by Robert Dunstan.

Ahead of releasing a new album, Lior is collaborating with Australian String Quartet to present Love, Loss & Compassion as part of this year’s extensive Adelaide Cabaret Festival program. Born in Israel, Lior’s family moved to Sydney when he was ten and, after finishing high school and attending university, he released his debut album, Autumn Glow, in 2005 which was nominated for three ARIA Awards and had him appearing at WOMADelaide that same year.

He has since forged an eclectic career that has included penning Hoot’s Lullaby for the ABC series Giggle & Hoot as well as a collaboration with imminent shadow artists Stephen Mushin and Anna Parry for the interactive touring show The Shadows & Light.

Lior, who played the role of Motel Kamzoil in Fiddler On The Roof at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre in 2015, says the collaboration with the ASQ for Adelaide Cabaret Festival came about when he approached the organisers about being involved in the festival.

“I had been talking to Adelaide Cabaret Festival about doing something – maybe with a string quartet – and they then came up with the idea of working with [Adelaide-based] Australian String Quartet,” he says, “and while I have not worked with them before I have, however, performed with their cellist, Sharon Grigoryan, in various guises over the years.

“So it all sounded like a great idea and I’ve heard great things about Adelaide Cabaret Festival so am very much looking forward to it,” Lior adds.

The evening’s program is set to include some of Lior’s past successes along with a small preview of material from a forthcoming album as well as a re-imagined version of Sim Shalom (Grant Peace) from the Nigel Westlake-composed orchestral song cycle, Compassion.

Aust String Quartet at Hotel Hotel Canberra - Image by Jacqui Way - #AdCabFest - The Clothesline
“It’s going to be a really good cross section of material from my back catalogue and I’ve very excited about doing this version of Sim Shalom (Grant Peace) from Compassion which I performed at Festival Theatre with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and [oud player] Joseph Tawadros about three years ago because Nigel has drawn up an adaptation for a string quartet especially for the ASQ.

“And while I am going to try and put some of my new songs into the concert, the reality is that I don’t yet have string arrangements for them,” he laughs. “But I may throw one or two at the ASQ during rehearsals and see what they come up with.”

Lior has completed recording his new album and is currently in the mixing process.

“I’ll be diving straight back into that as soon as I get home from Adelaide,” he says. “I think it’s a fairly eclectic album because I recorded some of it in Melbourne and some over in New York with Justin Stanley [of Noiseworks and Electric Hippies].

“So it has a kind of duality to it,” Lior reasons. “It’s rather varied and that’s always the challenge when you start on a new body of work because you don’t want to be doing the same as last time.”

Lior & ASQ performs Love, Loss & Compassion at Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre, from 6.30pm on Fri 16 Jun.

Book at BASS on 131 246 and bass.net.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.

#AdCabFest

ASQ image courtesy of  Jacqui Way

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Lior is also performing in HUSH 16 – A PIECE OF QUIET with The Idea Of North & Elena Kats-Chernin with Zephyr Quartet at Her Majesty’s Theatre from 1pm on Sun 18 Jun.

This is an all-ages performance presented as part of Adelaide Festival Centre’s Something On Saturday.

Hush 16 - A Piece Of Quiet - #AdCabFest - The Clothesline

This, the 16th instalment of original Australian music created for kids in hospitals, is the compassionate collaboration of three of Australia’s most loved musicians: singer-songwriter, Lior; vocal quartet, The Idea of North; and renowned composer, Elena Kats-Chernin with Adelaide’s own  Zephyr Quartet.

After consulting with Australian children for lyrical guidance, they received responses filled with humour, wonder, excitement and surprising wisdom that spawned this inspirational suite. Listen closely and you will hear the children’s feelings, hopes and dreams. This joyous event will affect you deeply and positively.

Book at BASS on 131 246 and bass.net.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.

#AdCabFest

ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL LOGO - The Clothesline

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