Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

This concert promises to be a musical highlight of 2011 and a fitting curtain-raiser to the Choir’s 60th Anniversary year in 2012. To be attended by the Governor of New South Wales, Chancellor of Sydney University and Patron of the Sydney University Graduate Choir, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, University Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence and other distinguished guests, the evening will see the world premiere of Songs of the Heart, a major new composition by our Music Director, Christopher Bowen OAM, based upon selected poems by the great Australian poet and Sydney University alumnus Christopher Brennan. The work is to be dedicated to Her Excellency on this occasion in grateful recognition of her support for classical music, the arts in general and the Choir in particular.

Christopher Brennan himself was of course not noted for his formality, and the music reflects this. Like Brennan’s poetry, Songs of the Heart uses (musical) language of immediate eloquence and passion to engage every listener, with elements of symbolism and mystery just below the surface. In short, music to be enjoyed and appreciated on both first and subsequent hearings.

The evening will start with Debussy’s much-loved Prélude à l’Après-Midi d’un Faune and Danses Sacrée et Profane, performed by our orchestra including Owen Torr on harp.

The poetry will later take on a nautical theme as the choir and orchestra perform Stanford’s haunting Songs of the Fleet, led by Opera Australia’s Richard Mitchell as baritone soloist. The evening will be rounded off with Parry’s rousing Jerusalem based on the poem by William Blake. The Chamber Choir's recently recorded CD of Saint-Saëns Motets and Mass Op. 4 will be on sale before and after the performance. The ideal Christmas present!

Featured non-Australian music: Stanford, Debussy

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on (02) 9351 7940 or by email to info@seymourcentre.com.au

Featured Australian Works

Featured artists

• New work by Christopher Bowen