(b. 4 November 1957, Tashkent).
Australian composer, born in Uzbekistan, of mostly stage, orchestral, chamber, choral, and piano works that have been performed throughout the world.
Ms. Kats-Chernin studied figure skating and music as a child. She studied at the School of Music in Yaroslavl from 1962–71 and the Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow from 1972–75. She then studied composition with Richard Toop at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music of the University of Sydney from 1975–80 and with Helmut Lachenmann at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover and the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst Stuttgart, on a scholarship from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst.
Among her honours are the Sounds Australian Award for best composition (1996), the Jean Bogan Prize (1996), the Green Room Award for best original music for dance (2003, for Wild Swans), the Helpmann Award for best original score (2004, for Wild Swans), and a two-year fellowship from the Australia Council for the Arts (2004–05, to enable a collaboration with Meryl Tankard). In addition, Deep Sea Dreaming was featured at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Sydney (2000) and Water was featured at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup in Sydney (2003).
She lived in Australia from 1975–80 and in Germany from 1980–94, but has once again lived in Australia since 1994.
In addition to the works listed below, she has composed several ballets and incidental music for state theatres in Austria and Germany, as well as collaborations with the choreographer Reinhild Hoffmann in experimental productions in Germany, Italy, Japan, and Portugal.
Her publisher is Boosey & Hawkes.
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE:
Coco's Last Collection (suite), dancer, 2 pianos, 1994
Iphis (opera, libretto by Richard Toop, after Ovid), 2 sopranos, mezzo-soprano, 2 tenors, baritone, flute (+ piccolo), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), trumpet, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano (+ synthesizer), percussion, 1997, revised 2005
Matricide, The Musical (opera in 1 act, libretto by Kathleen Mary Fallon), 6 sopranos, clarinet (+ bass clarinet, alto saxophone), double bass, piano (+ synthesizer), percussion, 1998
Wild Swans (ballet, choreography by Meryl Tankard, vocalise, after Hans Christian Andersen), soprano, orchestra, 2002 (a concert suite was arranged; also concert version of some sections for violin, piano; one section may be performed separately as a concert work: Eliza Aria [also versions for soprano, piano; violin, piano; piano; string quartet; trumpet, piano; cello, piano; piccolo/flute, piano; piccolo, string quartet])
Mr Barbeque (12 cabaret songs, text by Jānis Balodis [English translation]), tenor, clarinet, bassoon, violin, double bass, piano, percussion, 2002 (also concert version of some sections as Mr Barbeque Reflections, violin, piano)
Undertow (chamber opera, libretto by Juha Vanhakartano, Andrea Rieniets), 5 voices, 2 actors, dancer, 8 players, 2003
Amalgamate (ballet), indigenous voice from Australia, didgeridoo (wind instrument from Australia), large orchestra, 2006
The Rage of Life (chamber opera, libretto by Igor Bauersima), 3 sopranos, mezzo-soprano, 2 tenors, baritone, bass, small orchestra (oboe [+ English horn], clarinet [+ bass clarinet], trumpet, trombone, tuba, electric guitar, synthesizer, 2 percussion, 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, double bass), 2010
The Little Green Road to Fairy Land (ballet, choreography by Rosetta Cook), soprano, 10 players, 2011
Poppea (opera musicale in 3 acts with a prologue, after Claudio Monteverdi, libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello [translated by Susanne Felicitas Wolf]), 4 sopranos, mezzo-soprano, alto, 4 tenors, 2 baritones, bass, mixed chorus, small orchestra (2 clarinets, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, banjo, jazz piano, toy piano, percussion, 11 violins, 4 violas, double bass), 2012
