Sitsky’s music the star of his birthday concert

Larry and Magda Sitsky last night. Photo: Peter Hislop

The Music of Larry Sitsky - 90th birthday concert

Larry Sitsky Recital Room

ANU School of Music

August 25, 2024

Reviewed by Ron Kennedy.

Canberra’s most famous composer, Larry Sitsky, the original head of keyboard studies at the ANU’s School of Music, had a 90th birthday celebration concert in the room named in his honour.

Pianist Edward “Teddy” Neeman organised the concert, held, naturally, in the Larry Sitsky Recital Room at the School of Music, included many notable performers from across Australia.

Prof Adrian Walter, head of the School of Music, gave the opening address to the full house. He mentioned the joke Sitsky once made to an overly enthusiastic fan who kept questioning him about the origin of his surname. An annoyed Sitsky had replied that he was named after a room in the School of Music.

The first pieces performed were two of Sitsky’s Fantasias, the No. 4, “Arch”, with Joy Lee on piano and the No. 8 with pianist Alistair Noble.

The intertwining nature of Sitsky’s music is a voice of specific character and nature.

It crosses tonalities, clusters abound, and huge ranges in dynamics are his signatures. Also, deeply personal, complex and thick textures layers his music. Both Fantasias reflected these qualities.

On oboe David Nuttall and piano, Edward Neeman. Photo: Peter Hislop

Then, two movements from his Sonata No. 3, with Aaron Chew on piano. Mystery and speculation are woven into many Sitsky pieces. It’s almost like there’s a code in his music. He makes use of all the keyboard. Pieces sparkle in the highest register, and growl when at the bottom. The piano becomes more than an instrument. It is a sound world telling a fascinating story.

An arrangement of Sitsky’s famous Russian Miniature followed. On oboe David Nuttall and piano, Edward Neeman. Arranged by Sitsky himself, a jumpy dancing tune emanated. Then a Petite Valse by Ukrainian composer Leff Pouishnoff, a work that Sitsky had collected over his long musical career.

During the interval, a book on Sitsky, titled A National Treasure, was launched by Jeanell Carrigan and Rita Crews. Sitsky also spoke. He told a story from his past about his training as a sound engineer and applying for a job at the ABC. He thought he was going to be working with orchestras and string quartets, but instead found himself on the Six O’Clock Rock TV program with hundreds of screaming teenagers. He also spoke about working with The Wild One, Johnny O’Keefe and others.

Bassoonist Ben Hoadley, clarinettist Jason Noble, Vivienne Tran and Aaron Chew on piano performed a mixed repertoire of Sitsky’s works.

 

There was even an amazing video recorded performance of his The Witch of Endor, performed by an enthusiastic Michael Kieran Harvey on piano.

Sitsky’s Fantasia No. 6, for solo bassoon performed by Hoadley, was a sliding musical soundscape. Zuqerq, with Nobel on clarinet and Neeman playing the piano lid like a set of bongos, concluded a night of electric music.

Following an Armenian tradition, the entire audience rose and erupted in applause as Larry and his wife Magda exited the room.

First published at Canberra City News, August 27, 2024

ONE RESPONSE TO SITSKY’S MUSIC THE STAR OF HIS BIRTHDAY CONCERT

Tony Magee says: 30 August 2024 at 6:06 pm

Rob Kennedy mentions in his review that when Larry Sitsky spoke at this event, he recounted that his first foray into employment in Australia was working for ABC television in a technical capacity during the mid 1950's. 

I'd like to expand a little on that. 

The year was 1956. Prime Minister Robert Menzies was in discussions with both the ABC and Channel Nine. His mandate was simple. "Gentlemen - television must be ready in time so we can broadcast the Melbourne Olympics." Menzies was firm and resolute about that. No ifs or buts or maybes. TV must be ready. And it was.

Not only were the '56 Melbourne Olympics broadcast around Australia on television, but it meant that all the overseas networks could link up with us and the games were broadcast around the world. 

But something else special happened later that year involving ABC Television and Larry Sitsky. 

The American pianist Liberace made his first concert tour of Australia. Besides the main live concerts, it was decided that Liberace would include a live television broadcast for the ABC. 

Larry was appointed to oversea all that and make sure all the camera angles were correct - one for his hands only, another camera for his always smiling face, one for inside the piano showing strings and hammers and a fourth further away, showing Liberace and piano together. Plus, the correct placement of various microphones to capture the sound in maximum resolution. 

The day came when Liberace arrived at the Gore Hill studios where Sitsky worked and the two met for the first time. It didn't take long for them to discover, during conversation, that they had both learned piano from the same teacher - Egon Petri.

An instant friendship developed. 

Some years ago, I remember asking Larry Sitsky about Liberace. I just wanted to know what he was like as a person and also Larry's opinion of him as a pianist.

"Tony, Liberace was an absolutely delightful person to work with. Very friendly, kind and sincere." said Larry. "And you know, he was actually a highly skilled pianist, although this was often vastly overshadowed by his increasing penchant for wearing lavish, sometimes outrageous costumes on stage and also his Las Vegas style showmanship and stage persona." 

Rob's review is an excellent summation of what the audience experienced last Monday night at Larry Sitsky's 90th birthday celebration concert - an evening of magic. 

May Larry and Magda Sitsky enjoy good health and happiness for many years to come.