Australian Artist update – Page 9

June Mendoza Masterclass – ROI 2nd December 2015

Our Patron, June Mendoza is to give a MASTERCLASS at The Mall Galleries Showing how she paints her brilliant portraits ..

June Mendoza AO OBE with Tait Chairman, Isla Baring OAM next to June's portrait of Australian opera singer, Danielle de Niese. — June Mendoza AO OBE with Tait Chairman, Isla Baring OAM next to June’s portrait of Australian opera singer, Danielle de Niese.

It should be really interesting

June Mendoza AO.OBE.RP.ROI.HonSWA
December 2nd, 2015
The Mall Galleries [in The Mall]
All day portrait demonstration
10am – 4pm £25

Cheques made payable to:
ROI June Mendoza Demonstration
Mall Galleries
17 Carlton House Terrace
SW1Y 5BD

June Mendoza AO.OBE.RP.ROI.HonSWA is a member, amongst other art societies, of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. She is one of the world’s foremost portrait painters. She undertakes commissions for portrait painting on a wide range of subjects, examples of which are displayed on this Internet gallery. Her commissioned work includes a number of portraits of the Queen and members of the Royal family, foreign dignitaries and a wide range of portraits of personalities from the Arts, Music, Government, Business and the professions. Her commissioned Group portraits include the House of Commons, the Australian House of Representatives, City Guilds and Boards of many companies and institutions. Please enjoy visiting her internet gallery of commissioned portraits and subjects she chooses to paint from all walks of life.

Toby Thatcher, Conductor – Ensemble Eroica 24th September

Next concert with young Australian conductor, Toby Thatcher with his London group, Ensemble Eroica.

Toby was recently announced as the new assistant conductor with the Sydney Symphony.

September 24th 2015, 19:30

Ensemble Eroica Season Opener – Stone(s) from the Moon

Commenced in the autumn of 1822, Schubert’s enigmatic B minor symphony provides us with one of art’s great questions; intentional or not? And in either case, does it matter? The work is a glorious example of non-conformity, forcing its way into the symphony canon. To borrow eminent Austrian conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s quote (intended for Bruckner’s equally enigmatic Ninth Symphony), the work conjures mystery, fascination, and perplexity equal to that of suddenly stumbling across a ‘stone from the moon’.

In another enigmatic example of compositional intrigue, Johannes Brahms wrote of his second symphony that this was a work of such‘melancholy that you (his publisher) will not be able to bear it. I have never written anything so sad, and the score must come out in mourning’. It is not blasé to state that this opinion of the work is rarely shared by interpreters, the symphony seemingly borrowing more from Haydn and the classical form than from such romantic intentions.

London-based American Flautist Alyson Frazier is a multiple prizewinner and founding member of contemporary music group ensemble x.y. Garnering reviews as a ‘theatrical and compelling performer’ who is ‘impressively accomplished with a beautiful singing tone’. We are thrilled for this collaboration.

PROGRAMME:

Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major Op. 73
– interval –
CPE Bach: Flute Concerto in D minor Wq. 22
Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B minor D. 759 “Unfinished”

Ensemble Eroica
Conductor – Toby Thatcher
Flute Soloist – Alyson Frazier

Tickets will be available at the door. £10 (£3 students). Complimentary refreshments will be available during the interval break.

St James’s Church, Sussex Gardens
W2 3UD London, United Kingdom

Below are links to the event on both Facebook and our website:

https://www.facebook.com/events/503162629841793/

http://www.ensembleeroicalondon.com/season-calendar.html

Russell Harcourt, Counter tenor – Tait update

Lovely to hear from Tait Awardee, Russell Harcourt who recently returned from Sydney after working with Pinchgut Opera.

Russell Harcourt Photo by Simon Hodgson — Russell Harcourt
Photo by Simon Hodgson

He has recently updated his website with some excerpts from the opera Vivaldi’s Bajazet. Hadleigh Adams (also a Tait prize winner) was singing the title role.

