Who:      The Elanée Ensemble
When:    Sunday afternoon 15th May 2011 at 2.30 pm
Where:    Performing Arts Centre, Lilydale District School, Main Road, Lilydale
Cost:      $10
Includes:  a very fine concert, as well as wine and nibbles.
This concert is being organised by the Lilydale Branch of Tas Regional Arts and it is the first time that the new Performing Arts Centre at the Lilydale District School will be used for a community event. It is a fantastic venue and will add much to Lilydale’s performing arts opportunities.

Website:  http://lilydalebranchtasmanianregionalarts.yolasite.com
Email:    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Elanée Ensemble website: http://www.elaneeensemble.com
Background to the Elanée Ensemble:

Stuart Thomson and Jo St.Leon formed the Elanée Ensemble to explore the rich sonorities of the double bass/viola duo. Their inaugural concert opened the Collegiate Chamber Music Series in May 2009. This was followed by several concerts for Virtuosi Tasmania, a series of concerts in some of Tasmania’s fine heritage sites, a Victorian tour and an ABC Sunday Live concert. Future plans include a performance of Dittersdorf’‘s Sinfonia Concertante with the Hobart Chamber Orchestra, performances in northern Tasmania and collaborations with percussion duo Mattra and soprano Jane Edwards. A key element is commitment to performances in regional areas of Tasmania.
Repertoire for this unlikely but effective combination of double bass and viola is currently somewhat limited. There is a core of little known repertoire from the early Classical era, and then little original work until relatively recent times, although there is a small body of arranged material. Elanée regards redressing this balance as an important part of their mission.

Early in 2010 Elanée were gifted their first commissioned work, a beautiful Romance by renowned Tasmanian composer Don Kay. With the generous support of Arts Tasmania they then commissioned new works from Maria Grenfell and Russell Gilmour and an arrangement of Rossini’s Thieving Magpie Overture from Tim Jones.

Elanée performed these works extensively during 2010 both in Tasmania and on the mainland. On February 20th 2011 Elanée premiered their latest commissions: a song-cycle by Don Kay and John Honey (with soprano Jane Edwards) and a substantial sonata by Robert Rival, composer-in-residence of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in Canada.

Elanée is committed to performing in regional centres in Tasmania. Deloraine is coming up - very exciting.