Nexas Quartet with Peter Coleman-Wright Come to Independent Theatre

The last-Sunday-of-the-month chamber music series at the spectacular - and acoustically perfect - venue has been a runaway success, offering a scrumptious afternoon tea from 2:30 as a prelude to a 3:30 concert from some of Australia's most exciting musicians. Music, food and drink... an irresistible triple treat!

This month's recital at the Independent Theatre, on Sunday 28 May, spotlights the Nexas Quartet with Composers in Exile, a thrilling program featuring adaptations of cabaret works by composers from the Weimar Era until World War 2. The performance is a 'sneak preview' of their new show set to premiere at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June 2017. The musicians will be dressed as the composers Kurt Weill, Eisler, Schrecker, Korngold, and Stolz and will talk (in character) about their lives as composers in turbulent times.

Nexas will again be collaborating with international opera sensation Peter Coleman-Wright AO to perform lush and finely crafted interpretations specially arranged for saxophone quartet and voice. Featuring hits such as 'September Song', 'Stempellied Song' (Song of the Worker/Stamp Song), the repertoire is taken from a new CD featuring all five artists and recorded for ABC Classics under the title Ballads of the Pleasant Life.

Formed in 2002, Nexas Quartet comprises Michael Duke (soprano sax), Andrew Smith (alto sax), Nathan Henshaw (tenor sax) and Jay Byrnes (baritone sax). They are focused on promoting the musical diversity of the saxophone, showcasing its versatility and ability to cross genres. The group's success comes from a combination of personalities, virtuosic saxophone skills, and an ability to program concerts with wide appeal. Their sell-out annual concert series have featured collaborations with some of Australia's finest musicians including pianists Gerard Willems AM) and Daniel Rojas, jazz vocalist Nicky Crayson, jazz saxophonists and bandleader David Theak and SSO clarinettist Frank Celata. They have also collaborated with composer and sound artist Drew Crawford on the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Jumpy as well as performing Elena Kats-Chernin's From Anna Magdalena's Notebook at the World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg. Nexas was recently nominated for Performance of the Year in the 2017 Art Music Awards for their realisation of Matthew Orlovich's Slipstream, a work specially written for the Quartet. Visit www.nexasquartet.com

Australia's own Peter Coleman-Wright is widely considered one of the most versatile singers on the international circuit today. He is equally at home on the opera, concert and recital platforms, and has performed all over the world for many years from La Scala to Munich & Covent Garden. He is married to soprano superstar Cheryl Barker.

Prelude in Tea: COMPOSERS IN EXILE with NEXAS QUARTET and Peter Coleman-Wright AO

Sunday 28 May from 2.30 (afternoon tea) for 3.30 concert

The Independent Theatre, 269 Miller Street North Sydney

Tickets - $47 adult | $30 conc | $22 student |$16 children

Bookings ph: 02 9955 3000 or on-line at www.theindependent.org.au­

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