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8 Pipers for Philip Glass

8 Pipers for Philip Glass

  • Saturday, 3 May 2025

    7:30 pm

  • Snow Concert Hall

    Canberra Grammar, Monaro Crescent

  • General Admission $78,

    Concession $various

  • In Association with

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8 Pipers for Philip Glass is a musical odyssey in which the gloriously saturated sonic texture of eight bagpipes fills the hall, immersing the audience in a world of haunting resonance and complex beauty. This Australian debut showcases the powerful artistry of French pipers in a concert that demands to be heard, witnessed, and felt with every sense.  

In 8 Pipers for Philip Glass, the music of visionary composer Philip Glass is re-imagined in a captivating arrangement by another creative trailblazer. Erwan Keravec, the master of French highland bagpipes from Brittany—a region where bagpipes are woven into the cultural fabric—believed that Glass’s compositions were destined for the raw, expressive power of bagpipes, including Scottish bagpipes, bombards, and binious. This performance proves he was absolutely right, creating a mesmerising experience that connects Glass’s modern compositions to ancient musical roots.  

Adding to the magic, the program opens with one of minimalist music’s most iconic works, Metamorphosis by Philip Glass. Festival favourite, pianist Sonya Lifschitz brings this solo piano masterpiece to life, setting the stage for a truly unforgettable evening.  

PROGRAM

Philip Glass – Metamorphosis for solo piano

INTERVAL

Philip Glass – Music in similar motion
Philip Glass – Music in contrary motion
Philip Glass – Music in fifths
Philip Glass – Two pages

ARTISTS

Erwan Keravec – Artistic Director (bagpipe)
Gaël Chauvin (bombard)
Mickaël Cozien (biniou)
Gweltaz Hervé (bagpipe)
Erwan Hamon (bombard)
Guénolé Keravec (bombard)
Vincent Marin (bombard)
Enora Morice (biniou)

Sonya Lifschitz (piano)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This concert is generously supported by Jeremy Newman

Photo credits, Erwan keravec by Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Philip Glass by Steve Pyke
Sonya Lifschitz by Sarah Walker

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  • Saturday, 3 May 2025

    7:30 pm

  • Snow Concert Hall

    Canberra Grammar, Monaro Crescent

  • General Admission $78,

    Concession $various

Buy Tickets Now

ARTIST Learn more about the artist

Artist Erwan Keravec - highland bagpiper, composer and improviser

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Erwan Keravec is a highland bagpiper, composer and improviser. In seeking out the more unusual sounds, and ways of playing and listening to his instrument, far from its original cultural setting, he is exploring improvised music, free and ‘noise’ jazz, and establishing a repertoire of contemporary music for solo pipes, trio with solo voice and with choir. With an interest in movement and in settings associated with reinvention, he also writes, plays and improvises for dance.
Since 2007, he has pursued his quest for a style of piping that’s removed from its original setting, with the projects Urban Pipes I (2007) and Urban Pipes II (2011). To make his intentions clear, he commissioned composers to write solo pieces for the instrument as part of the Nu Piping series (since 2011). So far, he has been behind 19 works by 17 composers. For the quartet SONNEURS, he commissioned 12 pieces. This research will lead to IN C // 20 PIPERS (2022) and 8 PIPERS FOR PHILIP GLASS (2024).

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Artist Sonya Lifschitz - piano

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Ukrainian-born/Australian-based Sonya Lifschitz is a pianist working across many contexts, with repertoire spanning from 15th century Faenza Codex to works written for her today. She is known for her fiercely imaginative, daring collaborations across film, animation, spoken word, visual and performance art. Described as “a life force of extraordinary density and capacity”, Sonya’s artistry combines bold adventurousness with exceptional musicianship. She is active as a soloist, creative collaborator, artistic director, educator, radio presenter and a passionate arts advocate for which tireless efforts she recently won the 2024 QPAC Excellence in Classical Music Award.