BY SYLVIE WOODS, LEAD WRITER (NSW)
Move over Justin. It’s Heinrich Biber who’s getting played in this underground bar.
Evan Streater’s next concert in The Chamber Project series presents Timo Veikko-Valve, (ACO principal cellist), and siblings Liisa and Jaan Pallandi (ACO violinist, and SSO double bassist, respectively) in the aptly named Trio.
It’s a lush program, including Bach, Biber (Heinrich, of course), and Ravel in the Soultrap Bar.
“Trio showcases three truly fantastic musicians, with a well-thought-out program comprised of music that is comfortable and folky, as well as some difficult and virtuosic stuff,” Evan explains of this upcoming gig.
“What I like is that they’re taking a risk with this program. Each instrument will be really nicely exposed; as the name suggests, we’ll hear them play as a trio, but also as a duo, and there’s also some solo stuff in there.”
It’s the newest iteration for The Chamber Project, an initiative Evan launched earlier this year to bring classical music into relaxed, urban spaces. In the dimly lit, bare-brick Soultrap Bar in Surry Hills, audience members are able to enjoy gourmet delights and drinks whilst, just metres away, some of the finest musicians in the nation, and indeed the world, perform.
“Because of the brickwork, the acoustic is really good. It’s a great space for musicians, and the closeness makes everything seem more human,” Evan says.
For the most part, The Chamber Project is distinct from any other chamber series, given this style of music has tended towards being performed in large concert halls in Australia, and almost always at ticketed events that assume formal attire and behaviour.
So while Bach in a bar might strike you as a little wild, the performance of this intimate music in a small-scale setting is closer to history than you might think.
“The Chamber Project brings back this music back to the kind of small space that housed it in the 19th Century.”
But, history aside, “because of the more relaxed, more intimate atmosphere, there’s a lot of laughter and a lot of fun”.
The Chamber Project encourages rounds of applause (and rounds of beers) between movements, questions from the audience, general jollity and, most importantly, an environment that welcomes people from all walks of life.
“A lot of young people come along. We have 25-year-olds sitting next to 75-year-olds. In a bar, the idea is that we can include everyone.”
In 2019, The Chamber Project has embraced diverse combinations of instruments, music from all centuries, and musicians of all ages.
In August, Aussie baritone David Greco, accompanied by the unstoppable Vatche Jambazian on piano, delighted audiences with a selection of art songs; whilst in June, the widely acclaimed Muffat Collective performed a program of baroque works.
The Chamber Project has also showcased the talents of many musicians at the start of their careers. In 2020, Evan hopes to expand the series to provide performance opportunities for classical musicians who are starting out.
“Scoring performance opportunities was something I found really hard when I was a student, so I feel passionate incorporating young people in the series,” the pianist-turned-curator says.
“In 2020, I am hoping to promote composers as well, adding a little bit of contemporary classical music in bits here and there.
“Almost everyone who has performed with The Chamber Project has said it’s one of the most fun things they’ve done in terms of music, in terms of performing. So I do want to provide up-and-coming musicians with the opportunity to perform in this setting.”
Cocktails, toasties, and chamber music, anyone?
I say tune up and take my money.
The Chamber Project series runs at Soultrap Bar in Surry Hills. Trio will take place at 3.30pm November 24, and 7pm November 25. Check out the full program on the website.
We teamed up with The Chamber Project to bring you this story about diverse concert experiences! Stay tuned as we bring you more of what Evan has on the cards!
Images supplied.
