BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
Elyane de Fontenay didn’t listen to much music in her childhood home.
What she did hear playing through the house were bands like The Beatles and other old pop groups. At school, she was surrounded by friends who listened to commercial hits on the Top 40. An unlikely start for a woman who would later grow into a talented, multi-genre violinist and member of the new Foray Quintet.
Since completing studies in violin at the ANU School of Music in 2013, Elyane has gone on to lead prize-winning performances, play world premieres of contemporary compositions, and in 2011 was even asked to perform for Queen Elizabeth II with her string quartet at Parliament House.
“Playing for the Queen was amazing,” Elyane recalls.
“I felt oddly excited to see somebody who I don’t know much about and isn’t in the media that much compared to actors and rock stars.”
“She does have some sort of magic about her. It’s probably the crown.”
While Elyane played for the Queen a conservative set of chamber music including works by Mozart and the like, the musician’s passion for various styles ranging from baroque to hip hop brings a unique flavour to her performance history as a trained violinist.
“My heart lies somewhere in the middle of a triangle of late 20th Century music, early music, and all the amazing non classical music out there.”
“A lot of my strengths as a musician come from collaborating with untrained musicians. They have a way about them that is so natural; everything they know and do comes from listening to other great musicians.”
“I love playing in bands, but it’s not much of a challenge, technically, which you need after 20 years of studying an instrument as hard as the violin.”
Elyane is excited for her newest challenge as violinist for the new Foray Quintet, the brainchild of pianist Kimberley Steele which is made up of young professionals from Canberra and Melbourne.
“I love leading sections in chamber orchestras and symphony orchestras, however, it’s actually quite different to playing in a small chamber ensemble with one part per player,” Elyane explains.
“Leading a section in a larger ensemble, you get to have an open dialogue with the conductor about a lot of things. However, it is ultimately up to the conductor to make the musical decisions. In a chamber group of five, you have to think of creative, new and interesting ideas, which can be hard to do after six hours of practice in a tiny windowless room!”
The violinist knows the hard work pays off in the end, and describes her experience with the ensemble playing as “tea, cake, and classical music.”
“You learn so much from playing with other great musicians, and it’s just such a nice thing to do, spending a concentrated time with a small group of friends.”
“Chamber music is that perfect medium between solo playing and orchestral playing. You don’t get the nerves of solo playing, or the months of lonely practice, but you get to have so much more creative control than if you are in an orchestra of up to 100 people.”
Elyane is getting ready to perform Faure with the Foray Quintet, and advises “if you are a classically trained musician, I would recommend having a listen.”
“Especially the second quintet, as it’s really complex, harmonically. It definitely is one of those works that improves with every listen.”
“Bring somebody who hasn’t been to a classical music concert. They will enjoy it!”
The Foray Quintet will perform on April 25, 26 and 27 across Sydney, Canberra and Bowral. For more information go to www.forayquintet.com.
