22 January 2006

The Murray River International Music Festival will be held in many towns and communities along the Murray and its tributaries during January and February 2006.

The festival brings together the highest calibre of overseas and Australian musicians in a varied program including jazz, opera, percussion and classical piano.

The Shepparton part of the program will be presented from 9 February to 12 February and offers outstanding Australian and overseas musicians and highlights a range of music styles. 

Manager of Performing Arts Rob Robson says that the Greater Shepparton City Council is presenting the local concerts as part of its Riverlinks program.

“We have deliberately kept ticket prices very low to encourage people to attend as many of the concerts as possible,” says Mr Robson.

Shepparton highlights will include a very funny production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘HMS PINAFORE’, a concert featuring Beethoven’s piano concertos played on the Shepparton Steinway by internationally renowned pianist Anthony Halliday, soprano Louisa
Hunter-Bradley and organist David Macfarlane in a concert at Wesley Church, an evening of ‘Tango Fever’ featuring international accordion player Mirko Satto and Tango dancers Adrienne and Andrew Gill and finally, a delightful Sunday afternoon concert with Italian classical guitarist Massimo Scattolin.

The festival is the inspired initiative of brothers Sergio and Stefano de Pieri.

As a regular visitor to Australia over many years, Sergio imagined an event along the rivers dedicated to this unique region. Stefano has for some time been a prominent ambassador for the Murray River system through his passion for fine food and wine, his advocacy for debate over environmental issues and his patronage of all things cultural.

The concern of these two driven achievers for one of Australia’s greatest water catchments, and their complementary interests in food and music, has inspired the creation of this great event, which has the potential to grow and become one of Australia’s great festivals. 

The festival is supported by sponsors Tourism Victoria, The Murray Campaign Committee, Tasco Inland, Hertz, Mildura Grand Hotel, Mildura Brewery and Mildura Arts Centre, Telstra Country Wide, Stefano de Pieri and Regional Express and is supported in Shepparton by the Greater Shepparton City Council through its Riverlinks program. 

Following are the details of the MRIMF events being staged in Shepparton. 

All booking inquiries can be directed to Riverlinks Box Office on 03 5832 9511.

HMS PINAFORE (THE FINAL SAIL) BY PROMAC PRODUCTIONS
Thursday 9 February 2006  2.00pm EASTBANK

Starring the hilarious Brian Hannan and a cast of just five this is a rollicking and very funny rendition of this G&S favourite. They “did” Mikado and “Pirates” and after this (and “Opera in the Orchards” for the SheppARTon Festival) they aren’t doing it anymore! Don’t miss “the final sail!    

BEETHOVEN’S PIANO SONATAS PLAYED BY ANTHONY HALLIDAY 
Friday 10 February 2006  8.00pm EASTBANK

Critically acclaimed pianist, Anthony Halliday, has given recitals throughout Australia and in Europe. In this recital he focuses exclusively on Beethoven’s Sonatas.  

LOUISA HUNTER-BRADLEY, SOPRANO, DAVID MACFARLANE, ORGAN
Saturday 11 February 2006  4.00pm    WESLEY CHURCH

Louisa Hunter-Bradley has extensive performance experience with Australian performance groups including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and at notable festivals in Australia and Europe. David Macfarlane has performed throughout Australia, as soloist and continuo player on organ and harpsichord. He will play the wonderful Wesley organ in this concert.

MIRKO SATTO, ACCORDION, ADRIENNE AND ANDREW GILL, TANGO DANCERS
Saturday 11 February 2006  8.00pm    EASTBANK

Mirko Satto studied accordion at the Steffani Conservatorium of Castelfranco, Veneto in Italy. He has performed as a soloist, in duo and with chamber and orchestral groups throughout Italy and Europe. Adrienne and Andrew Gill, professional Argentine tango teachers and performers, are recognized internationally for the artistry and romance of their tango. 
(Presented in a cabaret setting, food and wine available to purchase from Eastbankfood)

MASSIMO SCATTOLIN, GUITAR
Sunday 12 February 2006  3.00pm  EASTBANK

Massimo Scattolin began his concert career as a soloist and later took up chamber music. He has performed original compositions by Violet Archer and Astor Piazzolla and has developed a reputation in Europe and the United States as a brilliant executor of his art.