Two of Australia’s most adventurous classical musicians, Simone Slattery (violin) and Anthony Albrecht (cello), are touring Tasmania in January performing their beautiful multimedia show, Where Song Began. Based on Tim Low’s bestselling book, this performance tells the story of the evolution of song, featuring music spanning 300 years, stunning visual projections and an immersive soundscape. The experience has been described as “like being sung to by the country”.
Performances from January 16-29 around the state, including Swansea, St Helens, Scottsdale, Spreyton, Burnie, Queenstown, Franklin, Bruny Island, Hobart, and even deep in the Tarkine wilderness.
‘Where Song Began’ is a musical celebration of Australia’s birds and how they shaped the world.
Inspired by leading ornithologist Tim Low’s award-winning book, this 50-minute performance explores the Australian origins of song, ‘the birds that can sing’. Such is their evolutionary significance, ‘one may ask whether human music would have reached the heights it has, had the first songbird not sung in an Australian rainforest.’
Accessible for all ages, this work encourages the audience to contemplate the origin of song and the importance of Australia’s rich and colourful bird history. The program includes music spanning 300 years, from Johann Heinrich Schmelzer and J.S. Bach to Arvo Pärt and new Australian works, enhanced by a film of evocative visual projections, and an immersive soundscape.
About the performers: Simone Slattery was recently awarded a PhD in Music Performance from the University of Adelaide and performs regularly with Australia’s finest ensembles. Anthony Albrecht is an Australian graduate of The Juilliard School’s Historical Performance program and is now based in London.
Tickets and info visit www.wheresongbegan.com
Performance length: 60 minutes without interval, including a Q&A
SWANSEA – Wednesday 16/1, 7:30pm
Swansea Courthouse, 4 Noyes St, Swansea
Program:
Arvo Pärt – Fratres for solo violin, 1977 Sarah Hopkins – Reclaiming the Spirit, 1993 Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending, 1917 Chris Williams – bird, songs, seas, 2017 Ross Edwards – Ecstatic Dance No.2, 1990 Johann Heinrich Schmelzer – Cucu Sonata, 1664 J.S. Bach – Prelude from Cello Suite No.1, c.1720 David Lang – Anthochaera carunculate (Red Wattle Bird), New Commission, 2017 Ngarra Burra Ferra – Traditional Indigenous hymn
ABC Radio National Feature: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/offtrack/where-song-began/9811914
Music Australia article:
https://musicaustralia.org.au/2018/07/music-meets-birdcall-the-australian-way-where-song-began/
These performances are supported by Birdlife Tasmania. $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to Birdlife or a related cause.