One Queen of the Cross, two Finnish fiddlers and a century of women composers The Music Show

In the 1960s, the Les Girls Revue made Carlotta a star, and earned her the moniker “Queen of the Cross”. In Sydney’s red light district, she made a name for herself before hitting the road – she’d be the first to remind you that Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is at least partially based on her rural tours. Now she’s contemplating (but not committing to) retirement, she looks back at her career as an entertainer with Andrew Ford.  

Maria Grenfell is a composer for the concert hall and for film, and also a teacher of composition at the University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music. With her follow composer-academics Linda Kouvaras and Natalie Williams she has edited two volumes about the experiences of composing women. She recently sat down with Andrew in her home town of Christchurch to talk about writing for orchestra, teaching, and whether the term 'woman composer' is a help or a hindrance.

Teho. is a Finnish fiddle duo made up of Tero Hyväluoma and Esko Järvelä (who are also members of 7-piece folk band Frigg). At the end of a whirlwind Australian tour the pair speak to Andrew about the rich musical history in the Kaustinen region, bringing traditional music into the 21st Century and how they can get such a big sound out of just two violins. 

Music in Carlotta:

Title: Got To Be Real 
Composer: Cheryl Lynn, David Paich and David Foster
Artist: Cheryl Lynn
Album: Cheryl Lynn
Label: Columbia

Title: I'm The Greatest Star
Composer: Jule Styne, lyrics Bob Merrill 
Artist: Barbara Streisand
Album: Funny Girl (Original Broadway Cast)
Label: Capitol Records W 2059

Music in Maria Grenfell:

Title: Di Primavera III. With energy and bounce
Composer: Maria Grenfell
Artist: Claire Edwardes and Karin Schaupp
Album: Women of Note: A Century of Australian Composers
Label: ABC Classics 4817995

Title: River Mountain Sky
Composer: Maria Grenfell
Artist: Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Northey
Recording: Courtesy of ABC Classic

Music in Teho.:

Title: Jokivarren Polska & Flikuleeri
Composer: Esko Järvelä
Artist: Teho.
Album: Not A Violin Duo
Label: Independent

Title: Tähtisilmävalssi
Composer: Konsta Jylhä
Artist: Teho.
Album: (E2 + ε + V) x I3 = P
Label: Independent

Music at the end of the show:

Title: No. 1: "Múzika igráyet tak bódro" (Olga, Masha, Irina)
Composer: Peter Eötvös
Artist: Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Lyon, conducted by Kent Nagano
Album: Eötvös: Three Sisters
Label: Deutsche Grammophon E4596942