Listen to Russell sing Handel here

Russell is currently preparing David (cover) in Saul for Glyndebourne on Tour as well as participating in Janice Kerbel’s piece DOUG in Glasgow which is a Turner Prize Nominee.

Follow these links to learn more about Russell:

www.russellharcourt.com

www.facebook.com/russellharcourtcountertenor

” …penetrating, glint-edged clarity.”
The Australian, July 7, 2015

Russell Harcourt is steadily gaining recognition on the operatic stage and concert platform throughout the UK and Australasia for a refined brilliance of vocal colour and the comic charm of his characterisations.

Russell studied voice with Graham Pushee and made his operatic début in 2007 as Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He made his Australian concert début in 2009 as a guest artist at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and made his Royal Opera House début in the Crush Room in the Deloitte Ignite 2010 series.

Russell has recently returned from a critically acclaimed performance of Andronico in Vivaldi’s rarely performed pasticcio, Bajazet, for Sydney’s Pinchgut Opera. Other career highlights to date include the role of Athamas in Handel’s Semele under Sir Charles Mackerras; an extensive tour with English Touring Opera including roles in Handel’s Agrippina and Monteverdi’s The Coronation of Poppea; performances of Messiah with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, alongside Teddy Tahu Rhodes, under the baton of Richard Gill; and Corrado in Vivaldi’s Griselda, also with Pinchgut Opera.

Recent engagements include Countertenor 1 (cover) The Gospel According to the Other Mary and Hunahpu (cover) Indian Queen, both for director Peter Sellars at English National Opera, Pisandro The Return of Ulysses for Iford Arts Festival under Christian Curnyn and Soloist in the European premiere of Andrew Ford’s The Past for counter-tenor, flute and string orchestra with Ruthless Jabiru under Kelly Lovelady, Australian & New Zealand Festival of Literature & Arts.

Other engagements include Volano Il Giasone under Jane Glover; Fox/Coachman (cover) The Adventures of Pinocchio Opera North; Armindo (cover) Partenope Opera Australia (Sydney and Melbourne); Zelim (cover) La verità in cimento, Licida (cover) L’Olimpiade both for Garsington Opera and Alto soloist Vanguard Australian Ballet.

Oratorio experience includes alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Judas Maccabaeus, Israel in Egypt, J. S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, excerpts from Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and excerpts from Vivaldi’s Stabat Mater, Magnificat and Introduction and Gloria.

Prizes and scholarships include Hariclea Darclée Special Award for Excellence, The Sir Robert Askin Operatic Travelling Scholarship, Tait Memorial Trust Grant, Australian Music Foundation Awards, Ian Potter Cultural Trust Grant, Australia Council for the Arts; Skills and Arts Development Grant and the Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship. In 2008, Russell was the winner of the prestigious Dame Joan Sutherland Award, as well as the People’s Choice Award at the same event and in 2012 he was a finalist in The Kathleen Ferrier Awards at Wigmore Hall.

Russell holds a Bachelor of Music from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and an MA, Dip. RAM in Opera from The Royal Academy of Music. He studied part-time at the National Opera Studio and is an Associate of the Jette Parker Young Artist’s Programme at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. He has performed in master classes for Emma Kirkby, Michael Chance, Andreas Scholl and Rosalind Plowright and he is an alumnus of the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme.

Russell currently lives in London and studies with Yvonne Kenny.

Andronico in Bajazet, Pinchgut Opera

Australian countertenor Russell Harcourt is the vacillating Prince Andronico … He has an exciting male soprano voice … excellent in recitative, growing in vocal stature as the evening progresses…”
Clive Paget, Limelight, Australia’s Classical Music & Arts Magazine, July 5, 2015

“Russell Harcourt’s Andronico is a vibrant and sometimes garish foil to the solemn fervour of Asteria.”
Harriet Cunningham, Sydney Morning Herald, July 5, 2015

