Borodins appeal to a wide audience

Musica Viva audiences are in fact very broad. Our concerts are well received by people of all ages, in some cases even primary school students. Last week's Canberra concert was remarkable in the number of young audience members, some wearing pyjamas under their clothes or even clutching a teddy bear. The Borodin Quartet was impressed with the number of young faces and even remarked that it was one of the "best behaved" audiences they'd ever performed to.

Students are also very important to Musica Viva, and as well as special YouthTix at $15 for full time students, many of our musicians give masterclasses at tertiary institutions around the country. This morning Igor Naidin and Vladimir Balshin gave a masterclass to four young musicians from the Queensland Conservatorium. While the Borodins are revered for their interpretations of the Russian classics, their range of repertoire is in fact very broad and so we have no doubt that, while the young quartet performed Haydn and Debussy rather than Shostakovich, this was a very special opportunity indeed.

Things are gearing up for tonight's concert in Brisbane. All seats have been sold and Student Rush Standing Room has been created with only 12 places available. Tonight's concert features Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky and Brahms.