RECITALS
“The finest example of “live” lieder singing I have heard in my 60 year devotion to German Song.
— The Australian
Jeffrey has performed extensively all over the world in both concert and recitals. His love of Art Song, in particular German Lieder was in evidence from the beginning of his career.
He was a finalist at the age of 19 in the inaugural Walter Grüner Competition in London. The judging panel for the competition included International/Australian pianist and accompanist, Geoffrey Parsons, the baritone Benjamin Luxon and Erik Sams (Music critic and academic) and Elizabeth Söderstrom, who were enormously impressed with this young baritone from Australia. Very soon after the competition, Opera, concert and recital engagements were forthcoming. In effect, it was this competition which launched Jeffrey’s international career.
In 1988, Jeffrey undertook recitals for the ABC, in particular, for the Bicentennial Tour of Australia with the acclaimed Australian/International accompanist, Geoffrey Parsons performing Schuman’s ‘Dichterliebe’, songs by Dupac, Ravel, Wolfe, Mozart and Butterworth as well as a performance of ‘La Bonne Chanson’ (Faure) with The Hazlewood String Quartet.
In London he has sung in recital at The Wigmore Hall with the Songmaker’s Almanac (Graham Johnson) in Schuman’s ‘Liederkreis – Opus 24’. In concert he performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in excerpts from Die Fledermaus, in Carmina Burana conducted by Zubin Mehta and Christus in Bach’s St Matthew Passion and Carmina Burana under Franz Welser-Möst. (recorded by EMI).
Dichterliebe
Arena concerts with Kiri Te Kanawa in London, Stockholm, Sydney and Melbourne, arena performances of Pere Germont in La Traviata in Auckland, New Zealand which was again performed under Simone Young in Tokyo with the NHK Orchestra. He has recorded Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer with the Sydney Soloists for ABC Classics and was the Baritone soloist in Faure’s Requiem with the Melbourne Symphony. He has performed in recital with Simone Young for the NSW Art Gallery ‘Portraits’ series. He has performed for His Majesty, King Charles III in a Gala concert at St James Palace
Concert performances in 2004 included New Year’s Eve at the Sydney Opera House, Concert and recording (BIS) of Symphonies 5 & 9 by Alexander Lokshin as part of the Styriate Festival, Graz, Austria, Opera in the Vineyards, Lisa Gasteen in Concert (Guest Artist), Liederabend at St John’s Cathedral & Die Winterreise Oxford & 4MBS Brisbane (recording and recital). This recital was bracketed with Nigel Kennedy as “one of the outstanding performances of this year in Australia.”
As part of the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of Battle of Trafalgar he played the title role in the world premiere of Nelson performed on the Strand at Australia House, London.
2006 saw a recommitment to the concert platform with a series of concerts and recitals in London, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, Australia with his accompanist, Tahu Matheson. Much of the great works of “the sons of Vienna”, were performed during this time; Schubert’s Schwanengesang, Die Winterreise, Schumann’s Dichterliebe and Liederkreis ( Op.24 & 39), Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and Des Knaben Wunderhorn.
Jeffrey has continued to delve into the Art song repertoire, including, Brahms, Duparc, Faure, Webern, Berg with concerts in London, France and Australia including the inaugural Summer festival at Chateau Padies. Performances of Verdi Arias in concert for the 4MBS festival in Brisbane as well as a live broadcast for the BBC, London. Most recently he has performed for ‘Music at St Mary’s’,in Brisbane Australia: ‘Die Winterreise’ with Australian pianist Tahu Matheson. And with accompanist, Sharolyn Kimmorley, ‘To the Fallen – a Concert of Remembrance,’ ‘Song for Sunday’ a series of on-line recitals with the pianist, Roger Cui and a Gala Recital with Mirusia, for the historic 150th St Mary’s celebration Gala.
Jeffrey has supported many charities and generously donated his services:
The Tait Memorial Trust, London – various galas and concerts including the ‘Dame Joan Sutherland’ 70th birthday celebration at Australia House, London to raise funds for Australian emerging professional opera singers.
World Diabetes - ‘Together in Song’. A concert in support of juvenile type 1 Diabetes to raise funds to build two remote Diabetes Clinics in Cambodia.
The London Opera Studio – A concert to raise funds for the studio at St James Palace, London.
MOST – Music and Opera Singers Trust Sydney – supporting The Australian Singing Competition to raise funds for Australian singers to study overseas.
