Sunday, Mar 18, 2012 at 2.30pm St Luke's, Ourimbah Rd, Mosman

Three chapters in the imaginary Book of Shakespeare are ‘introduced’ by recorder player Joanne Arnott -  a book devoted to music associated with Shakespeare. The first chapter  features music performed in the plays as they first appeared. The second sees Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream the basis of an opera in excerpts from Purcell’s The Fairy Queen. In the third,  Shakespeare’s mark is as the text in the songs of Rubbra, Vaughan Williams and Rutter. Singing the tales are Danielle Grant (soprano) and Jenny Duck-Chong (mezzo),  with Cathy Upex (gamba/cello) and Diana Weston (harpsichord)

TICKETS AT DOOR $25/$15
(or by donation)
Enquiries: Diana Weston
Phone: 0411 375 821

Sunday, 30th October, 2.30 pm St Luke's Church, Ourimbah Rd, Mosman

The sound of eight cellos is a wrap-around warm and sensous sensation. Eight form an orchestra with voice in Villa Lobos’ romantic Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5. With combinations of two, three and four we also present music by Granados, Vivaldi and Marcello. Led by guest director Tim Blomfield and featuring the sultry voice of soprano Hester Hannah this is a concert of full of excitement and energy.

TICKETS AT DOOR $25/$15
(or by donation)
Enquiries: Diana Weston
Phone: 0411 375 821

Friday, 23rd Sept,2011 at 8.00pm The Studio, The Concourse, Willoughby

Soprano Hester Hannah draws upon her extensive operatic background to fully engage you in her highly expressive and dramatic rendition of  Handel’s cantatas. Written when the composer was  young, raw and fresh, these heart-rending songs presage his own operatic development. With up and coming recorder player and recording artist Alicia Crossley, playing music by Bach and Telemann, and accompanied by Diana Weston on harpsichord and Angus Ryan on cello, the program is varied and fascinating. This concert is supported by the Willoughby Spring Festival 2011 Grant Program and is to be held in Willoughby’s wonderful new chamber music venue, The Studio on The Concourse.

Tickets $25/$20 concession, children free

Sunday, 18th Sept 2011, 3.00pm Manly Art Gallery, East Esplanade, Manly

Jogging perambulators, portly waders and sparkles on the sea – Manly in the morning. Thoroughbass and the Manly Arts Festival present a concert celebrating the light, colour and life of Manly. In joyous music by Bach and Vivaldi played on two sparkly harpsichords  with two lively recorders.  Monika Kornel and Diana Weston (harpsichords), Alana Blackburn and Joanne Arnott (recorders).

Tickets $25 at the door

Sunday, 28th Aug. 2011 at 2.30pm St Luke's Church, Ourimbah Rd, Mosman

A symbol of England from medieval times, the rose stands also as a reminder of England’s long attachment to nature. Embedded in its culture, whether it be a love of gardens, long walks through the counryside, masques or the backdrop to Midsomer Murders, the natural world is everywhere, forming the imagery of English poetry, literature and music. This concert spans 3 centuries with music by Dowland, Purcell, Pepusch, Rubbra and others. Expect music that is restrained, funny, even ecstatic, but nothing ostentatious. Danielle Grant (soprano), Cathy Upex (gamba, cello), Alana Blackburn (recorder), Diana Weston (harpsichord).

TICKETS AT DOOR $25/$15
(or by donation)
Enquiries: Diana Weston
Phone: 0411 375 821

Sunday, May 29th. at 2.30pm St Luke's Church, Ourimbah Rd, Mosman

Most of Handel’s women suffer the fate of abandonment by those they love. With his cantata Lucrezia as a starting point, this concert explores the idea of abandonment – from the pain of rejection and loss to the fire and passion underlying dances of abandonment – fandangos, sarabands and tangos. With Sydney’s premier lutenist Tommie Andersson and the wonderfully expressive soprano Hester Hannah in music by Handel, Ferrari, Piazzola and Yates.

Tickets $25/$20 at the door or by calling 0411 375 821

Sunday, 6th March, 2011 at 2.30pm St Luke's Church, Ourimbah Rd, Mosman

Two pillars of their ages – Bach and Glass. Actus Tragicus, Bach’s sublimely beautiful funeral cantata for 4 voices, 2 recorders, 2 violas da gamba and continuo is transformed in harmonious euphony. And scenes from Phillip Glass’ monumental opera Akhnaten, set in death-obsessed ancient Egypt. Members of The Song Company and The Marais Project merge with Thoroughbass to present these deeply profound works.

Tickets $30/$25: phone 0411 375 821, also obtainable at the door

Friday, 6.00 p.m 17th Sep, St Andrew's Church, Raglan St, Manly AND Friday, 6.00 p.m 24th Sep, The Dougherty Centre, Chatswood

Two concerts in September for Willoughby Spring Festival and Manly Arts Festival.  Alessandro Scarlatti’s luscious cantata Bella Madre de Fiori, Handel’s cantata Non sospirar, a cello sonata by Vivaldi, a sonata for 2 recorders by Telemann and some interesting oddments all demonstrate ways in which composers investigate ideas outside the conventional and established. Musicians include Inara Molinari (soprano), Alicia Crossley and Jo Arnott (recorders), Angus Ryan (cello) and Diana Weston (harpsichord).

Tickets $20/$10 at the door. Phone 0411375821

11 April 2.30pm St Luke’s Church Ourimbah Rd Mosman

The lighter side of music, where humour, playfulness & flirtation are the order of the day. Music by Pepusch, de la Pierre, Marais, Corrette, Telemann & Rameau. With Anna Fraser (soprano), Jo Arnott (recorder), Alicia Crossley (recorder), Clara Blazer (cello) and Diana Weston (harpsichord).

Tickets at door $25/$15
(or by donation)
Enquiries: Diana Weston
Phone: 0411 375 821

20 June 2.30pm St Luke’s Church Ourimbah Rd Mosman

Equal but opposite. Arrangements for 2 harpsichords of music by Vivaldi, Rodrigo & Pasquini. Featuring ‘Reflections’, the dual harpsichord partnership of Monika Kornel and Diana Weston. With repertoire for this combination practically non-existent, we beg, borrow & steal other instruments’. Joined by Angus Ryan, fresh from London, we continue the trend with arrangements for cello and harpsichord by Piazzola and da Falla.

Tickets at door $25/$15
(or by donation)
Enquiries: Diana Weston
Phone: 0411 375 821

8 August 2.30pm St Luke’s Church Ourimbah Rd Mosman

Dipping further into the treasure-house of riches that Versailles and the court of Louis XIV offer, French music & gamba specialists Jennifer Eriksson & Cathy Tabrett present music for viola da gamba by Marais, Boismortier and Caix d’Hervelois. Soprano Belinda Montgomery reveals the genius of the largely unrecognised composer Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre in her cantata ‘Judith’.

Tickets at door $25/$15
(or by donation)
Enquiries: Diana Weston
Phone: 0411375821

Sunday 24 Oct 2.30pm at St Luke’s Church Ourimbah Rd Mosman AND Friday 29 Oct 6pm at St Andrew's Church Raglan St Manly

The language of Handel’s chamber cantatas is highly ambiguous. Peopled by mythological figures, nymphs & shepherds, the characters in the cantatas from his early Italian period voice the passions of his ‘feminine’ side & form the imagery of homoerotic lust. All brought to life by soprano Hester Hannah.

Tickets $25/$15 or by donation at the door Enquiries Diana Weston Phone 0411375821