Prime Ministerial speeches inspire musical composition
PRESS RELEASE:
On 29 July 2015, Topology and The Australian Voices will take words from famous speeches delivered by Australian Prime Ministers converting them into a musical suite in Unrepresentative Swill, a brand new work created for Queensland Music Festival (QMF).
From Menzies’ Declaration of War to Whitlam’s Well May We Say; Abbott’s, A Stain on Our Souls to Gillard’s Misogyny speech; powerful words from pivotal moments in our nation’s history will be married seamlessly to an overlay of stirring music and choral work.
Staged at QPAC’s Concert Hall, Unrepresentative Swill is composed by Topology masterminds Robert Davidson and John Babbage, alongside musical powerhouse and Artistic Director of The Australian Voices, Gordon Hamilton.
Narrated with witty personal and societal observations by author, comedian and TV personality Adam Spencer, this powerful, thought-provoking performance is a highlight of QMF’s 2015 program.
QMF Artistic Director James Morrison said Unrepresentative Swill would be a reflection on Australia’s political history, while resurrecting defining events that have shaped our country.
“Topology and The Australian Voices are both iconic organisations in the Australian music industry, and this collaboration has seen them create a truly unique new work,” Mr Morrison said.
“It’s going to be a very poignant evening – gripping music combined with significant cultural text – it will be a talking point of this year’s festival.”
Brisbane contemporary ensemble Topology creates original work across many genres, and is renowned for its breadth and depth of collaborations, having joined forces with Geoffrey Rush, Kate Miller-Heidke, Gerry Connolly and Queensland Ballet amongst others.
Featuringfive musicians comprising saxophone, strings, and piano, Topology has been nominated for an ARIA Award, toured extensively around the world, released 11 albums and created an award-winning concert series, not to mention an energetic education program.
The Australian Voices is an award-winning choir made up of singers selected from across the country. For more than 20 years The Australian Voices has championed an astonishing flourish of new Australian vocalists, commissioned hundreds of new works, and is recognised as one of the finest organisations of its type in the world.
Unrepresentative Swill is presented by Queensland Music Festival and Queensland Performing Arts Centre in association with Brisbane City Council, Topology and The Australian Voices, and is proudly supported by ABC Classic FM and 612 ABC Brisbane.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit qmf.org.au