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| From trailblazing Aussies like Simone Young, to the improvisatory genius of Bill Bailey, 2024 was a great year for music. (Sydney Symphony Orchestra: Craig Abercrombie) |
By Janine Marshman
2024 once again showed us the central place that music takes in our lives every day.
Science continued to prove the power music to make our lives better and the Paris Olympics spurred us to reminisce about our favourite musical moments throughout Olympic history.
As excitement heightened about the theatrical release of Wicked, some stage Elphabas share what it’s like to bring the role of life eight shows a week.
We celebrated the music that makes us feel on top of the world with the Classic 100: Feel Good, where Beethoven once agin took out the top spot.
Some incredibly talented performers visited us through the year, from Bill Bailey to Maxim Vengerov.
And our very own ABC Jazz turned 15, continuing an 80-year legacy of jazz on the ABC.
Here are some of the best stories in jazz and classical music in 2024.
The most memorable musical moments in the Olympic Games' history
Mr Bean's appearance at the 2012 London Olympics under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle made a lasting impression
on music lovers. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
With Lady Gaga, beheadings, Céline Dion and more, the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics was full of big moments. But music has always been a big part of the Games, from the very first modern edition in 1896.
Here are some of the biggest music performances, from Torvill and Dean's victorious ice dance to Boléro to the Spice Girls reunion in London.
Bill Bailey's improvisations on Bach, Mozart, and the sacred ibis
Comedian and musical polymath Bill Bailey shared his love of classical music and his prodigious improvising skills during his Australian tour.
He confirmed that he's more of a minor key person, and demonstrated what he thinks the sacred ibis would sound like.
Bailey also showed off his improvisation skills with Tamara-Anna Cislowska with a cracking take on Bach and a cockney-inspired Mozart.
In other great guest moments, we asked Maxim Vengerov to make the hard choices between some violin favourites, and put cellist Alban Gerhardt and pianist Angela Hewitt to the test.
Another highlight was special live studio performances from many artists including the King’s Singers and Ngulmiya.
The science behind why life's better with music
Yuja Wang wore a monitor to track her heart rate through a performance at Carnegie Hall. (Carnegie Hall: Chris Lee)
We know that life is better with music, but it's always nice when science helps to confirm it.
Music has our back, whether that's jazz musicians helping to unlock the secrets of getting in flow, or how music can help us sleep better, concentrate and reduce the chance or burnout.
In an interesting experiment, Yuja Wang wore a heart monitor during a marathon concert of all of Rachmaninov's piano concertos to try and see if musicians and audiences were in sync during the performance.
We celebrated the music that makes us feel good
This year the Classic 100: Feel Good counted down the music that Australians said made them feel on top of the world.
Beethoven reconfirmed his popularity, taking out the top spot in a Classic 100 for the seventh time (eight if you count the Classic 100: Beethoven), with his beloved Symphony No. 9 and its uplifting Ode to Joy chorus.
In the 200th year since the premiere of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, we looked at what has made this music resonate across the world for two centuries.
For the second year running, ABC TV celebrated the Classic 100 with a gala concert of selections from the top 100. It's still available to watch on ABC iview.
See the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with soloists including Joseph and James Tawadros, Mia Robinson, and Paul O'Neill, under the baton of Benjamin Northey.
Deborah Cheetham Fraillon turns 60, Simone Young takes out two firsts at Bayreuth, and more Aussie highlights
At 60, composer and singer Deborah Cheetham Fraillon has brought Australian First Nations songs and stories
to international stages. (ABC Classic: Lucy Zee)
2024 marked the 60th birthday of trailblazing soprano, composer, playwright and advocate Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO.
Simone Young became the first Australian to conduct at Bayreuth Festival and the first woman to conduct Wagner's full Ring Cycle there — an epic 15 hours of music across four operas.
The rare and valuable "Adelaide" Guadagnini violin was entrusted to the custodianship of Emily Sun. And composer and hip-hop artist Rhyan Clapham released his genre-bending album recounting the impacts of water theft in Brewarrina, which won him an ARIA award.
ABC Jazz turned 15
15 years ago the ABC set its jazz listeners a challenge: to embrace the digital world.
Today, ABC Jazz is one of the most popular digital networks in Australia. It's the only place in the country you can hear jazz 24/7.
ABC Jazz has also been a key part of the country's jazz scene, at gigs and festivals, recording and commissioning a broad range of local artists, and being a part of projects supporting young and more diverse talent.
We looked at the ABC’s 80 year legacy of jazz, and James Valentine shared how important jazz on the ABC was during his formative years in Ballarat.
ABC Classic milestones and departures
For The God Who Sings presenter, Stephwn Watkins marked an incredible 60 years with the ABC, recounting his journey from the mailroom to TV and radio.
In the art world, a portrait of Weekend Breakfast's Ed Le Brocq was a finalist in the Archibald Prize. Jaq Grantford's portrait of Ed tells the story of a personal transformation.
Jaq Grantford's Archibald portrait of Ed Le Brocq as a centaur: a creature of wisdom, knowledge and endurance.
(ABC RN: Sophie Kesteven)
We also said a fond farewell to evenings presenter Damien Beaumont, who switched off his microphone after 25 years with ABC Classic. And we said bye for now to Mornings presenter Martin Buzacott.
Sad farewells to artists who died in 2024
Vale Sir Andrew Davis and the other members of the music world who died in 2024. (Supplied)
We commemorate artists who died in 2024, including conductor Sir Andrew Davis, tenor Steve Davislim, piano technician Ara Vartoukian and music titan Quincy Jones. We also remember legendary broadcaster Clive Robertson.
Singers shared what it takes to play Wicked's Elphaba
As Wicked was gearing up to smash box office records, we introduced our own dedicated musical theatre program, The Musical Show.
Behind the curtain, we talked to Australian Elphabas about what it takes to go green eight shows a week.
The Classic Choir sings new music by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon
The Christmas Card performed by VOX, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Sydney Youth Orchestra
This year, the Classic Choir revisited it's origins, commissioning a new Christmas song from Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, who composed the first Classic Choir piece in 2020, Christmas With You.
Cheetham Fraillon's new song, The Christmas Card, was performed by choirs around the country. Watch VOX, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and the Sydney Youth Orchestra in a performance of the official recording.
First published at ABC News, December 26, 2024
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