Peninsula Summer Music Festival

Twilight Jazz

From fiery Flamenco guitar to the seductive cabaret purrings of international chanteuse meow meow to the exquisite imaginings of classical music and the many musical genre gems in between, the Peninsula Summer Music Festivalreturns to Victoria's Mornington Peninsula from 1-11 January, 2015.

In the eighth annual Peninsula Summer Music Festival, Artistic Director Julia Fredersdorff gathers over 75 artists for 14 intimate events including four Festival exclusives. Alongside the fabulous Meow Meow and celebrated Italian guitaristMassimo Scattolin, this year's line-up brings together a host of Australian born internationally acclaimed artists. Mezzo soprano Liane Keegan, who has performed with the world's leading opera houses including the National Opera Studio London; cellist Catherine Jones; recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey, soprano Merlyn Quaife, classical accordionist James Crabb, Latitude 37, theGrigoryan Brothers are programmed alongside emerging stars Trio Brescianiand ANAM graduates.

The 2015 Festival erupts on New Year's Day in the spectacular Barrel Room of Willow Creek Estate with fiery technical displays of flamenco, percussive footwork, sweeping dance and joyous clapping in the immensely popular event,Hair of the Dog. This year's concert features flamenco guitarist Vikingo de Jerez and his world-class ensemble, who have received ecstatic reviews for their thrilling, spellbinding performances of seductive power and passion.

Fresh from trail-blazing sell-out seasons in New York and Berlin, multi-award-winning diva and fixture of London's West End Meow Meow debuts her unique brand of 'kamikaze cabaret' on the Peninsula. On Saturday 3 January, the Peninsula Community Theatre will be transformed into an intimate cabaret venue with Meow Meow dragging cabaret kicking and screaming into the 21st Century.

Peninsula born Liane Keegan is set for a triumphant homeoming with the Festival exclusive performance, The Sunset. This beautiful performance, which is inspired by Shelley's poem The Sunset and Respighi's evocative string quartet composition, explores the themes of love, death, longing and passing of time.

In another celebration of Australian vocal beauty, distinguished soprano Merlyn Quaife, shares an intimate account of her pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain in A Walk to the Field of Stars. Quaife, who has performed to great acclaim throughout Australia and Europe, recounts her transformative journey through her favourite songs, readings and images.

Perth-born artist Catherine Jones (baroque cello), whose international career includes performing with The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Academy of Ancient Music, The English Concert and as a solo recording artist with Deutsche Harmonia Mundi and Sony, returns for a Festival-exclusive performance. Catherine is joined by harpischordist Donald Nicolson for a recital of virtuosic Italian sonatas, which includes works by Vivaldi, Cirri and Boccherini.

In addition to Vikingo de Jerez'senergetic opening, this year's Festival features two other spellbinding guitar performances. Italian classical guitarist Massimo Scattolin presents a nature-inspired program in the stunning surrounds of Hummingbird Eco Retreat on Sunday 10 January and world renowned guitar duo, the Grigoryan Brothers will close out the Festival with a display their virtuosity on the lawns of St Johns Flinders in Festival Finale.

The Festival program features two original offerings. The Innovators isthe unlikely instrumental pairing of Genevieve Lacey on recorder and James Crabb on classical accordion. Held withinthe architecturally resplendent Port Phillip Estate, this imaginative recital of two versatile musical collaborators is a surprising aural and visual treat. And with a pre-show dinner on offer patrons can add to taste to the evening's sensory delight.

The other unique performance is the genre-defying journey of discovery, Latitude 37: Through the Sublime Porte. Baroque trio Latitude 37 fuses period instruments with exotic music of the Ottoman Empire. Festival Artistic Director Julia Fredersdorff (baroque violin) and fellow trio members Laura Vaughan (viola da gamba) and Donald Nicolson (harpsichord) are joined byMatt Stonehouse (percussion), Salih Resitoglou (kanun) and Yuval Ashkar(oud) on ancient Middle Eastern instruments.

'Play me a Story...The Nutcracker'combines exquisite violin playing, storytelling, illustrations and ballet to tell the much loved story of a tender hearted little girl, Marie and her favourite toy. The most beautiful music from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet has been transcribed for two violins played byEsmeralda Tintner and Lisa Stewart with Mark Robinson (percussion) andLulu Liu (Pipa/Chinese Lute) and Lennox Niven appearing by kind permission of The Australian Ballet School.

Graduates of the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) present the emotion filled Quartet for the End of Time. One of the most remarkable works to have come out of World War II, Messiaen's landmark Quartet for the End of Time was composed while a prisoner of war.

Australia's Trio Bresciani, which brings together three of the most gifted players of their generation including two winners of Symphony Australia's Young Performer of the Year and one champion of the Asia-Pacific Chamber Music Competition, perform masterpieces from Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov.

The inaugural Peninsula Summer Garden Party provides an occasion to sip the finest Peninsula wines, sample canapés and be entertained amidst one of the Peninsula's most stunning grand-estate homes, Bibury at Main Ridge.

Signature Festival event, Twilight Jazz, returns to Montalto with Vocalist Julie O'Hara and her acclaimed lineup, Ultrafox transporting guests to the underground Parisian clubs of 1930's & 40's with elegant ballads and hot swing-club classics.

Every year the Festival entertains and delights over 3,000 culture seekers, music lovers, holiday makers, friends and families of all ages as they enjoy inspirational world class music amidst among some of the finest backdrops the Mornington Peninsula has to offer.

THE FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE

Thursday 1 January:
12pm & 5pm Hair of the Dog: Vikingo de Jerez @ Willow Creek Vineyard

Friday 2 January:
7pm The Sunset featuring Liane Keegan @ Willow Creek Vineyard

Saturday 3 January
10.30am & 12 Noon Play me a Story - The Nutcracker @ Peninsula Community Theatre
7pm Meow Meow @ Peninsula Community Theatre

Sunday 4 January:
7pm Twilight Jazz: La Grande Soiree with Julie O'Hara and UltraFox @ Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove

Monday 5 January:
6pm Peninsula Summer Garden Party @ Bibury, Main Ridge

Tuesday 6 & Wednesday 7 January:
7pm A Walk to the Field of Stars featuring Merlyn Quaife@ Main Ridge Estate

Thursday 8 January:
6pm The Innovators with Genevieve Lacey @ Port Phillip Estate

Friday 9 January:
7pm Quartet for the End of Time @ Moorooduc Estate

Saturday 10 January
12pm Massimo Scattolin & Erica Kennedy @ Hummingbird Eco Retreat and Conference Centre
5.30pm & 8pm Latitude 37: Through the Sublime Porte @ Moorooduc Estate

Sunday 11 January 2015
12pm Trio Bresciani @ Church of St John the Evangelist
4pm Baroque Cello Sonatas @ Church of St John the Evangelist
7pm Festival Finale: The Grigoryan Brothers On the lawn of St John the Evangelist

FESTIVAL DETAILS:

Dates: 1 – 11 January 2015
Venues: Across Red Hill, Flinders, Moorooduc, Rosebud, Merricks North and Mornington
Tickets: online www.peninsulafestival.com.au
Cost: Separately ticketed events from $15 to $125,
Website: www.peninsulafestival.com.au