Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

PLEXUS continues its celebration of Melbourne artists with a program which includes three world premieres by three esteemed and very diverse composers – Brenton Broadstock, Christine McCombe and Christian O’Brien.

PLEXUS continues on its mission to perform works commissioned by the Verdehr Trio, with the Tibetan Dance by Chinese-American composer Bright Sheng. The composer writes: ‘The first two movements of the work are in reminiscence, as if one is hearing songs from a distant memory. The work is anchored on the last movement, when the music gradually becomes real. Here, the music is based on a Tibetan folk dance motive from Qinghai, a Chinese province bordered with Tibet.’ PLEXUS joins forces with extraordinary guest artists Deborah Cheetham (soprano), Michelle Wood (cello) and Damien Eckersley (double bass), in Stefan Cassomenos’ intimate arrangement of the exquisite Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss.

PLEXUS brings together the talents of three of Melbourne’s most vibrant and versatile musicians, with a goal of commissioning and celebrating Australian and overseas composers. The name PLEXUS reflects the ensemble’s devotion to engaging an ever-growing network of exceptional artists across a variety of disciplines, facilitating their contribution to Australia’s rich and diverse cultural landscape. Formed with a mission to follow in the footsteps of the acclaimed ensemble of the same instrumental combination, the Verdehr Trio, PLEXUS brings to Australian audiences the most significant and culturally relevant of these works and continues in the Verdehrs’ tradition, commissioning Australian and international composers on a regular basis. Since launching in 2014, PLEXUS has commissioned over 100 composers and has given over 70 world premieres. Widely acclaimed for its ongoing commitment to Australian music, PLEXUS was shortlisted as a finalist for the 2016 Melbourne Music Prize Outstanding Musicians Award.

Program

BRENTON BROADSTOCK
New work (world premiere)

CHRISTINE McCOMBE
New work (world premiere)

CHRISTIAN O’BRIEN
New work (world premiere)

BRIGHT SHENG
Tibetan Dance (2001)

RICHARD STRAUSS
Four Last Songs (1948, arr. Cassomenos)

Presented by Melbourne Recital Centre and PLEXUS

Featured non-Australian music: R. Strauss, Bright Sheng

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on (03) 9699 3333

Featured artists

• Performer Plexus Ensemble
• New work by Christian O'Brien
• New work by Brenton Broadstock
• New work by Christine McCombe