ARIA-nominated pianist Andrea Lam will soon be on television screens Australia-wide as the host of ABC TV’s The Piano – exploring the stories of 75 Australians and their connection to the piano – alongside Harry Connick Jr. and Amanda Keller. Photo: Supplied.
Four Winds has taken an unconventional approach to programming its music festival this Easter.
Usually an artistic director curates many performances and genres across three days with many artists. Instead, pianist Andrea Lam has curated five thematically linked concerts for a one-off ensemble of a small number of highly talented musicians.
The music comes from Australia, Europe and America, and ranges from 300-year-old works by Bach to a piece that was written this year. Ms Lam has programmed as much variety as possible with the combination of seven artists.
Ms Lam played at Four Winds two years ago and fell in love with the renowned venue. She said to curate five concerts for Four Winds was a gift as it was something she had always wanted to do.
“It is wonderful thinking about a repertoire and people to play it,” she said. “It is like being a kid in a candy store.”
The easiest part was selecting the six accompanying musicians as their names immediately came to mind when Ms Lam started thinking about the concerts. Some she has known for decades while others she met more recently.
Not only did they have to be amazing musicians but also people who would get along and bounce ideas off each other.
Ms Lam likened it to inviting people to a party and knowing there would be good flow of conversation.
“It was fun thinking of people to introduce to each other,” Ms Lam said.
Andrea Lam has known cellist Mihai Marica since she moved to America to study. Photo: Supplied.
She has a special connection with each of the musicians. Tenor Andrew Goodwin was the first person Ms Lam played with after COVID.
“It was so special that first music after the silence and desolation,” she said.
She has played with violinist and Sydney Symphony Orchestra concert master Andrew Haveron in the orchestra in the past but has always wanted to play chamber music with him.
She has known cellist Mihai Marica virtually all her adult life. Ms Lam met him when she moved from Sydney to study in America. She ended up living there for 20 years, working as a performing artist before returning to Australia during COVID.
Ms Lam likened choosing the musicians to matchmaking. As rehearsals began, she could see she had picked well.
“I have played with most of them, so I know how they play so there are some known quantities,” she said. “Sometimes there is a spark between people, and I think that is happening. It is very exciting.”
Four Winds is the perfect setting for an Easter escape, filled with sunshine, relaxed vibes and unforgettable music. Photo: David Rogers Photography.
Selecting the music was more difficult as Ms Lam wanted to create a range of experiences, as well as tell a story over the whole weekend.
“I found the more I thought about it, different themes and connections emerged,” she said. “That is how I ended up with this program, wanting to have this experience of meeting everyone at a gathering at the beginning, with the final concert being celebratory with singing and dancing.”
Two concerts are based on large-scale works to create 70-minute immersive experiences, something which Ms Lam said is becoming increasingly rare.
Ms Lam had not intended to stay in Australia when she visited during the pandemic.
“It is one of those life turns I am so grateful for,” she said. “Australia has always been home. It feels like a full circle moment.”
More information about the five concerts being held on 18 to 20 April and tickets are available at the Four Winds website.