Odysseus (dramma per musica in 3 acts with a prologue, after Claudio Monteverdi, libretto by Giacomo Badoaro [translated by Susanne Felicitas Wolf, Ulrich Lenz]), 2 sopranos, 2 mezzo-sopranos, alto, 4 tenors, 2 baritones, 2 basses, mixed chorus, 2 harps, 10 cellos, 2012
Orpheus (favola in musica in 5 acts with a prologue, after Claudio Monteverdi, libretto by Alessandro Striggio [son] [translated by Susanne Felicitas Wolf]), soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, 2 basses, mixed chorus, small orchestra (9 winds, 4 French horns, 2 trumpets, bass trombone, tuba, cimbalom, celesta, accordion, bandoneón, 4 percussion, 10 violins, 2 double basses), 2012
ORCHESTRAL:
Stairs, large orchestra (64 players), 1984
Clocks, small orchestra (20 players), fixed media, 1993 (also incorporated into film Clocks)
Retonica, large orchestra (76 players), 1993
Cadences, Deviations and Scarlatti, small orchestra (14 players), 1995
Zoom and Zip, 17 or more strings, 1997
TurnTableTurn, soprano saxophone, big band, 1999
Displaced Dances (concerto no. 1), piano, large orchestra, 2000
Heaven Is Closed, large orchestra, 2000
Concerto No. 2, piano, large orchestra (69 players), 2001
Torque, accordion, small orchestra (piano, strings), 2002
Fire, large orchestra, 2003
Landscape, large orchestra, 2003
Lotus, large orchestra, 2003
Water, large orchestra, 2003
Mythic, 2004
Re-Inventions, recorder, string orchestra, 2004 (version of chamber work; also version for bassoon, string orchestra, 2009)
Stoccata, tuba, large orchestra, 2006
Alexander Rag, 2007 (version of work for piano)
Ornamental Air, basset clarinet, small orchestra (2 flutes, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, strings), 2007
Consolation, clarinet ad libitum, string orchestra, 2009 (version of work for string quartet)
Garden of Dreams, didgeridoo, piano, orchestra, 2009
Golden Kitsch, percussion, orchestra, 2009
Re-Collecting ASTORoids, 2009 (also version incorporated into A Rag and a Tango)
Redmyre Suite, large orchestra, 2009
Innocent Clouds, oboe ad libitum/clarinet ad libitum, string orchestra, 2010 (version of chamber work)
Obsidian Light, 2010
A Rag and a Tango, small orchestra (11 winds, 11 brass, timpani, percussion), 2010 (incorporates versions of Russian Rag I and Re-Collecting ASTORoids)
Selenite City, violin, piano, orchestra, 2010
For Richard..., string orchestra, 2011
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Chechyotka – Tap Dancing, trombone, piano, 1979
In Tension, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion, 1982
Solo Januar, button accordion, 1985
Drinking Song, string quartet, 1992
Naïve Waltz, string quartet, 1993 (also version for violin, piano, 2004)
Totschki, oboe, clarinet, 1993
Clip, percussion, 1994, revised 1995
Chamber of Horrors, harp, 1995
Concertino, violin, ensemble (flute [+ piccolo], oboe, E-flat clarinet, bassoon [+ contrabassoon], French horn, trumpet, trombone, double bass, piano, 2 percussion), 1995
ProMotion, amplified ensemble (E-flat clarinet, guitar, cello, double bass, piano, percussion), 1995
Champagne in a Teapot, English horn, ensemble (flute [+ piccolo], E-flat clarinet, French horn, trumpet, harp, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 2 percussion), 1996
Gypsy Ramble, viola, cello, piano, 1996 (also version for violin, cello, piano, 1999)
Kosky Tango, clarinet, string quartet, 1996
Purple Prelude, clarinet, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 1996 (also version for piano)
Removalist Rag, saxophone, piano, 1996 (version of work for piano; also versions for trombone, piano, 2003; bassoon, piano, 2004)
Russian Rag I, clarinet, trumpet, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, marimba, 1996 (version of work for piano; also versions for clarinet, piano, 1996; string quartet, 1996; bassoon, piano, 2004; violin, piano, 2004; flute, cello, piano, 2004; version as Why Not, clarinet, trombone/tuba, piano, 1999)
Twenty-Five Measures, clarinet, 1996
Wedding Suite, flute, violin, 1996
Wild Rice, cello, 1996
Bucharian Melody, violin, piano, 1997
Charleston noir, string quartet, 1997 (version of work for piano; also version for 4 double basses, 2002)
Hemispheres, flute (+ piccolo), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 1997
Umcha Piece, 5 percussion, 1998
