Pictures at an Exhibition
Modest
Mussorgsky
Grant Foster.
Elegy,
a Homage to Sir Robert Helpmann.
Born in Sydney in 1945, Foster studied piano with Alexander
Sverjensky at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he
obtained his Diploma of Music in 1966. During that same year
Foster won the State ABC Concerto Composition with his
performance of Khachaturian’s Concerto. He then studied in Paris
for seven years with the renowned teacher Professor Marcel
Ciampi and Denise Reviere. He developed a strong technique and
an inspired insight with the keyboard repertoire.
Foster moved to London and returned to composing. He started at
an early age and composed his first opera, Dark Love, at 16. His
music was heard by producers in London, resulting in his
composing of incidental music for Peter Pan directed by Sir
Robert Helpmann. The show was a big success and ran for seven
consecutive Christmas seasons. Later he composed an Elegy
on hearing of the death of Helpmann. A return to Sydney saw
Foster recording his first major classical piano work, Rhapsody
for piano and orchestra - War, Peace, Love, for EMI. Classical
music reviewer in Melbourne, Bob Crimeen wrote of the Rhapsody:
"He has written a composition that could in time, be regarded as
one of the most significant contributions by an Australian to
classical music."
Several directors from Harrods in London heard the Rhapsody for
Piano and Orchestra and commissioned Foster to launch their new
Harrods Selection label. This consisted of a series of three
piano solo CD’s featuring works of the great composers and
including several of Foster's own compositions. For a 4th CD he
was commissioned to compose an overture, The Harrods
Celebration Overture, and this was recorded by the Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra. Foster has given many concerts abroad.
He now lives in Sydney where he teaches and continues to
compose. His compositions include works for piano, songs,
chamber music, a Flute Concerto, and a Piano Concerto.
Franz
Liszt. (Click biographies above)
Funérailles
is No.7 in his complete
work
Cycles Harmonies Poetigues et Religieuse
composed in
1849.
