Melbourne Windpower
Melbourne Windpower brings the late 18th century tradition of wind ensemble music to the present day. The members of Melbourne Windpower perform with the State Orchestra of Victoria.
Melbourne Windpower is directed by American-born horn player Richard Runnels, principal horn of the State Orchestra of Victoria. A graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, he attended Indiana University and the Salzburg Mozarteum. A former member of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and artist-in-residence at the Victorian College of the Arts, he has performed solo and chamber concerts around the world. Richard Runnels made his conducting debut with the Australian Ballet in 1986 and his opera debut at Italy's Spoleto Festival in 1987. His solo CDs Horn Destinations and Hornocopia were critically acclaimed by both the national and international horn community.
Melbourne Windpower's first CD has evoked excellent reviews such as:
‘Melbourne Windpower continues to impress with its stylish interpretations ... excellent performances ... sonorities and tunings between instruments almost ideal.’ (The Age)
Melbourne Windpower is featured on the following titles
A Night at the Opera
Highly acclaimed by critics, this CD highlights wind arrangements of operatic excerpts as originally performed in Vienna between 1792 and 1821.
Performer
Melbourne Windpower
Directed by Richard Runnels. Features wind octets by Haydn, C.P.E. Bach, Beethoven, Bozza and Australian Graham Powning. Recorded in the exceptionally clear and natural acoustic of the Melbourne Concert Hall.
Performer
Members of Melbourne Windpower
Richard Runnels
American-born horn player Richard Runnels, is currently the principal horn of the Orchestra Victoria. Richard has conducted for the Australian Ballet and made his opera conducting debut at the 1987 Spoleto Festival in Italy. He also directs Melbourne Windpower.
