Celebration of Musica Viva

Musica Viva’s 75th anniversary performance

Central Coast Conservatorium held a special concert to celebrate Musica Viva’s 75th anniversary on November 29.

The concert, Springing back to life, with a nod to the past, was attended by 35 guests, including Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations, Aboriginal Affairs, and the Arts, Don Harwin, and Dean of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Anna Reid.

The concert raised funds for the Central Coast Conservatorium Indigenous scholarship program and paid tribute to the historic contribution to Australia’s cultural development of Musica Viva founder, Richard Goldner.

Musica Viva was established in 1945 and has grown from one ensemble performing in post-war times in Sydney to the largest chamber music organisation in the world.

Australian violinist, patron of the Central Coast Conservatorium, and widow of Richard Goldner, Charmian Gadd, recalled that first concert on December 8, 1945.

“It was a time of shortages, and blackouts and as luck would have it there was a blackout that day,” Gadd said.

The program included performances of Mozart’s Divertimento for String Trio, Beethoven’s first movement of Archduke for Piano Trio, and pieces for guitar including Paganini Cantabile played by Gregory Pikler and Charmian Gadd, and a performance of Brahms’ Piano Quintet.

Source:
Media release, Dec 2
Central Coast Conservatorium