughby Spring Festival and Manly Arts Festival. A unique recording featuring music for two harpsichords was made with Monika Kornel in 2010. With her ensemble Thoroughbass which she established in 2008, she runs a regular concert series in Mosman. Diana makes a brief return to the piano world in November in a recital with international dramatic soprano Claire Primrose performing songs by American composers and Wagner’s Wessendonk Songs.
Danielle Grant graduated with merit from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Voice and also has a Licentiate from the Australian Music Examinations Board. She has sung in the chorus of Opera Australia in such productions as “Turandot”, “Aida” and “Opera in the Park” as part of the Sydney Festival. She has also performed with ‘”Cantillation” and the Sydney Philharmonia Motet Choir in various performances with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She has also sung with “Cantillation” for film projects such as “Farscape”, “Salem’s Lot” and “Like Minds” and recordings for ABC Classics: “Silent Night” and “Praise – the music of Inspiration”. A highlight of her career was being chosen as one of only 2 singers to represent Australia, performing with the “World Chorus” at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. Danielle performs as a soloist at weddings and corporate functions and is one half of “Dolcezze”, a concert harp and voice duo with harpist Marjorie Maydwell. Danielle joined Sydney’s unique female baroque vocal ensemble, The Tall Poppeas in 2006.
Jenny Duck-Chong is an accomplished recital singer, presenting programmes ranging from the early Baroque through to contemporary chamber music, with a particular affinity for French and Spanish music of the twentieth century. She has recorded numerous concerts for broadcast by the ABC and 2MBS-FM and has a solo recital CD in progress.
Active in the field of new music, she has premiered numerous Australian and international works by both acclaimed and emerging composers. She is the co-founder of acclaimed new music ensemble Halcyon, an ensemble renowned for innovative programming and exemplary contemporary vocal chamber music performance and an active member of the New Music Network.
She has featured as a soloist for ABC Classics and Walsingham as well as in many film and TV scores and numerous other recordings with Cantillation, the Song Company and Halcyon’s own recordings.
Joanne Arnott completed her Bachelor of Music (performance) degree majoring in recorder at the Sydney Conservatorium in 2010 under the instruction of Hans-Deiter Michatz. After being awarded first class honours, Joanne was also awarded the Sydney University prize for the highest performing student in the faculty for 2010. She has received tutoring from world renowned recorder professionals Paul Leenhouts (Netherlands), Han Tol (Netherlands), Erik Bosgraaf (Netherlands), Karel van Steenhoven (Germany), Daniel Bruggen (Germany), Susanne Frohlich (Germany), and David Bellugi (Italy). Joanne was a finalist in the Don Cowell Memorial Trust Recorder Competition in July 2011, and within the Sydney area has performed with ensembles such as Bel A Capella (2009), Innominata (2010), the Sydney conservatorium of music’s early music ensemble (2011), and numerous concerts with the early music chamber ensemble Thoroughbass since 2008. As a member of leading Australian recorder quartet Bellatrix, Joanne toured New Zealand in July 2007 and, with Bellatrix, has performed in concerts and demonstrations for schools in and around the Sydney area. In 2008 Joanne was a finalist in the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s early music concerto competition and again reached the finals in 2009. Joanne is the recorder tutor at Cranbrook and St.Catherine’s schools, and clarinet tutor at Birchgrove Public School; as a recorder and clarinet teacher, she has over 13 years experience and has tutored on both instruments at orchestral workshops.
Catherine Upex studied the cello with Dorothy Sumner and Georg Pedersen obtaining her AmusA in 1990. As a member of the SBS Youth Orchestra she toured internationally and participated in several recordings for SBS Television. Catherine completed her Bachelor of Music (Honours) at Sydney University in 1997. At University she commenced studying viola da gamba with Jennifer Eriksson and has performed in various ensembles including The Renaissance Players, the Conservatorium Baroque Orchestra, Salút, The Sydney Consort, Lautetia, La Folia, Zarabanda, Backgammon, Thoroughbass and The Opera Project. She has also made several chamber music recordings for 2MBS FM and ABC FM. Since 2000 Catherine has performed on viola da gamba regularly in a series of concerts with a baroque ensemble called The Marais Project which combines Marais’ music with other creative arts including pottery, poetry and baroque dance. The group has recorded two CDs, “Viol Dreaming” (2007) and “Love Reconciled” (2009). She has taught cello at St Catherine’s School, Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School, St Pius X College, The Kings School, St. Ives North Public School and Lane Cove Public School.
