Australia's Southern Cross Soloists Present RHAPSODY at QPAC, July 29

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Brisbane's own Southern Cross Soloists and special guest artists will present Rhapsody in Queensland Performing Arts Centre's (QPAC's) Concert Hall on Sunday 29 July. Featuring works by Gershwin, Vivaldi, Dean, Copland and Debussy, Rhapsody is the second concert in their 2012 season.

Southern Cross Soloists' Creative Director and Oboist TaniA Frazer said that the definition of the term 'rhapsody' is often associated with the word 'epic'.

"The term Rhapsody actually originated in ancient Greece. 'Rhaspode' essentially means 'to sew songs together', and a Rhapsode was a singer of epic poetry," she said. "We are certainly featuring 'epic' works and some beautiful poetry in this afternoon concert. A highlight will be George Gershwin's iconic piece, Rhapsody in Blue, which was the first successful American jazz-classical cross-over work. This work features one of the most 'epically' difficult openings of all times, the notorious clarinetglissando. Southern Cross Soloists member Paul Dean will also play the 'epic' clarinet test piece from the Paris Conservatoire, Debussy's Premier Rhapsody and the Soloists will perform a delightful chamber concerto by the 'epic' father of the virtuoso concerto, Antonio Vivaldi."

In addition, this concert program will feature a world premiere, Dean's own rhapsodic composition, entitled Amid a crowd of stars. Dean took his inspiration for this new work fromthe poetry of W.B.Yeats, Dylan Thomas and Mary Frye.

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