“Russell Harcourt rang with impressive vocal consistency as Andronico … Characterised by a beautifully aspirated smooth falsetto that comfortably reached dizzying highs, Harcourt gave a memorable performance.”
Paul Selar, BachTrack, July 6, 2015

Narciso in Agrippina, English Touring Opera

“Russell Harcourt’s fawning Narciso, a dessicated cleric who sings like a nightingale”
Michael Church, The Independent

“Russell Harcourt was nimble-voiced and wickedly self-serving as Narciso”
Peter Reed, Classical Source

Athamas in Semele, Royal Academy of Music

“Russell Harcourt was exceptional. Fine attack, varied tone, stunning decoration, accomplished breath control, and with a clipped acting style that fitted the role like a glove.”
Peter Reed, Opera Magazine

“Harcourt however, not only possesses a beautiful voice and a fine technique, but proved himself to be one of the strongest actors in the show.”
Calvin Wells, Opera Brittania

Nutrice in Poppea, English Touring Opera

“Russell Harcourt was very soignee looking [and] brought great vocal character to the role”.
Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill, 2013

Corrado in Griselda, Pinchgut Opera

“…Russell Harcourt’s role as Corrado, isn’t designed to win hearts but his performance certainly doesn’t lose any. Snappy exchanges…are vociferous and precise.”
Neville Olliffe, Early Music Association of NSW, 2011

Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, WAAPA

“Russell Harcourt made an impressive King of the Fairies. His Oberon was consistently majestic; he moved around the stage as if it were his natural domain and his voice was informed by a slightly sinister quality that sounded entirely right.”
Neville Cohn, The West Australian

Tait Winter Prom 2015

Please save the date for our 5th annual Tait Winter Prom which will be held in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall at the Royal College of Music on Monday the 23rd of November at 6.30 for 7pm. This year we are delighted to welcome Australian virtuoso pianist and Tait Patron, Piers Lane AM who will be playing Chopin. With wine kindly provided by Treasury Wines Estates please join us, sit back and enjoy some of the most beautiful music written for the piano.

We will also be announcing our 2015 Awardees and look forward to hearing some of our talented young Australian artists performing for us at the beginning of the evening. Our awards would not be possible without the support of the Tait Friends, our loyal private donors and our principal partner the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Thank you.

We will first showcase some of our 2015 awardees:

• Alexandra Isted, violin – Tait Scholar at the RCM
• Tabatha Mc Fadyen, soprano – Tait Award, Bel Canto Awards Australia
• Matthew Reardon, tenor – Tait Prize, Australian International Opera Awards
• Chad Vindin, piano – Tait Prize, Royal Over-Seas League
• Peter Wilson, composer – Loewenthal Award RCM

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Piers and our talented awardees and meet them at a small reception after the concert. For our Friends please join us for dinner at the Polish Club with Piers and our Tait Awardee performers. Please follow the link below to book your place and book early as places are limited

Other prizes and awards to be announced shortly

Please come. Help us to support these talented young Australians who are making their mark in the UK.

Ana de la Vega plays with English Chamber Orchestra. Kings Place, Sunday May 31st

Terrific news from Australian flautist, Ana de la Vega. It is a busy time for the Trust with a full calendar of concerts coming up. Ana’s concert with the English Chamber Orchestra shouldn’t be missed.

I write to you from Hamburg where I have rehearsals this weekend. I have just returned from an 11 concert sold-out tour of Australia which was simply fantastic. I was the first time I have played in Australia in 10 years and so very sentimental.I am playing another concerto with the English Chamber Orchestra next Sunday 31st May at 7:30pm at the Kings Place. I play the Mozart Flute Concerto In D and the Mozart Andante in C.

As a proud Australian Ana is the artistic director of the London International Players who have just had a rave review in The STRAD, and her solo career has seen her onto many of Europe’s most prestigious stages!

Ana de la Vega, Biography
Few flautists of her generation have performed so extensively worldwide as soloist and chamber musician. Ana de la Vega’s recent Wigmore Hall debut was reviewed as ‘Outstanding’ (Classical Source), her Cadogan Hall London performance as ‘true artistry’ (Musical Opinion), and her Berlin Philharmonie debut as ‘first-class’.