Sarglos, alto saxophone, piano, percussion, 1999
Skeletons in the Cupboard, flute (+ piccolo), clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, double bass, piano, percussion, 1999
Terraces, clarinet, string quartet, 1999
Velvet Revolution, French horn, violin, piano, 1999
Character Interludes, flute/violin, guitar, 2000
Little Piece of Gossip, guitar, 2000
N-Tet Rag, clarinet, bassoon, harp, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 2000
Bleached Memories, treble guitar, guitar, baritone guitar, bass guitar, 2001
For Rosa, string quartet, 2001
A Nostalgic Piece, violin, piano, 2001
Patina, violin, 2001
Sand Waltz, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 2001
A Short Waltz, violin, cello, piano, 2001
Still Life, viola, piano, 2001 (also version for violin, piano, 2001)
Vitalia's Steps, piano, toy piano, percussion, 2001 (also version for piano [+ toy piano], percussion [+ toy piano], 2001)
A-void-ance, violin, cello, piano, 2002
Bertina, clarinet, 2 guitars, cello, marimba, 2002
Charmer's Apprentice, oboe, piano, 2002 (also version for English horn, piano, 2010)
Mr Barbeque Reflections, violin, piano, 2002 (concert version of some sections from Mr Barbeque)
Slicked Back Tango, bassoon/violin/cello, piano, 2002
Black Cat Rag, violin, piano, 2003
Melancholic Piece, violin, piano, 2003 (also version for bassoon, piano, 2004)
Naïve Interlude, clarinet, 2003 (also versions for violin, 2003; violin, piano, 2003; viola, piano, 2003)
Peggy, clarinet, 2003
Peggy's Minute Rag, violin, piano, 2003 (also version for bassoon, piano, 2004)
Revolving Doors, violin, piano, 2003 (version of work for piano; also version for bassoon, piano, 2004)
Tranquil Interlude, clarinet, 2003
Three Interludes, viola, 2000–04
After Dinner Music, violin, piano, 2004
Augusta's Garden Waltz, bassoon/violin, piano, 2004
Birthday Rag, violin, piano, 2004
Blue Rose, violin, piano, 2004 (also version for string quartet, 2012)
Butterflying, string quartet, 2004 (version of choral work; also version for violin, piano, 2004)
Cocktail Rag, bassoon/violin, piano, 2004 (version of work for piano)
Colours of the Sea, alto flute, cello, piano, 2004 (also shorter version for piano)
Economy Class Blues, bassoon/violin, piano, 2004 (version of work for piano)
For Alex, violin, piano, 2004
Green Leaf Prelude, bassoon, piano, 2004
Re-Inventions, recorder, string quartet, 2004 (also versions for recorder, string orchestra; bassoon, string orchestra)
The Spirit and the Maiden, violin, cello, piano, 2004
Wild Swans, violin, piano, 2004 (concert version of some sections from ballet)
Eliza Aria, violin, piano, 2005 (version of section of Wild Swans; may be performed separately as a concert work; also versions for string quartet, 2007; trumpet, piano, 2009; cello, piano, 2010; piccolo/flute, piano, 2010; piccolo, string quartet, 2010)
Triptych for Silence, cello, piano, 2004–06 (its three movements may be performed separately: Nonchalance, 2004 [also versions for piano; bassoon, piano, 2005]; No Silence, 2006 [also version for string quartet, 2006]; Blue Silence, 2006 [also versions for string quartet, 2006; flute/violin/viola, piano, 2006])
Burnished Silver, 4 clarinets, 2006 (also version for flute, piano, string quartet, 2006)
Kwong Song, recorder, cello, harpsichord, 2006 (also versions for piano; flute, cello, piano, 2006; 4 clarinets, 2006; string quartet, 2006)
Mater, brass, percussion, 2006 (version of choral work)
Phoenix Story, 2 cellos, 2006
Pink Breasted Robin, string quartet, 2006
Purple Silence, 4 French horns, 2006
Silver Eucalypt, string quartet, 2006
The Beaver Blaze, brass, 2007 (also version for Baroque ensemble, 2012)
Fast Blue Air, percussion, string quartet, 2007
Fast Blue Village 2, string quartet, 2007
Fast Blue Village 3, viola, piano, 2007
Fast Blue Village 4, 4 clarinets, 2007
From Anna Magdalena's Notebook, string quartet, 2007
The Village Idiot, French horn, trumpet, trombone, electric guitar, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano, harpsichord, accordion, percussion, 2007
Birthday Rag for Tom, clarinet, piano, 2009
Calliope Dreaming, violin, cello, piano, 2009 (also version for violin, piano, 2013)
