French Flute and Submarines. Music: The Language of Diplomacy.. ‘Donnez-moi break? Mais Non! Donnez-moi un concert…’
LIVE AT LUNCH Concert Hall of The Concourse, Chatswood
On Tuesday 26 October, I’ll be performing in SO FRENCH! SO FABULEUX! at The Concert Hall of the Concourse, Chatswood.
French Flute and Submarines: If you have a an international incident on your hands, SEND THE MUSICIANS!!!
Musicians: Amelia Farrugia, Jane Rutter, Vivian Choi.
Best-loved French Opera Arias, Solos and Chansons…
Intended as a musical détente between Australia and France, (after the disintegration of the Nuclear Submarine deal between the two nations). This trio of Aussie Divas is thrilled to be out of a 100+ day Sydney lockdown (after several Covid induced postponements of this programme). We’ll perform French classical and cabaret works for voice, flute and piano by Fauré, Hahn, Gounod, Saint-Saëns, Debussy, Offenbach, Chopin, and Satie.
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DATE: Midday TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26 2021
VENUE: LIVE AT LUNCH Concert Hall of The Concourse, Chatswood
TICKETS: phone 02 8075 8111 or online at
The Trio of Aussie Divas at The Concourse, Chatswood
Many Francophiles here in Australia anguish over the new mal à l’aise between Australia and la belle France. Indeed the two nations have such a long-standing, rich history of camaraderie, that one longs for a renewal of our fraternal bonds… We three musicians intend to make amends with the soothing, joyful and sublime music of So French! So Fabuleux! (A friend made a comment that perhaps instead of politicians, musicians should have been sent to France… Australia would be friends again with the French by now!)
Throughout my career my flute music has been called upon to be used for diplomacy… I recall several years ago Australian business tycoon Mr Kerry Stokes AC, who invited me to perform at an important Chinese-Australian diplomatic / business event in Sydney. Present were Prime Minister John Howard, the Australian Ambassador to China, and many dignitaries. My brief from Mr Stokes: to create a sense of possibility and international harmony and friendship through my music.
At my suggestion, I invited a young Chinese harpist (Guzheng player) to the Concourse, Chatswood to perform several pieces with me. Thus marrying the music of the two nations in a single performance. And did we had a marvellous time playing together… The crowd were visibly moved…
Very gratifying, for me, after the performance Mr Stokes commented that in just 20 minutes of music. We musicians conveyed more goodwill than was possible in several hours of discourse.
Mr Stokes again asked me to perform at an important private cultural event at his Broome residence in Western Australia. The context was reconciliation and unity, and this time I extemporised on Baroque music- Vivaldi: flute, guitar, voice and didgeridoo. The reaction was also profoundly moving.
Domestic and Diplomatic Performances
On Anzac Day 2021, to honour the Australian First Nations people who fought in WW1, Australian Diggers and my grandfather. I released a version of the Last Post for flute and didgeridoo (see previous blog).
I was thrilled to be able to perform again with Chinese harp (Guzheng), at the launch of an international company Infosalons in Guangzhou, China.
On a trip to London years ago, I was invited by the legendary Philip Hedley to perform at London’s Theatre Royal Stratford East. A gala benefit to raise funds for the underprivileged across different social groups…
In 2000, to celebrate Sydney hosting the Olympic Games, supported by The Australian Government and QANTAS. I was sent-in part-as a goodwill Ambassador to perform in South America, sharing my music in Argentina, Chile and Brazil.
In 2017, I performed in Mumbai and Kolkata… Most memorable in my mind was a masterclass at the Victoria Memorial School for the Blind. A performance with hardly a word spoken. A truly magical exchange with its brilliant music students…
More recently in 2018, as an invitée of the Peoples Republic of China 🇨🇳. I toured all over the country, performing Donizetti, Vivaldi, Poulenc, Mozart, Fauré, Bolling, Chopin. Including the classical arrangements of three traditional Chinese songs. The audiences were marvellous and brilliantly enthusiastic…
Universal Appeal of the Flute
From a global level to a local level, goodwill diplomacy and unification through music. And the universal appeal of the flute in all its forms, has been paramount in my life. Often on my travels, I find that music opens doors instantly. To be able to communicate instantly through the language of music. It’s truly magical with fellow musicians who don’t speak your language. I marvel at this power of music. Music is indeed a universal language.
Through music we musicians make friends with everyone… It may sound naive, but generally I find it to be true. Music can cut across ideologies religions, borders and tensions…
The context of my music is always social inclusion. The Live at Lunch, entering its 10th year in 2023 recently constantly underlines this intention.
Join us for this lovely French Concert on Tuesday 26 October midday Live at Lunch at The Concourse, Chatswood.
Live at Lunch is in its ninth successful year… as with all our performances. Audience members can join the performers for a delicious two-course lunch after the concert.
Courtesy: The Concourse, Chatswood
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About the Performers
| Jane Rutter is an Internationally acclaimed Australian flutist, recently knighted by France (Chevalier des Arts et Lettres). An expert in French Flute, and considered a major trailblazer in classical music, she is known for her classical flute music, mystical flute meditations and relaxing flute music. With her onstage warmth, she brilliantly conveys passion, sparkling technique and elegance of expression through her beautiful flute playing. Soloist, award-winning TV presenter, multi-ARIA nominee, & one of Who Magazine’s 30 Most Beautiful People, Jane is also a composer and Artistic Director of Live at Lunch. Amelia Farrugia began her career in musicals, with starring roles in The Buddy Holly Story, The Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story. A Green Room Award winner, Amelia has starred with Opera Australia since 1994. She recorded her debut solo with BBC Symphony Orchestra, including performances with The Metropolitan Opera in New York, La Boheme for Opera Hong Kong and the Beijing Arts Festival. International concert pianist Vivian Choi has recently returned to Australia from success in the USA. Vivian has built a fast-rising career by exploring how music can speak to the universal aspects of the human condition, and is in demand both for her definitive interpretations of new works by living composers, and for her far-ranging recital programs that combine core and contemporary pieces into unified, transcendental musical statements. Called “an exemplar of the modern global pianist” (Fanfare), Choi was born in Korea, raised in Australia, and has studied in Russia, France and the United States. |
| Follow Jane 🎶: Subscribe on Youtube Instagram Spotify Enquiries: office @ janerutter.com |