Ana was student of the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris where studied for her Premier Prix under Catherine Cantin, as well as with Philippe Pierlot and Raymond Guiot. At the age of 23 she won the position of Principal Flute with the Orquestra Sinfonica do Norte in Portugal. Since then she has held Principal Flute positions with the EPK Europa Philharmonie in Baden-Württemberg in Germany, and the Philharmonie der Nationen in Hamburg.

Ana is founder and artistic director of the London International Players, a dynamic London ensemble which brings together the finest musicians of her generation. On the wings of her dynamism they have already in their first season performed in Europes greatest halls to high regard, making headlines in the UK and abroad with their ‘explosive and ‘dazzling’ performances (World Of Classical Music, Wigmore Hall review).

“With tremendous élan and vitality, de le Vega revealed her artistry…”
Musical Opinion, London

—

Ana de la Vega
www.anadelavega.com
London +447944642991

Berlin +491724651909

London International Players

Artistic Director
www.londoninternationalplayers.com

ABC Classics announcement — London Recital 28th May

From Jayson Gillham

ABC Classics announcement — London Recital 28th May.

ABC Classics announces three-album recording deal with Jayson Gilliam

If you haven’t already seen this through the various channels, here is a link to yesterday’s article published by the Australian music magazine Limelight about my signing with ABC Classics: http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/news/abc-classics-sign-jayson-gillham

Needless to say, it is very exciting and I am looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship with ABC Classics. I’ll be making the recording of the first solo-piano disc in Germany next month. As part of my preparations for this recording, I’ll be giving the full programme an airing in London on 28th May – if you are in London please do come along – details below….

London Recital at
22 Mansfield St, Marylebone
Thursday 28th May, 7pm drinks for 7.30pm start

Dear friends, please join me for this exclusive London recital featuring all of the works I will be recording for my debut CD with ABC Classics.

It is a beautiful programme of masterworks by Bach, Schubert and Chopin, and this recital is your only chance to hear the CD programme live. The CD is not due to be released for another year so if you can’t wait that long, you will simply have to drag yourself to this concert!

The recital will take place in the gorgeous home of tireless music supporters Bob and Elisabeth Boas at 22 Mansfield St, Marylebone, London W1G 9NR, where the music will be complemented by a very fine and diverse art collection and followed by drinks and canapés to round off the evening.

To reserve your place, email boas22m@btinternet.com or phone 020 7436 0344. Prices are £15 for the concert only, and £25 to include drinks and canapés. Students can take advantage of the generous offer of £5 for concert only and £15 to include drinks and canapés.

It would be lovely to see you there. The full programme is as follows and is identical to the CD recording:

J. S. Bach Toccata in C minor, BWV 911
Schubert Sonata in A major, D664
Chopin Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op. 45
Chopin Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58

Videos from the Tait Winter Prom Dec 2014

Tait Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Kelly Lovelady

Percy Grainger
Handel in the Strand

Mozart – Ch’io mi scordi di te? with Elena Xanthoudakis

Tait Friends renewals 2015

Principal Partner

Dear Friends,

I was so pleased to see some of our Friends at the “Rising Australian Stars” concert at the ROSL last week where no fewer than four previous recipients of Tait awards played to a very appreciative audience. The music was simply glorious and I hope that you feel, as I do, the warm glow of satisfaction at being part of the nurturing of such wonderful young talent and how, with your generosity, The Tait Memorial Trust has played no small part in moving them along their musical path. With your help we have been able to help them gain the very best musical tuition and to expose them to the challenging and vibrant musical scene of the UK. What their natural talent and hard work, their families and their initial musical education in Australia began we have been able to continue. Apart from their exceptional musical talent one cannot help but be impressed with their enthusiasm, their energy, their strong sense of purpose and their total commitment to the pursuit of excellence. I so enjoyed speaking with Som, Chad, Yelian and Emily, as well as the other performers, after the concert and I am sure you will join me in wishing them all well.

