Media Release

Monday, 4 March 2013

For the first time in its long history, Elder Hall at the University of Adelaide will have a new series of concerts aimed at a more intimate audience.

The Elder Perspectives series features 10 concerts from March to December, and begins with "Sublime Brahms" performed by Ensemble Liaison and Friends at 7.00pm Wednesday 13 March.

While Elder Hall usually seats more than 600 people, thanks to specially commissioned wooden screens the Hall can now have a "room within a room", accommodating more intimate concerts of 80-150 people.

This gives Elder Hall the flexibility to be used as an intimate recital space while maintaining the acoustic qualities for which the Hall is renowned.

The new set-up provides greater opportunities for musicians and small ensembles to perform in the heritage-listed venue. It also offers a boost to music-making in Adelaide, with new and upcoming groups being able to book Elder Hall for their shows.

The wooden screens were constructed by Michael Ambler, who is well known in the local theatre world for his set design and building. The screens are made of a mixture of hardwoods with finials to stylistically match the finials on Elder Hall.

The first concert in the Elder Perspectives series features the Ensemble Liaison - David Griffith (clarinet), Svetlana Bogosavlijevic (cello) and Timothy Young (piano) - with friends Natsuko Yoshimoto (violin), Wilma Smith (violin) and Imants Larsens (viola).

Tickets for the first concert are: $30 adult, $22 concession.

In another first for the Elder Conservatorium, bookings for the Elder Perspectives series can now be made online: http://music.adelaide.edu.au/elderhall/tickets

Concert 1     7.00pm Wednesday 13 March - Sublime Brahms - Ensemble Liaison and Friends
Concert 2     3.00pm Sunday 28 April - In Memoriam - Benaud Trio
Concert 3     8.00pm Monday 27 May - Schubert - The Firm
Concert 4     3.00pm Sunday 9 June - Baroque Relations - Adelaide Baroque
Concert 5     3.00pm Sunday 4 August - Dawn of the Classical Era - Ensemble Galante
Concert 6     6.30pm Friday 27 September - Procession - Adelaide Chamber Singers
Concert 7     6.30pm Friday 11 October - Messiaen - Mark Gasser
Concert 8     3.00pm Sunday 13 October - Rejoice - Kegelstatt Ensemble
Concert 9     8.00pm Saturday 16 November - Resonance - Zephyr Quartet
Concert 10   3.00pm Sunday 1 December - From Russia With Love - Ensemble le Monde