Sydney Symphony greets 3rd-gen player
OrchestrasDon Hazelwood joined the Orchestra in 1952 and was Concertmaster from 1965–1998. His wife Anne Menzies was Second Clarinet from 1968–1992. Their daughter Jane has played in the viola section since 1995.
Jane’s youngest son Sebastian Pini (pic together), back from studying in Germany, played this weekend in the double bass section.
Jane’s late husband Carl Pini was concertmaster of the Philharmonia and Melbourne Symphony orchestras.
UPDATE: Sebastian’s brother Daniel was a cello fellow with the SSO in 2018.
Carl Pini was a wonderful violinist
Wonderful to see! Sebastian’s grandfather Tony Pini was also a wonderful cellist and his Dad a true gentleman of the violin
I had the honour of working with Donald Hazelwood in a performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem in Canberra in 1988 – International Year of Peace. As many readers may know, The War Requiem is scored for two orchestras – one, a full size symphony orchestra (we used the Canberra Symphony Orchestra), and the other a chamber orchestra. Donald Hazelwood led the chamber orchestra. In addition, a massed adult choir (I was in that), two children’s choirs and three soloists – soprano, tenor and baritone. As the concert date approached, messages of peace and support arrived from Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Li Peng (Premier of China), Dr Perez de Cueller (United Nations) Jacques Delors (Commission of the European Communities) and our Prime Minister at the time, Bob Hawke. These were all printed in the program. In addition, ambassadors from the USSR, USA, UK and China all delivered speeches of peace and support at the event. In all, there were 271 singers and musicians on the stage of Llewellyn Hall performing this monumental work. The conductor was Marie van Hove.