What we have achieved in the past we are to continue. We have received 30 applications for this year’s awards and the standard is, as usual, exceptionally high. Our dedicated team is busy considering all those who are auditioning and we expect to be able to help a new group of very talented and committed young musicians and dancers towards a professional career such as that about to be enjoyed by the recipient of our Leanne Benjamin award for Ballet, Josephine Frick, as she shortly begins her contract with the ENB.

This leads me to the actual purpose of this letter. It is time to renew your Tait Friends membership with The Tait Memorial Trust. It is no exaggeration to write that you, our Friends, are the vital component of our commitment to our young Australian performing artists who come to study here in the UK and we trust you will be able to continue your generous support. In addition, if you know anyone else who would like to be part of this very satisfying activity in nurturing the talent of these wonderful young people please encourage them to do so and ask them to contact me on using the contact form below. I shall be very pleased to welcome them as a Tait Friend.

We have a busy calendar of events in the coming month as you will read below and I look forward to seeing you at one of these events or elsewhere.

Your donation will enable us to continue our important work.

With thanks and warmest wishes

Mrs. Isla Baring OAM
Chairman

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Australian & New Zealand Festival at King’s College, May 28 – 31.

Some highlights include:

May 30th The Story of the Kelly Gang directed by Charlie Tait (1906)

May 30th Tait Concert, Double Bill, Jayson Gillham & The Australia Piano Quartet
Tait/ Australia & New Zealand Festival of Literature & Arts joint concert

May 31st Tait Young Musicians Showcase
Tait/ Australia & New Zealand Festival of Literature & Arts joint concert

July 2nd The Leanne Benjamin Awards
Leanne Benjamin AM OBE speaking with Ross Alley about her career at the English National Ballet Studios at Jays Mews, London.

It is thanks to donations such as yours that we are in a position to offer our awardees such first class opportunities.

Jayson Gillham prepares for Le Louvre

Jayson Gillham played magnificently last night at 49 Queen’s Gate Terrace, London. The home of Sir Vernon and Lady Ellis it has become one of London’s most prestigious boutique chamber venues.

He played a program of Debussy, Chabrier & Ducas. He is such a wonderful artist and speaks and introduces each piece with humour.

We are thrilled that Jayson Gillham is playing for us at the Tait Winter Prom The concert will be at St John’s Smith

He will play this program at Le Louvre next week:

Auditorium du Louvre
12.30
Programme:
Chabrier Pièces pittoresques
Tourbillon; Mauresque; Idylle; Danse villageoise, Dukas Variations, Interlude and Finale on a theme by Rameau
Debussy Etudes, Book Two

He is a truly talented young man

The concert is at St John’s Smith Square on Tuesday 9th December at 7.30pm

Message from Sky Ingram, Soprano

Dear Friends,

I hope you’ve all had a lovely start to your autumn/spring (depending on hemisphere!) – I certainly have! Most especially the start of rehearsals for my debut with the Royal Opera House world premiere of Glare in the role of Lea. Very exciting!! Helping develop a new opera and new story line has been such a creative and different rehearsal experience. I hope that if you’re in London you might be able to come!

Am I am robot?… am I a woman?… am I ‘perfect’?… ’imperfect’?… who knows?! – Come and find out!

Please see the trailer attached and performance dates below…

There’s also lots of exciting stuff in the pipeline for 2015. In particular, (and what I’m currently allowed to reveal), is that I have accepted a La Bohème contract for my debut with English Touring Opera. We will be travelling all around the UK. I can’t wait to visit all the towns that I haven’t had the opportunity to go to yet. I am also excited to be performing in this opera with two fellow Adelaidians; Grant Doyle and Nicholas Lester.

http://englishtouringopera.org.uk/productions/la-boheme-2015

2015 also marks my debut in the beautiful Royal Albert Hall with Raymond Gubbay in their Grand Organ Gala as their guest soloist.

http://www.raymondgubbay.co.uk/whatson/grand-organ-gala-2015/

Well, that’s just a little info for now. As always, please let me know what you’ve been up to – I always love to hear!

