Traditional Singer Danny Spooner & fiddler Mike Keran join the Australian Chamber Orchestra
10 concerts, first concert Sunday 3rd June 2007, Sydney Opera House

By Sandra Nixon
Posted Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Traditional singer, Danny Spooner, is embarking on a tour with fiddler Mike Keran (fiddle), Richard Tognetti (artistic director and lead violin) and the Australian Chamber Orchestra to present a program called ENCHANTED. The program includes pieces by Brahms, Bach and Paganini interspersed with traditional folk song. Two contemporary compositions are in the song list: "Newell Highway" by John Warner and Bill Scott's "Innisfail Song" commonly known as "Hey Rain". The tour starts at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday afternoon 3rd June - there are other dates in Sydney, Thirroul, Newcastle, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane

More details:

Danny Spooner (traditional singer) and fiddler Mike Keran (fiddle) join Richard Tognetti (artistic director and lead violin) and the Australian Chamber Orchestra to present a program called Enchanted which includes:

Brahms String Sextet in B-flat major, Op.18
Bach Preludio from Partita No.3 in E major BWV 1006
Paganini arr. Tognetti Caprice No.5 in A minor

interspersed with traditional folk music drawing from the following:

Call of the Seals
Byker Hill
Cuckold came out of the Amrey
Newell Highway
Oh for me grog
Jack Orion
Hey Rain

Concert information:
http://www.aco.com.au/Index.aspx?EID=242&SeasonID=89&ProductionID=96

Interview with Danny:
http://www.aco.com.au/Index.aspx?EID=217&BehindTheSceneID=10

Tour dates

June
Sun 3, 2:30 PM
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

Mon 4, 7:30 PM
Anita's Theatre, Thirroul

Tue 5, 8:00 PM
City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sydney

Wed 6, 7:00 PM
City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sydney

Thu 7, 7:30 PM
Newcastle City Hall

Sun 10, 2:30 PM
The Arts Centre, Hamer Hall, Melbourne

Mon 11, 8:00 PM
The Arts Centre, Hamer Hall, Melbourne

Tue 12, 8:00 PM
Adelaide Town Hall

Wed 13, 8:00 PM
Perth Concert Hall, Perth

Sat 16, 8:00 PM
City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sydney

Mon 18, 8:00 PM
QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane

John Warner's 1985 song - Newell Highway - is a celebration of the Warrumbungle Ranges in inland New South Wales. The melody is based on the hymn "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind" and the song becomes an anthem to the environment, ending:

All you who love the earth,
And make her ways your choice
Cry out against the noise of trade,
Demand that silence should be made
That all might hear her voice,
Her ancient, matchless voice.

The song is recorded by Margaret Walters on her joint album with John Warner - "Who Was Here?" - lyrics and CD available at: www.margaretwalters.com