Ross Edwards is amongAustralia’s most lovedcontemporary composers.His belief that music shouldnot be so esoteric, butshould seduce its audience,is evident in his music, which often has adreamy, meditative quality. On this disc,Diana Doherty’s wonderful recording ofEdwards’ oboe concerto, released a few yearsago, is presented alongside two new recordingsby the MSO – the Clarinet Concerto,with David Thomas, and Heart of Night – awork for Shakuhachi and orchestra, featuringRiley Lee. Heart of Night is Edwards at his most serene; the work has an almost dronelikequality. The Clarinet Concerto too isdreamy and meandering but is lifted, hereand there, to moments of jazz-like animation.

Evan Meagher is from Readings Hawthorn