Lots of love,

Sky

Upcoming performance dates:

Glare, Royal Opera House

14, 15. 18, 18, 19, 21 November 2014 at 7.45pm  & Saturday 22 November 2014 at 6.00pm

Lea, Glare, Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.

Danish-German composer Søren Nils Eichberg presents a taut operatic thriller about trust and reality.

Haydn Nelson Mass

Friday 5 December 2014 at 7:30pm, Guest Soprano, Victoria Law Courts

Corporation Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B4 6QA, United Kingdom

La Bohème, Musetta, English Touring Opera

Friday 13 March & Saturday 14 March 2015 at 7.30pm

Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1EJ

Tuesday 17 March 2015 at 7.30pm

Hall for Cornwall, Back Quay, Truro, TR1 2LL

Friday 20 March 2015 at 7.30pm

Lighthouse, Kingland Road, Poole, BH15 1UG

Monday 23 March 2015 at 7.30pm

Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich, NR2 1RL

Tuesday 24 March 2015 at 7.30pm

Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich, NR2 1RL

Monday 30 March 2015 at 7.45pm

Lyceum Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA

Friday 10 April 2015 at 7.30pm

Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ

Saturday 11 April 2015 at 7.30pm

Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ

Monday 13 April 2015 at 7.30pm

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DE

Friday 17 April 2015 at 7.30pm

Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Aldeburgh Music, Snape Suffolk, IP17 1SP

Monday 20 April 2015 at 7.30pm

Curve, Rutland Street, Leicester, LE1 1SB

Friday 24 April 2015 at 7.30pm

Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL

Saturday 25 April 2015 at 7.30pm

Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL

Tuesday 28 April 2015 at 7.30pm

Exeter Northcott Theatre, Exeter Northcott, Stocker Road Exeter, EX4 4QB

Thursday 30 April 2015 at 7.30pm

Exeter Northcott Theatre, Exeter Northcott, Stocker Road Exeter, EX4 4QB

Wednesday 6 May 2015 at 7.30pm

The Hawth, Crawley, Hawth Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6YZ

Friday 8 May 2015 at 7.30pm

The Marlowe Theatre, The Friars, Canterbury, CT1 2AS

Monday 11 May 2015 at 7.30pm

Grand Theatre Blackpool, 33 Church Street, Blackpool, FY1 1HT

Thursday 14 May 2015 at 7.30pm

Buxton Opera House, Water Street, SK17 6XN

Saturday 16 May 2015 at 7.30pm

Buxton Opera House, Water Street, SK17 6XN

Monday 18 May 2015 at 7.30pm

Gala Theatre, Durham, 1 Millennium Place, Town Centre Durham, DH1 1WA

Thursday 21 May 2015 at 7.30pm Musetta, La Bohème English Touring Opera

Perth Festival, Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ

** 3 more possible dates in May yet to be confirmed… J

Grand Organ Gala, Raymond Gubbay

Sunday 4 October 2015 at 3pm, Guest Soprano, Raymond Gubbay

Royal Albert Hall, London

Kind regards,

Sky Ingram

www.skyingram.com

https://twitter.com/Sky_Ingram

http://www.facebook.com/sopranoskyingram

Anna O'Brien, Violinist – The Tait Chamber Orchestra

Canberra-born Australian violinist, Anna O’Brien, is a recent Masters graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and is now pursuing a diverse career as a freelance orchestral and chamber musician. She has completed young artist professional development programs with the Manchester Camerata, the Britten-Pears Foundation and the Sydney Symphony, and performs regularly with her piano trio throughout the UK.

Anna will join the Tait Chamber Orchestra at our first concert at St John’s Smith Squate, Tuesday 9th December at 7.30pm

Book here

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September 24th 2015, 19:30

Ensemble Eroica Season Opener – Stone(s) from the Moon

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