Arabic version: الأب والابنة آلّان يجتمعان مجدداً في جولة لأعمال باخ

According to ABC News, baritone Christopher Allan and his soprano daughter Miriam Allan are preparing to perform JS Bach’s Coffee Cantata together in Australia. The work presents a comic dispute between a father who wants his daughter to stop drinking coffee and a daughter who refuses. Christopher said the story recalls his own children’s teenage determination, while Miriam noted the contrast that her father loves coffee and she prefers tea.

Christopher raised his family in Newcastle, NSW, where music was a constant presence. He said Miriam began piano lessons at five, showed perfect pitch and joined the Newcastle cathedral choir at six. By 18, she had sung on the ABC and completed professional engagements with the Song Company. Christopher, who taught at Newcastle Conservatorium, arranged for Miriam to study with a teacher from another university when she chose to pursue music.

Miriam later moved to the United Kingdom and now lives in Windsor with her family. During COVID-19 restrictions in 2021, she was one of four singers in the choir for Prince Philip’s funeral at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. Christopher watched from Newcastle and described the event as a major honour for his daughter. He emigrated from England to Australia at seven and said Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip had been important figures in his household.

Although they live on opposite sides of the world, the pair remain connected through discussions about music and music education. Miriam, also a music educator, said they exchange articles and talk about students. Before COVID-19 disrupted travel, they saw each other about every 18 months, and they last appeared on stage together in Newcastle in 2019. Christopher and Miriam Allan will perform with Bach Akademie Australia from August 5 to 16 in Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra and Glenbrook.