Recitals Australia Presents
Euan Safey conducting Appalachian Spring
Saturday 30 November
2.30pm at the Grainger Studio
(Adelaide Symphony Orchestra)
91 Hindley Street, Adelaide
Thanks to the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for their support!
Introduction
Join Recitals Australia for an extraordinary afternoon of classical music, as Euan Safey conducts a stunning performance of three iconic works. Featuring works that are a staple in the musical canon, this recital is a unique opportunity to hear emerging artists from Elder Conservatorium of Music at their very best.
Appalachian Spring
Perhaps Aaron Copland’s most well-known work is his music to the ballet Appalachian Spring; the subsequent concert arrangements for chamber and symphony orchestras are widely played and adored by modern audiences.
Audience members at early performances would often tell Copland himself that his music was so vivid that they could practically see the Appalachian mountains in springtime, however Copland wrote the work before the ballet had even been named as such, a testament to Copland’s storytelling in this remarkable work.
Appalachian Spring is quintessentially American in spirit, including barn dances and folk songs, notably the tune Simple Gifts (Also known as Lord of the Dance), an old Shaker hymn that was popularised by its inclusion in this work. It also contains some of Copland’s most deeply intimate and sentimental music, and it’s said that while in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, Copland, unable to speak, often played the opening and ending chords of Appalachian Spring to his closest friends.
W.A Mozart
To contrast, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, written when he was just 19 (not early by his standards), is a gem from the height of his early maturity. The Allegro opening movement is bright and buoyant with lively dialogue between the soloist and orchestra.
Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major on the other hand was written in the last year of his life and is perhaps one of his most celebrated works. Written for Anton Stadler, a renowned clarinetist of the time, this work showcases the clarinet’s full expressive range and the opening Allegro features one of Mozart’s most well-known melodies.
Featuring emerging artists from the Elder Conservatorium of Music with guests, don’t miss an exciting opportunity to hear and see some of the best young stars Adelaide has to offer.
Appalachian Spring and Mozart
W.A. Mozart
Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622
> Allegro
W.A. Mozart
Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K. 218
>Allegro
A. Copland
Appalachian Spring Suite for 13 Instruments
ORCHESTRA
Violins
- Issie Watson
- Thomas Cheung
- Sofia Tortorelli
- Adina Lopez
- Caitlin Mildren
Violas
- Clara Salzmann
- Martin Alexander
Celli
- Chiara Kelle
- AJ Singh
Bass
- Allan McBean
Flute
- Alexander Byrne
- Annalise Jeffery
Oboes
- Patrick Moorhouse
- Neal Perkins
Clarinet
- Daniel Hurst
Bassoon
- Angus McBride
- Chiara Panetta
Horns
- Abigail Sutherland
- Emma Gregan
Piano
- Esmond Choi
EUAN SAFEY – Conductor
Euan Safey is a young New Zealand-born conductor, pianist and teacher, and is a passionate collaborative musician.
Having completed a Bachelor of Music with first class Honours in Piano Performance at the University of Waikato under Katherin Austin, Euan spent two years as a New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) Conducting Fellow under Hamish McKeitch and James Judd. Euan has also studied under notable Kiwi conductors Kenneth Young, Peter Walls, Michael Joel, and Peter Adams, and received tutelage from NZSO Principal conductor Gemma New and international guest conductors Miguel Harth-Bedoya, André de Ridder, Mark Wigglesworth and Alice Farnham. He is currently studying conducting with Dr Luke Dollman at the Elder Conservatorium of Music in association with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and has been accepted into the Australian Conducting Academy in 2025.
Euan’s conducting engagements have included positions and performances with Opus Orchestra, NZSO National Youth Orchestra, Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and Wind Orchestra, Adelaide Summer Orchestra, St Matthews Chamber Orchestra, Bay of Plenty Symphonia, Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra, Youth Orchestra Waikato and the University of Waikato Orchestra, along with several smaller community ensembles. He also conducted the University of Waikato’s productions of Puccini’s opera Gianni Schicchi in 2022/2023.
As a pianist, Euan is a versatile collaborator, performer, orchestral player and teacher, and was recently Assistant Chorus Master and rehearsal pianist with State Opera South Australia.
DANIEL HURST – Soloist
Daniel Hurst is a second year Classical Performance student who has been playing the clarinet for 11 years. Other instruments he plays include Bass Clarinet, various Saxophones, and drums. Daniel is currently part of the Elder Conservatorium Wind Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra as well as the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, a position he has held since 2022. Previous performance experiences include various Elder Conservatorium lunchtime concerts, chamber concerts, tours, and the ASO She Speaks festival.
SHANNON WHITEHEAD – Soloist
Shannon is currently studying Classical Performance at the Elder Conservatorium, under Elizabeth Layton. She completed her AMEB Certificate of Performance with a high distinction in 2020, and was the concert master of the Brighton Secondary School Orchestra. Shannon teaches violin and piano at various schools around Adelaide.