illuminated-classics

Lisztomania

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 07:42:00 GMT

Liszt's greatest piano music performed on an instrument identical to his own!

Camelot Arts Club, Lochee Street, Mosman Park

Saturday 11 October

7.00pm (drinks and pizza available from 6.00pm)

$70 (Premium), $55 (Main), $35 (General)

Program includes:

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

La Campanella

Liebestraum No. 3

Réminiscences de Don Juan (Mozart)

Feux follets (Transcendental Etude No. 5)

Consolation No. 3

Ave Maria (Schubert)

Waldesrauschen (Concert Etude)

St. Francis: The Sermon to the Birds

Experience the excitement and beauty of these legendary Liszt works in the stunning Art Deco surroundings of Camelot Arts Club, in the heart of Mosman Park.

The piano used in this performance is an Erard built in Paris in 1864. Liszt owned two Erards identical to this one. Lisztomania allows audiences to hear his music as 19th century audiences did!

The bar will open one hour before the concert, with drinks and Camelot's famous pizza available for purchase.

Performer:

Jonathan Bradley (piano)

Concert length:

Approximately 80 minutes with interval

Please note: The concert begins at 7pm. Doors will open at 6pm to allow patrons to purchase drinks and pizza.

Have you heard about Apple’s classical music app?

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 05:34:28 GMT

Just when you thought classical music was more accessible than ever, Apple announce they’re on the cusp of launching a purpose-built classical music app.

It’s rumoured to be called Apple Classical (not the most dynamic name, but it does the job), and we’re excited.

Unlike the already popular Apple Music, Apple Classical will specifically cater for classical music. Considering there are so many music genres out there, having the tech giant opt for a streaming app dedicated to classical pieces is pretty exciting.

We first heard about this in 2021, when Apple bought the classical music streaming app Primephonic . Their plan is to offer Apple Music subscribers Primephonic playlists and exclusive audio content.

What’s the point of a dedicated classical music app?

If you’re wondering why we need a dedicated classical music app, you’re not alone. That’s a fair thought. Apple Music and Spotify, as well as other smaller streaming services, already have millions of classical works available. Here’s the scoop…

Classical music genres are complex and convoluted. A single work can be recorded by hundreds of different orchestras or musicians, making it difficult (sometimes impossible) to find the version you want.

Additionally, older works are categorised in a different way. The repertoires of many composers are catalogued via the opus numbering system, which allows individual compositions to be identified. Good in theory, however, this system isn’t universal adopted. Lots of composers only use it for some of their work (great, thanks). Others, like Massenet, used ‘Opus 12B' instead of 'Opus 13' due to superstitions around the number 13, while many 20th century composers have ignored the system altogether.

On top of that, there are composers who were so prolific that they were given their own cataloguing system. For example, Mozart's compositions are ordered according to the Köchel catalogue, where each work was assigned its own K-number long after his death.

Exhausted yet? This is exactly why we need a dedicated app.

Help is at hand!

According to a press release from Apple, classical music fans with Apple Music will enjoy "the best features from Primephonic". This is set to include the ability to search by composer and repertoire, and more ‘fine print’ classical music metadata — the search functionality will be more comprehensive compared to their streaming success, Apple Music. These advanced search capabilities will lead to a significantly improved user experience.

What we know about the impending Apple Classical is limited, but we’re excited for its potential and will be back with another update when we know more. Stay tuned!

Why is everyone obsessed with James Bond music?

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 09:22:38 GMT

From the very first Bond film in 1962, the world has been captivated by the franchise’s iconic soundtrack, especially its famous theme song.

Composed by Monty Norman and arranged by John Barry, the iconic Bond theme is one of the most recognisable pieces of classical music. Evolving with each era, but staying true to its roots, this piece has stood the test of time.

The film series is peppered with classics, but it’s the opening credit song — which changes with every movie — that strikes a chord with audiences and has inspired concerts around the world (like this one coming up in Perth). These songs set the tone of the entire film from the very beginning. Sometimes, the song is released long before the movie, hinting at the viewing experience ahead.

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“The opening title songs have become truly memorable set pieces and give a real lift to the opening of Bond films,” Hollywood-based British film composer David Buckley told BBC. “Our expectations are for something big, seductive and classy. Monty Norman, John Barry and later David Arnold and Thomas Newman, along with a plethora of legendary singers, have established a musical language that is unmistakably Bond.”

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Every opening credit song, except two, made it into the US Music Charts Top 100 . But, numbers aren’t everything — despite being two of the most memorable songs in Bond theme history, Diamonds Are Forever and Goldfinger (by Shirley Bassey) didn’t even make the Top 10. On the other hand, Madonna’s Die Another Day came in at number 3 and stayed in the Top 100 for 17 weeks, even though it’s considered average by many. Although there have been some misses, overall, opening songs are put on repeat and enjoyed for years after the film’s production.

So, why are we so obsessed with almost every opening Bond track?

1. Big names

It’s become an honour to be chosen for a Bond song, and according to University of Huddersfield music lecturer Catherine Hawort h , “a chance to be part of a cultural phenomenon”. It’s no mistake that film producers pick big names and big voices. Over more than 60 years, the movies have seen Tina Turner, Paul McCartney, Duran Duran, Madonna, Adele, Sam Smith, and many more. The soon-to-be-released film No Time To Die features Billie Eilish as the opening track — one of the most celebrated names in modern-day music.

By strategically selecting adored (and let’s not forget, extremely talented) artists, the music is well-positioned for success, purely based on reputation. It gives the movie a publicity and marketing boost. Plus, even if someone isn’t a Bond fan, they’ll likely still listen to the track because they appreciate the artist.

2. Musical genius

The challenge for composers, music producers, and artists, is to capture the individually of the film in question, whilst still reflecting the franchise as a whole. They have to set the scene for the action ahead, and stay true to the magic of the Bond history. That’s no easy feat…

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“I don’t think there’s a formula”, says cultural critic and Bond music enthusiast Scott Meslow , “but I think there are a few things that work. You should aim for a measure of timelessness, without being afraid to embrace the musical trends of your era. And you should forge your own trail; trying to replicate what other artists have done has never really worked.”

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A flick through the Bond music archives shows us that the film’s greatest hits have something in common — even when they’re a completely different genre. Somehow, they’re effortlessly classic, but still capture the contemporary world of the film. This kind of musical genius is something we all appreciate, even if we aren’t consciously aware that we’re appreciating it!

3. Emotionally-captivating

Old or new, our favourite Bond songs evoke an emotional response — that’s why we love them. They utilise masterful, dramatic orchestral scores that capture our attention, and hold it. Whether it’s Paul McCartney’s upbeat melody in Live and Let Die , Adele’s soulful voice in Skyfall , or Shirley Bassey’s bold and brassy Goldfinger , the music is experiential. Because they conjure an emotional response — whether it’s elation, sorrow, reflection, or something in-between, we play them again and again. Why? We’re human, and we just love to feel.

Hear for yourself

To celebrate the new Bond film, Illuminated Classics is proud to present a limited time musical experience — Bond Classics . Landing at the Perth Town Hall for two evenings only, this exclusive classical music isn’t just reserved for Bond fanatics. Learn more here !