BYZANTINE - MALLON DUO

In their respective fields, Julian Byzantine and Gerhard Mallon are two of the most renowned instrumentalists in Australia. They have received critical acclaim for their “great artistry and musicality” - Schleswiger Rundschau (Germany), and “spiritual fusion” - Courier Mail (Australia). The duo has captivated audiences throughout Australia and many countries in Europe with their innovative and varied programmes that range from the Baroque era through to contemporary and popular arrangements

The duo's wide popularity has attracted the attention of distinguished composers from Australia to the UK and Latin America. Notable works dedicated to the duo have been ‘Simori', an Australia Council commission from Australia's best-known composer Peter Sculthorpe, and ‘Suite Buenos Aires' by Maximo Diego Pujol, one of the leading guitar composers in Latin America. Both these works are featured by the duo in their recording ‘Music from the New Worlds' available from Walsingham Classics (Australia). The artists' performance in this recording has been cited in Classical Guitar (UK) as, “a first class offering from two world-ranking purveyors of high calibre contemporary repertoire”.

GERHARD MALLON

Gerhard Mallon ranks amongst Australia's most critically acclaimed flautists. Prior to taking up residency in Australia he was Principal Flute of the Nürnberg Philharmonic; and was widely regarded in his birthplace, Germany, as one of the country's most accomplished players and interpreters of Baroque music. His immensely varied career has included invitations to appear as soloist and guest principal with many of Germany's great orchestras such as Munich State, Bayreuth Festival, Dusseldorf, and Frankfurt Symphony; and he has regularly been engaged as Principal Flute with the Malaysian Philharmonic. During his career, Gerhard Mallon has worked with eminent conductors such as Boulez, Sawallisch, Penderecki, Colin Davis, Kondrashin, Celibidaki and Lutoslawski. During his residency in Germany he was flautist with the renowned ‘Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet', and ‘Kammersolisten Nürnberg' with whom he recorded for ‘Intercord'. For many years Gerhard Mallon was resident Principal Flute with the Queensland Orchestra, and he has appeared as guest Principal with many of Australia's leading orchestras such as the Australian Chamber, and Tasmanian and Adelaide Symphonies.

Gerhard Mallon completed his musical training at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik with Professor Klaus Schochow (Principal Flute of the Hamburg State Orchestra). A renowned educator in his field, for many years Gerhard Mallon was Head of Winds at Queensland Conservatorium of Music Griffith University, Australia.