Maxim Vengerov to perform for Musica Viva
Violinist Maxim Vengarov and pianist Paul Lewis are just two of the big names on Musica Viva's line-up for its 70th anniversary year.
The organisation which started out as a music group formed by WWII refugees, has become a philanthropic organisation which now jets in top classical musicians from around the world to perform chamber music in Australia.
"It was founded as a piano quintet by refugees out of Europe. In 1945, some had got out just before the war and some just after, and they basically got to Australia and discovered there was no chamber music," Musica Viva's artistic director Carl Vine said.
From there, they established Musica Viva which has evolved into an entrepreneurial organisation which has been presenting other performers since the 1950s.
"It is essentially a philanthropic organisation built on the principle that good music makes the world a better place," Vine said.
"It's not for profit, we don't answer to shareholders. We don't have to make money, we need to be sustainable ... we just exist to make sure that Australia gets good music."
True to its word, Musica Viva is providing Australia with some excellent music for its 70th anniversary season, including returning favourites the French Modigliani Quartet and English pianist Paul Lewis, and a star turn from top Russian violinist Maxim Vengerov - his first recital in Australia.
Vine said he has been working on this stellar line-up for about four years, and has kept some of Musica Viva's favourite artists off the line-up for the last two years in preparation.
"We've had many unfamiliar artists on our line-up for the last two years so we could put our nearest and dearest friends into the birthday year," he said.
For a full list of the 2015 Musica Viva line-up and to book tickets go to musicaviva.com.au/2015