The HIlliard Ensemble Tours with Australian Chamber Orchestra

Britain’s acclaimed classical vocal quartet The Hilliard Ensemble is teaming up with our own Australian Chamber Orchestra for a very special Aussie tour.

The Hilliard Ensemble have sold millions of albums around the world to fans attracted to their unique take on sacred tunes like Gregorian chants and medieval hymns. Helena Rathbone, the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s principal second violin, says the show takes the audience “into three wonderful sound worlds: the sublimely intimate a capella of four solo voices and the chamber music collaboration of voices and strings, beautifully bookended with some of the most gorgeously lush string music.” The show’s centrepiece is Raskatov’s “Obikhod,” a Russian orthodox chant written by the Russian-German composer especially for these performances.

It sounds like a real treat for classical music fans. Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

10 March 2012 – Llewellyn Hall @ ANU, Canberra
11 March 2012 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney
12 March 2012 – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane
13 March 2012 – Town Hall, Adelaide
17 March 2012 – City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sydney
18 & 19 March 2012 – Town Hall, Melbourne
20 & 21 March 2012 – City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sydney
22 March 2012 – Town Hall, Wollongong

Image source: Friedrun Reinhold/The Hilliard Ensemble website

Aston Gives La Roux’s “Bulletproof” Classical Makeover

The people spoke and Aston listened. The Sydney based pop-classical act has released their cover of La Roux’s “Bulletproof,” as voted for by fans on their YouTube page. I think the public was right; this is great stuff. I’ll bet La Roux never imagined such a stirring rendition when she penned her dance floor filler! If you like it, you can get the single from iTunes.

Aston Does Rihanna’s “Rude Boy” Like You’ve Never Heard it Before

Sydney classical outfit Aston have been adding a touch of class to The Matty Johns Show each week. If you haven’t caught their reinterpretations of modern pop and rock songs, check out this reimagining of Rihanna’s “Rude Boy.” I’m not a fan of the original, or of classical music generally, yet I love this. If you do too, make sure you visit Aston’s YouTube page, where you can see more clips and vote for the song you want them to take on next!