Consolation, string quartet, 2009 (also version for clarinet ad libitum, string orchestra)
Moody Tango, string quartet, 2009 (also version for clarinet, piano, 2009–10)
Ruby Rag, 4 guitars, 2009
Without Words, clarinet, cello, piano, 2009
Innocent Clouds, oboe ad libitum/clarinet ad libitum, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 2010 (also version for oboe ad libitum/clarinet ad libitum, string orchestra)
Seasons, violin, ensemble (2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano), 2010
Interludes and a Rag, flute, English horn, bass clarinet, 2 violins, viola, cello, piano, 2011
Ballade, clarinet, cello, piano, marimba, 2012
CHORAL:
Doo (texts by the composer, Kirsten Winter), children's chorus, 3 mixed choruses, 1996
Gone with the Waltz, 6 mixed voices, 1997
Talk Show (song-cycle, text by Hilary Bell), mixed chorus, 1997
Mater (text from the Stabat Mater), 6 mixed voices, percussion, 2000 (also version for brass, percussion)
Deep Sea Dreaming (text by the composer), children's chorus, orchestra, 2000 (also version for children's chorus, piano, 2002)
Memorial Rag (texts by the composer, Chris Latham), children's chorus, string quartet, 2001 (also version for children's chorus, piano, 2001)
Rockhampton Gardens Symphony No. 1 (text by Mark Svendsen), tenor, children's chorus, mixed chorus, marimba ensemble, brass band, orchestra, 2001
The Bather (texts by the composer, Voice Squad), 4 mixed voices, harp, 2001
Un-labelled (texts by the composer, Xenia Hanusiak), children's chorus, 2001
Ad Astra, girls' chorus, youth orchestra, 2002 (also version for girls' chorus, piano, 2002)
Rockhampton Gardens Symphony No. 2 (text by Mark Svendsen), mezzo-soprano, tenor, children's chorus, mixed chorus, marimba ensemble, brass band, orchestra, 2002–03
Butterflying (text by Chris Latham), children's chorus, orchestra, 2004 (also versions for string quartet; violin, piano; piano)
Psalm 130, mixed chorus, 2005
The Uninvited Stranger (text by Sandy Jeff), 2 mixed choruses, 2 pianos, 2007
When I Grow Up (texts by the composer, choristers from Gondwana Voices), children's chorus, piano, string quartet, 2008
River's Lament (text by Charles Anthony Silvestri), male chorus, 2011
Symphonia Eluvium, boy soprano, mixed chorus, large orchestra, 2011
VOCAL:
Langsam (text by Friedrich Rückert), soprano, clarinet, viola, cello, piano, 1996
Fox (text by Margaret Wild), speaker, orchestra, 2000
Eliza Aria, soprano, orchestra, 2002 (section of Wild Swans; may be performed separately as a concert work; also version for soprano, piano, 2002)
Next, Please! (text by the composer), baritone, clarinet, violin, double bass, piano, 2003
Wild Swans, soprano, orchestra, 2004 (concert suite from ballet)
Dark Wind Blowing (song-cycle, text by Val Vallis), tenor/baritone, piano, 2011
PIANO:
Reductions, 2 pianos, 1984
Tast-en, 1991
Variations in a Serious Black Dress, 1994, revised 1996
The Schubert Blues, 1995
Charleston noir, 1996 (also versions for string quartet; 4 double basses)
Four Rags for Ian Munro, 1996 (its four sections may be performed separately: Rug Rag; Russian Rag II; Peggy's Rag; Removalist Rag [also versions for saxophone, piano; trombone, piano; bassoon, piano])
Get Well Rag, 1996 (also shorter version as Get Well, 2001)
Russian Rag I, 1996 (also versions for clarinet, trumpet, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, marimba; clarinet, piano; string quartet; bassoon, piano; violin, piano; flute, cello, piano; version incorporated into A Rag and a Tango; version as Why Not, clarinet, trombone/tuba, piano)
Sunday Rag, 1997
Alexander Rag, 1998 (also version for orchestra)
Purple Prelude, 1998 (version of chamber work)
Sonata Lost and Found, 1998 (one section may be performed separately: Unfinished Lullaby)
Stur in dur, piano (+ voice), 1998
Suburban Rag, 1998
Zee Rag, 1998
Backstage Rag, 1999
Combination Rag, 1999
Page Turn, 1999
Almost a Blues, 2001
Cinema, 2001
Drums, 2001
Little Door, 2001
Lullaby, 2001
Mystery, 2001
No. 7, 2001
Play Properly, 2001
Rockhampton Rag, 2001
Russian Waltz, 2001
Smudged Mirror Shapes, 2001
After Dinner Rag, 2003
Cocktail Rag, 2003 (also version for bassoon/violin, piano)
Reflections, 2003
Revolving Doors, 2003 (also versions for violin, piano; bassoon, piano)
