Australian snapshots

I've back from Australia, having greatly enjoyed my time with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. I'm deeply grateful to those who brought it about. Here are a few miscellaneous pictures.

Each weekday morning in Sydney, I had first-rate coffee and curried eggs at Bar Akbar, on the ground floor of the Theosophy House, across the street from my hotel.

The dressing room at the Sydney Opera House. Cecilia Bartoli used it immediately after I did; I hope she didn't mind that I prepared the piano.

Traveling with a string orchestra, you never have to worry about getting separated from the group: just look for the violin cases. Or the very tall people (double-bassists).

In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play was on at the Sydney Theatre Company, which is run by Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett. I have to confess that a major highlight of my Australian trip was discovering that Upton and Blanchett are fans of The Rest Is Noise.

Of the larger Australian halls I heard, the best-sounding was the one in Perth.

Brisbane, recovering from the flood.

Wollongong!

The beach at Wollongong.

I have a passable knowledge of Australian composers, but I'm learning much from Gordon Kerry's book New Classical Music: Composing Australia. On the trip I had the pleasure of meeting Richard Mills, James Ledger, Julian Day, and Graeme Koehne. I'd met the excellent Andrew Ford previously.

On the way back, a tantalizing glimpse of New Zealand. Greetings to Chris Knox!

Back home, I can relax in my Francis Bacon armchair.