Bouquets, Blessings & Benedictions with Robert and Robert
Location
New England Conservatorium of Music
Hosted by
About
NECOM presents violist Robert Harris and pianist Robert Manley in an evening recital:
Bouquets, Blessings & Benedictions – A Journey through the Borrowed B's.
Just as the viola shares its name with a flower, each composer in the programme shares the same initial – and there are rather more of them than the familiar Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. The programme unfolds through the romantic warmth of Bruch and the introspective depth of Bloch, expands into the rich colours of Bantock and the vivid originality of Bartók, before a light-hearted finale of miniature encores from Bacharach, The Beatles, Benjamin and Bernstein.
Programme
• J S Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G, BWV 1027 (Adagio)
• Bantock – Hamabdil
• Bartók – from Gyermekeknek (For Children)
• Beethoven – Variations on ‘See the Conqu’ring Hero Comes’ (Handel), WoO.45
• Bloch – from From Jewish Life, B.54
• Brahms – Scherzo from the F-A-E Sonata
• Bruch – Kol Nidrei, Op. 47
• A potpourri of miniature encores – Bacharach, Beatles, Benjamin, Bernstein
Presented with brief spoken introductions that draw out the character and context of each work, this is an intimate and engaging evening of chamber music by two artists with long-standing ties to the New England region.
Concert duration: approximately one hour with spoken introductions (6:30pm - 7:30pm)
A free Strings Workshop with the same artists runs earlier the same day at 4:00pm in the NECOM Auditorium.
Workshop participants are warmly encouraged to attend the concert.
About the FREE Workshop:
Students are invited to take part in a special free afternoon workshop with visiting violist Robert Harris and pianist Robert Manley, presented as part of their 2026 Spring touring programme.
The session has two components. In the first, students bring their own solo pieces or excerpts and work through them with Robert Harris and Robert Manley – receiving practical coaching on tone production, shaping of musical line, phrasing, and ensemble communication with piano.
This is an opportunity for students to perform in a supportive environment and receive direct, individual feedback from two experienced performers, who will also discuss and demonstrate practical approaches to rehearsing together.
The second component focuses on group music-making, drawing on approachable unison and duo pieces with piano accompaniment that allow students of varying levels to experience the richness of shared sound and the experience of carrying a melodic line together. Emphasis throughout is on confidence-building and the development of skills that translate to both solo study and chamber music contexts.
Duration: 1.5 hours. (4:00pm-5:30pm) Free admission.
The workshop is open to string students from NECOM and beyond. The workshop is pitched at around Grade 4 and above, though all interested students are welcome, and observers may attend at no charge.
Bouquets, Blessings & Benedictions – A Journey through the Borrowed B's.
Just as the viola shares its name with a flower, each composer in the programme shares the same initial – and there are rather more of them than the familiar Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. The programme unfolds through the romantic warmth of Bruch and the introspective depth of Bloch, expands into the rich colours of Bantock and the vivid originality of Bartók, before a light-hearted finale of miniature encores from Bacharach, The Beatles, Benjamin and Bernstein.
Programme
• J S Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G, BWV 1027 (Adagio)
• Bantock – Hamabdil
• Bartók – from Gyermekeknek (For Children)
• Beethoven – Variations on ‘See the Conqu’ring Hero Comes’ (Handel), WoO.45
• Bloch – from From Jewish Life, B.54
• Brahms – Scherzo from the F-A-E Sonata
• Bruch – Kol Nidrei, Op. 47
• A potpourri of miniature encores – Bacharach, Beatles, Benjamin, Bernstein
Presented with brief spoken introductions that draw out the character and context of each work, this is an intimate and engaging evening of chamber music by two artists with long-standing ties to the New England region.
Concert duration: approximately one hour with spoken introductions (6:30pm - 7:30pm)
A free Strings Workshop with the same artists runs earlier the same day at 4:00pm in the NECOM Auditorium.
Workshop participants are warmly encouraged to attend the concert.
About the FREE Workshop:
Students are invited to take part in a special free afternoon workshop with visiting violist Robert Harris and pianist Robert Manley, presented as part of their 2026 Spring touring programme.
The session has two components. In the first, students bring their own solo pieces or excerpts and work through them with Robert Harris and Robert Manley – receiving practical coaching on tone production, shaping of musical line, phrasing, and ensemble communication with piano.
This is an opportunity for students to perform in a supportive environment and receive direct, individual feedback from two experienced performers, who will also discuss and demonstrate practical approaches to rehearsing together.
The second component focuses on group music-making, drawing on approachable unison and duo pieces with piano accompaniment that allow students of varying levels to experience the richness of shared sound and the experience of carrying a melodic line together. Emphasis throughout is on confidence-building and the development of skills that translate to both solo study and chamber music contexts.
Duration: 1.5 hours. (4:00pm-5:30pm) Free admission.
The workshop is open to string students from NECOM and beyond. The workshop is pitched at around Grade 4 and above, though all interested students are welcome, and observers may attend at no charge.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
NECOM Terms and Conditions
1. This ticket is proof of purchase to the above event and must be presented at the time of admission.
2. This ticket is non-transferable and only one ticket is valid per ticket purchased.
3. Tickets are not to be duplicated for the purpose of falsifying entry.
4. Please choose carefully. There are no refunds for change of mind, lateness or illness.
5. The Event Organiser reserves the right to refuse entry.
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7. This ticket has been created and managed using the TryBooking site and is also subject to the Terms and Conditions of TryBooking.
8. As the Event Organiser hosting this event, NECOM is solely responsible for all issues relating to the sale of tickets. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact NECOM on admin@necom.org.au / 6788-2135
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10. Latecomers will be allowed into the venue at a suitable time in the program.
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14. If the event is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, a full refund will be issued to all patrons.
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