Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

Bringing Nat’s ARIA-nominated album for piano, strings and electronics to life. During 2020, Melbourne pianist/composer Nat Bartsch responded to the Black Summer bushfires and the extended Covid-19 lockdowns by writing her ARIA-nominated ABC Classic album, Hope. Exploring the space between hopefulness and hopelessness, she created a suite of chamber music pieces for piano, string quartet and electronics. The album was recorded as soon as restrictions lifted, in small spaces around Melbourne with fellow pianist/co-producer Luke Howard. Hope is the further evolution of Nat’s music in the classical genre, though it continues to weave lyrical jazz improvisation and harmony throughout. Her melodic, beautiful music perfectly acknowledges our collective struggles and grief, and inspires healing, optimism and patience. Hope reached #1 on the Australian iTunes Classical chart, 3# on the ARIA Classical and #5 on the ARIA Classical crossover chart, was nominated for a 2021 ARIA award and is currently nominated for an ARIA award for Best Classical Album. Don’t miss this special opportunity to hear Nat’s cathartic suite for the first time in Brisbane in the evocative Plant Empire event space, with coffee, wine and treats for sale. Stay after the shows, mingle with the artists or settle in for the night and enjoy the first set by Muses Trio (4pm), and stay on for Brisbane’s premiere jazz trio Trichotomy (Sun 6 Nov, 7:30pm). Also check out the Saturday program at Plant Empire, with the Muses Trio performing at 7pm, and a heady mix of pop and jazz with teen sensation Pearl and the Doodads at 9pm. Doors and the wine bar open 30 min prior to show time, ie 5:30pm for Nat’s 6pm show, and 7pm for Trichotomy’s 7:30 show. You are welcome to arrive earlier and browse through Plant Empire’s beautiful showrooms. Free parking on site at Station Road Creative Precinct. “You feel as if she’s opening her heart and speaking via the keyboard to you personally. Not a single note is false” (Textura) “Soothing and life affirming.” (A Closer Listen)

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on 0421 477 700 or by email to therese.milanovic@gmail.com

Featured artists

• Performer Nat Bartsch