Music Research Forum: Penelope Thwaites - The Grainger You May Never Have Heard
Grainger Museum
Gate 13, Royal Parade
Parkville
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Join us for the first in our series of music research talks for 2025. The Museum will be open from 5:30pm, with the talk starting at 6pm. No bookings required.
Penelope Thwaites AM - THE GRAINGER YOU MAY NEVER HAVE HEARD an illustrated lecture
Entering Percy Grainger’s musical world is an experience of bewildering variety. His dramatic life is reflected in his music: colourful, concentrated and intense. Penelope Thwaites, concert pianist and composer, has been exploring that world for fifty years as a solo pianist, chamber musician and orchestral soloist. She will be talking about a range of selected works, illustrated by recordings. Her own recording catalogue includes some 270 tracks of Grainger’s music. She is the editor of The New Percy Grainger Companion (Boydell 2010), the only complete survey and guide to his music, including practical advice from sixteen experienced performers, and scholars.
Born in the UK of Australian parents, Penelope grew up in Melbourne, achieving a B.Mus. Hons degree at Melbourne University as top student of her year, and made her professional debut at the Wigmore Hall in 1974. Based in London, she is a proud citizen of both countries, and has appeared as soloist with leading orchestras in Britain, Australia, Europe and America. She has performed and broadcast in some thirty-five countries, making a point throughout her career of playing and promoting Australian composers. Last year she featured in Mairi Nicolson’s ABC Legends series as well as 3MBS Reflections with Ted Davies. A new recording for Albion records, featuring Grainger, Vaughan Williams and Peggy Glanville-Hicks will be released in May 2025.