Our resident polymath pianist Peter de Jager draws us on a deep dive into the tragicomic archetype of the subversive puppet, with Stravinsky’s own piano arrangement of three scenes from his iconic 1911 ballet Petrushka, created for pianist Artur Rubinstein in 1921. The composer admitted that he himself could not play it, for want of adequate left-hand technique! PLEXUS then present their newly commissioned world premiere trio, Punch and Judy – a ballet in four scenes for violin, clarinet and piano, by prolific Queensland composer Paul Dean, in which he pays homage to Stravinsky’s deranged puppets, Pulcinella and Petrushka, and Milhaud’s Scaramouche before them. Finally, to complete the unholy trinity of malevolent marionettes, de Jager returns with master puppeteer Zoë Black to pull (and play!) the strings of Stravinsky’s ballet Pulcinella, in a violin and piano version collaboratively reworked with violinist Samuel Dushkin. This Suite Italienne, featuring melodies artfully borrowed from Italian baroque composers Gallo, Monza, and Pergolesi, is an elegant banquet of neoclassical effervescence.

*Dedicated by the composer to the memory of the great music lover and patron, Jan Grant.

Paul Dean’s commission is generously supported by Michael Aquilina.