Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

Sweeping in scope, devastating in tone and unwavering in its artistic vision, this collaboration between composer David Chisholm and poet Anzhelina Polonskaya is a moving elegy to the lives lost in the tragic sinking of the Kursk submarine. In August 2000, a faulty torpedo caused the sinking of the nuclear submarine Kursk, deep in the Arctic reaches of the Barents Sea. With the Russian government unable or unwilling to help, the world watched in horror as the 118 souls aboard were slowly, inexorably lost to the inky silence of the ocean's floor.

From the seeds of this grim spectacle, multi-award winning Australian composer David Chisholm has created an ambitious, almost overwhelming memorial to the personal and symbolic tragedy that was the sinking of the Kursk. Setting renowned Russian poet Anzhelina Polonskaya's melancholic verse within an original composition for an eight-voice male consort and 26-piece chamber orchestra, KURSK: An Oratorio Requiem will be premiered by Melbourne's Arcko Symphonic Project, featuring trumpet virtuoso Tristram Williams, celebrated young soprano Jessica Aszodi and 2010 RMP Aria Award winning bass-baritone Christopher Richardson.

Under the exceptional direction of New York conductor Eric Dudley. KURSK will be a performance of singularly exquisite musicianship, crafted by one of the grand talents of Australia's contemporary music scene. Commencing with a recital by Polonskaya, a moving, unadorned reading of her poetry in both Russian and English, and followed by the scale and majesty of Chisholm's score, KURSK is a haunting and unashamedly epic musical tribute told through a collision of two of the most enduring forms of the Western art music tradition. Performed in Russian and English with translated notes.

Performers: Christopher Richardson, Jessica Aszodi, Tristram Williams (soloists), Arcko Symphonic Project and Male Consort, Eric Dudley conductor.

Poetry: Anzhelina Polonskaya

Music: David Chisholm.

Produced by Maakan Productions

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on (03) 9699 2228 or by email to mail@melbournerecital.com.au

Featured Australian Works

KURSK : An Oratorio Requiem (2011) by David Chisholm — World premiere — performed by Tristram Williams, Eric Dudley, Jessica Aszodi, Christopher Richardson and Arcko Symphonic Ensemble

Featured artists

• Performer Arcko Symphonic Ensemble
• Performer Christopher Richardson
• Performer Jessica Aszodi
• Conductor Eric Dudley
• Performer Tristram Williams