Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

Stravinsky's Petrushka and Tan Dun's double bass concerto, The Wolf, find authentic inspiration in ancient culture and customs: of Russia and the Silk Road.

Elliott Gyger's title comes from a scene in The Rite of Spring: 'The Acquisition of the Earth by Dancing.' The idea of acquiring the earth, with its sinister overtones, has given him a springboard for his latest orchestral work. There's also something sinister to the story of Petrushka, Stravinsky's 'immortal and unhappy hero' - a straw-filled puppet with a heart that can be broken. But Stravinsky's music for this Russian fairground tale frames the tragedy with vibrant colour and a playful spirit.

Our concerto, inspired by Jiang Rong's novel Wolf Totem, is for an uncommon soloist, showing off the rich, velvety and percussive qualities of the double bass. Its composer is Tan Dun, whose music made such a powerful impact in the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

This August with David Robertson we're performing the three great ballet scores that Stravinsky composed for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. It's a perfect opportunity to hear how this brilliant young composer found his voice and then changed music forever!

Program

GYGER
Acquisition* [P]

TAN DUN
The Wolf - Double Bass Concerto

STRAVINSKY
Petrushka (1911)*

[P] Premiere.
* These works will be performed on Fri 19 Aug.
* Duration of Fri 19 Aug 11am performance approx. 1hr 5mins (no interval).

Featured non-Australian music: Stravinsky, Tan Dun

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on (02) 8215 4600 or by email to info@sydneysymphony.com

Featured Australian Works

Acquisition : for orchestra (2016) by Elliott Gyger — performed by David Robertson and Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Featured artists

• Performer Sydney Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor David Robertson