Back row – Al Slavik, Luke Howard, Sharon Grigoryan, Maria Eugenia Nieva. Front row – Andrew Blanch, Leonard Grigoryan, Slava Grigoryan, Vladimir Gorbach, Bobby Singh. Photo: Supplied.
Classical guitarists Slava and Leonard Grigoryan have curated a once-in-a-lifetime festival for Four Winds this Easter.
They have drawn together seven very close collaborators, great friends, as well as partners in life, for a festival that will never be replicated.
Some of the relationships date back to their school days and span the globe. Instruments range from the cello to the tabla and electric bass guitar.
The Grigoryan Brothers have incorporated an Argentinian mezzo soprano into one of the five themed concerts that begin on Friday 3 April and culminate in the Sunday’s finale that celebrates originality, storytelling and connection.
The concerts explore the music that has influenced and inspired them for decades, resulting in a repertoire that runs from Bach to Piazaolla, and from jazz inspirations to ambient atmospheres.
Slava told Region they were thrilled to think about what the festival would be and the artists they would invite. The chosen artists reflect the breadth of the brothers’ repertoire which embraces classical, jazz and contemporary music from around the world.
Slava’s wife Sharon will be playing the cello at the festival. She has performed with the brothers many times over the years.
Slava and Sharon Grigoryan perform at Four Winds. Photo: David Rogers Photography.
Joining them is Australian composer and pianist Luke Howard. The brothers went to school with him. He has solo, duo and trio albums and has written scores for film, theatre and ballet. “Luke is always on the road,” Slava said. “His star has been rising rapidly for more than 10 years.”
Austrian-born Al Slavik is another dear friend and colleague. He is an electric bass guitarist, producer and composer who lives in Los Angeles. It is 30 years since Slava recorded his first album with him and he is excited to have him back in Australia after a 20-year absence.
English born and bred Bobby Singh is a master of the tabla, the percussion instrument associated with traditional Indian classical music. These days he divides most of his time between Australia and India. “He has carved out an incredible career in Australia working with all different types of musicians,” Slava said.
In the past three years the brothers have collaborated with Andrew Blanch and Vladimir Gorbach to form the Australian Guitar Quartet. Mr Gorbach is an Australian guitarist originally from Russia while Australia’s Mr Blanch has won prizes in more than 10 international competitions.
Another guest performer is his partner, Argentinian mezzo soprano Maria Eugenia Nieva. The pair tour extensively.
“It is quite an unusual meeting point with people coming from the very different worlds of music they inhabit,” Slava said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together and do some new things and revisit some old partnerships in a new way because we have all these extra sounds at our disposal.”
Creatively it has been considerable work arranging many pieces of music specifically for the Four Winds Easter Festival, formulating the themes and finding ways for different people to be involved.
Aerial shot of Windsong Pavilion at Four Winds, Barragga Bay, south of Bermagui. Photo: David Rogers Photography.
All the artists involved know how special the venue is and understand Four Winds and what it has done in the past.
“Despite all our differences, there is a common musical passion, so everyone wants to spend time together,” Slava said. “Knowing that it is such a unique opportunity makes it even more special.
“Knowing it is a one-off is part of the excitement. It is such a beautiful setting, working with the amazing people who are producing it and with audiences who really want to be there. It is an incredible luxury to have this opportunity.”
The Grigoryan Brothers usually have 90 minutes of performance time with audiences to try to incorporate all the different themes that have influenced them.
“We have been given this platform to build that up into five thematic concerts,” Slava said. “We never get the opportunity to dive in so deeply and with so many different artists to explore this wonderful music that has been so inspirational for us for so many decades.
The first of the concerts takes place on Friday 3 April. For tickets and more information about Four Winds Easter Concert Series “Grigoryan Brothers and Friends” visit the Four Winds website. Given people travel considerable distances to attend the Four Winds Easter Festival, people should book their accommodation in the Bermagui area early.