Tremors dreams memories, 2003
Butterflying, 2004 (version of choral work)
Colours of the Sea, 2004 (shorter version of work for alto flute, cello, piano)
Economy Class Blues, 2004 (also version for bassoon/violin, piano)
Half Moon Prelude, 2004
Nonchalance, 2004 (version of movement from Triptych for Silence)
Sapphire Rag, 2004
Dance in 7/4, 2006
Fast Blue Village 1, 2006
Kwong Song, 2006 (version of work for recorder, cello, harpsichord)
Eliza Aria, 2007 (version of section of Wild Swans; may be performed separately as a concert work)
Fleeting Beauty, 2007
Road to Harvest, 2007
Victor's Heart, piano 4 hands, 2008
Bach Study, 2010
FILM SCORES (DIRECTOR):
Clocks, 1995 (Kirsten Winter) (incorporates Clocks)
Smash, small orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, harp, piano, percussion, strings), fixed media, 1997 (Kirsten Winter)
The Widower, 2004 (Kevin Lukas)
SCORES FOR SILENT FILMS:
Abwege, 10 players, 1995 (for Abwege by Georg Wilhelm Pabst)
Körkarlen – The Phantom Carriage, small orchestra (18 players), 1996 (for Körkarlen by Victor Sjöström)
Menschen am Sonntag, soprano, small orchestra (13 players), 2000 (for Menschen am Sonntag by Robert Siodmak)
DISCOGRAPHY
Stairs. Hiroyuki Iwaki/Sydney Symphony Orchestra (Vox Australis, 1989)
Tast-en. Lisa Moore, piano (Tall Poppies Records, 1994)
Russian Rag I (original version). Donna Coleman, piano (ABC Classics, 1996)
Cadences, Deviations and Scarlatti; Purple Prelude (original version); Concertino; Variations in a Serious Black Dress; Clocks; Russian Rag I (second version). Georges Lentz, violin; Stephanie McCallum, piano; David Stanhope/Sydney Alpha Ensemble (ABC Classics: 456 468-2, 1997)
Totschki. Rita van Ooi, oboe; Roslyn Dunlop, clarinet (Roslyn Dunlop, 1998)
Twenty-Five Measures. Philippa Robinson, clarinet (Innamincka, 1998)
Purple Prelude (second version). Jeanell Carrigan, piano (Vox Australis, 1998)
Chamber of Horrors. Marshall McGuire, harp (ABC Classics, 1999)
In Tension. Mark Summerbell/Seymour Group (ANU School of Music, 1999)
Unceremonious; Procession; Stigma; Golden Edge; Moo; Why Not; Left-over; Digging; Fake Sins; Dizziness; Let the Dust Settle; Not Quite in the Centre; Hot Air; Broken Mirrors; Clocks (excerpt). Uta-Mirjam Theilen, clarinets; Uwe Dierksen, trombone, tuba; Gregory Jones, cello; Elena Kats-Chernin, piano; Heinz Huber, accordion; Dirk Rothbrust, percussion (WERGO/Edition ZKM: WER 2057 2, 1999)
Page Turn. Daniel Del Pino, piano (ABC Classics, 2000)
Four Rags for Ian Munro; Russian Rag I (original version). Elizabeth Green, piano (Elizabeth Green, 2000)
Removalist Rag (second version). James Nightingale, saxophone; Kerry Yong, piano (JLN Productions, 2000)
Four Rags for Ian Munro. Renate Turrini, piano (NEA Music Association, 2000)
Deep Sea Dreaming (excerpt). Simone Young/Sydney Symphony Orchestra (Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, 2000)
Purple Prelude (second version); Russian Rag I (original version); Sonata Lost and Found; Alexander Rag (original version); Stur in dur; Variations in a Serious Black Dress; Suburban Rag; The Schubert Blues; Get Well Rag. Lisa Moore, voice, piano (Tall Poppies Records: TP147, 2000)
Wild Rice. David Pereira, cello (Tall Poppies Records, 2001)
Langsam. Perihelion (Artworks: AW 032, 2002)
Concerto No. 2 (excerpts). Ian Munro, piano; Colin Piper/Sydney Symphony Orchestra (Sydney Symphony Orchestra, 2002)
Russian Rag I (version by the performers). Karak Percussion (Karak Percussion, 2003)
Memorial Rag (second version). Lyn Williams/Gondwana Voices (ABC Classics: 472 822-2, 2003)
Torque. Richard Tognetti/Australian Chamber Orchestra (ABC Classics: 476 102-2, 2003)
Still Life. Patricia Pollett, viola; Stephen Emmerson, piano (Tall Poppies Records: TP162, 2003)
Charleston noir (version for 4 double basses); Chamber of Horrors; Still Life; Wild Rice; Gypsy Ramble (original version); Velvet Revolution. Alice Giles, harp; Patricia Pollett, viola; David Pereira, cello; Stephen Emmerson, piano; Tall Poppies Ensemble; Perihelion; The Four Basses (Tall Poppies Records: TP181, 2006)
Ornamental Air. Michael Collins, basset clarinet/Svenska Kammarorkestern (Chandos Records: CHAN 10756, 2013)