The Music Box series continues to impress

Our awesome Music Box series continues to impress.
Deb Abela reviews the latest book in the series - The Sorcerer's Apprentice written by Tom Skinner & illustrated by Annie White.

Deborah Abela - Sorcerer's Apprentice by New Frontier Publishing

A tribute to Sir Charles Mackerras

Australian conductor Sir Charles Mackerras has died of cancer at the age of 84.

Sir Charles Mackerras was a brilliant conductor, his passion for music was the driving force in his life.
"I always wanted to become a musician. I was hardly interested in anything else. From about eight or nine I had a sort of mania about it," Sir Charles told the Guardian in an interview to mark his 80th birthday in 2005.

He championed the work of Czech composer Janacek bringing his operas to the masses. In 1951 he conducted the first London performance of Janacek's Katya Kabanova after the original conductor became ill. He went on to become the music director at Sadler's Wells Theatre.

In 1951 he also arranged Gilbert and Sullivan's music just after it was out of copyright. His Sullivan ballet arrangement Pineapple Poll continues to be popular. 1951 was the year Charles Mackerras became a recognised figure in the music world.

Sir Charkes Mackerras conducted the opening concert at the Sydney Opera House in 1973.



In 1979 he was knighted for his contribution to music and the following year became the first conductor outside of the UK to conduct the Last Night of the Proms. 

Sir Charles Mackerras was an international figure; he had a full schedule traveling all over the world as a guest conductor.

Roy McEwan, managing director of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, said: "Sir Charles was one of the most distinguished conductors of his generation. He had an almost unparalleled mastery of music across a huge range of styles and periods from Handel through Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak and Janacek and beyond".

Gillian Karaviotis worked with Sir Charles Mackerras at Sadler's Wells Theatre: "Sir Charles Mackerras was arguably the greatest Australian musician to ever live. He lived and breathed music and apart from his family and sailing, nothing else interested him. His legacy will be his extensive research into Mozart's manuscripts which began with his pioneering performance with ornamentation of The Marriage of Figaro at Sadler's Wells Theatre in 1965. He was also responsible for bringing the music of Janacek, particularly his operas to England in the 50's and his interpretations of Janacek's operas are considered unsurpassed. His life was packed full to the brim with worldwide travel conducting operas and concerts from Sydney, America and Europe at every great opera house and concert hall. He was richly honoured for his enormous and unselfish services to music. Sir Charles opened our minds to the wonders of classical music in the thousands of recordings he left us."

On a personal note Sophia Whitfield, the publisher at NFP spent her youth running around the corridors of Sadler's Wells Theatre. Both her parents worked at the theatre and knew Sir Charles Mackerras and his family. Charles and his wife Judy had supported our Music Box series which introduces young children to classical music.

We send our love and thoughts to Sir Charles Mackerras's wife Judy and their daughter Catherine.xx

Pictures from our first successful NFP Kids Book Swap

On Friday we hosted the first NFP Kids Book Swap at Forestville Library.

Kids feasted on fairy bread, cup cakes and strawberries as they listened to Sue Whiting reading her story Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

We had balloons, cake and the occasional fairy. There was even dancing to the sounds of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The kids had an opportunity to ask Sue lots of questions about her books-she has written over 60! She was asked which book was her favourite and Sue was very diplomatic. As she said her publisher was standing next to her!

After question time the kids all got their book swapping hats on.

 

Much fun was had at Forestville library. Many thanks to Sue Whiting who gave up her time for the first ever NFP Kids Book Swap and to Forestville Library who have allowed us to roll out this program in their library and most importantly to eat cake and fairy bread in their library.

The next Kids Book Swap will be at 3.30pm on Friday the 30th July at Forestville Library.

Guest author will be Peter Whitfield, the author of the Zen Tails series and Serena Geddes, the illustrator of Row, row, row your boat.

For lovers of classical music

At NFP we are lovers of classical music. This terrific video highlights the power of classical music to move both adults and children.

http://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html

We do think the combination of classical music and books works well and are delighted with our new Music Box series.

As Charles Mackerras said, and he should know:"I find the Music Box series a most fascinating and original idea.I am sure it will appeal to many young listeners and open their minds to the wonders of classical music."

Look out for our Music Box books. Each book includes a CD narrated by Antonia Kidman.The third book, The Sorcerer's Apprentice will be released in August.

Sophia has put together a program for 2MBS radio based on the top ten most loved classical hits as voted by children. Listen in to see if our three choices are in the top ten - you may be surprised by the number one choice.

2MBS-FM 102.5

Thursday 8th April

12-1pm