Wednesday Lunchtime Concert: Bella Partita

Bella Partita

On Wednesday 15th May from 12:40 to 1:20pm, the Wesley Music Centre Wednesday Lunchtime series is pleased to present Austral Harmony performing dance movements from J. S. Bach’s beautiful Partitas for solo keyboard and arranged for solo recorder, each defined by distinctive rhythmic motifs, and imparting a gentle fluidity. The recital concludes with Bellinzani’s Variations on ‘La Folia’ - a set of inventive and brilliant renditions on the theme. Austral Harmony seeks to bring historically inspired performance into mainstream awareness. The performers are Jane Downer and Ariana Odermatt.

Jane Downer (recorder) has performed on historical oboes with the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra, Oxford Bach Soloists, Instruments of Time & Truth, Oslo Barokkorkester, Concerto Köln, Academy of Ancient Music, English Baroque Soloists, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Pinchgut Opera, Canberra Bach Ensemble and the Adelaide Cantata Band. She has appeared at the Innsbruck Early Music Festival, Valletta Baroque Festival (Malta), New England Bach Festival, Canberra International Music Festival, and Organs of the Ballarat Goldfields. Jane is official programme-note writer for the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, and has reviews and articles published in music forums.

Ariana Odermatt holds a Master of Philosophy from the ANU School of Music and BA Honours in Performance Music (Harpsichord) from the University of Waikato. Her achievements include performing on piano He Korero Purakau mo Te Awanui o Te Motu: Story of a New Zealand River for the New Zealand exhibition at the 2011 Venice Biennale, and in a recital at Handel’s House in London. Ariana has played with NZ Barok, including the Auckland Opera Studio’s production of Handel’s Oreste. More locally, she plays with Canberra Symphony Orchestra and Limestone Consort, and has also performed with the Canberra Bach Ensemble, in Handel in the Theatre’s production of The Vow, and in the Canberra International Music Festival's Up Close at Gorman on the clavicytherium.