Tag Archives: Tura New Music

Speechless Premiere Finale

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Tura’s world premiere season of Cat Hope’s Speechless as part of the 2019 Perth Festival has wound up with national critical acclaim.

Perth Festival Artistic Director Wendy Martin described Speechless as “an utterly powerful, visceral experience… and experiencing it was extraordinary.”

Music Director Aaron Wyatt and the Speechless Orchestra | Image by Toni Wilkinson

Years in the making, Tura honours composer and director Cat Hope not only for the work itself, but her tenacity and rigour in seeing it through to full production. Tura also praises and thanks all of the creatives, cast, community choir members, orchestra and crew who worked with us on this large-scale production. Special thanks go to Wendy Martin and the team at Perth Festival and the ongoing partnership with Monash University. Speechless would not have been possible without the support of Development Partner Vitalstatistix for facilitating the 2017 workshop in Port Adelaide.

Assistant Director Rakini Devi, soloists Sage Pbbbt and Judith Dodsworth, Composer and Director Cat Hope, and soloists Caitlin Cassidy and Karina Utomo | Image by Rachael Barrett

Tura acknowledges the essential support of The Bux Foundation, Melissa Parke and Warwick Hemsley, as well as the At the Heart donors to the Sound Connections philanthropic campaign.

Gratitude’s go to the members of the inspiring panel discussion on Tuesday 26 February, Cat Hope, social justice lawyer Melissa Parke and Amnesty International Regional Campaign Organiser for My New Neighbour, Claire Birch, hosted by Terri Ann White.

This new wordless opera is composer and director Cat Hope’s personal response to, the issue of voicelessness in society, and being silenced by legal, political or cultural means. Speechless is a vehicle to address these issues and as a reflection of this, the premiere season of Speechless supported Amnesty International and The Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees (CARAD).

The Speechless Soloists | Image by Rachael Barrett

The reviews have been overwhelmingly positive with the work providing audiences and critics with a new perspective on the world of opera as well as a renewed awareness of issues facing marginalised and voiceless members of our society.

The Speechless Cast | Image by Frances Andrijich

Here’s a sample:

“[A] distinctively unique addition to this year’s formidable Perth Festival program… a stirring wordless opera.” Gutter Culture.

“Hope’s composition, the use of unusual stylistic devices, and the strong individual performances combine in Speechless to examine the trying existence of those living in detention across the world. The show succeeds in evoking great empathy amongst its audience.” Gutter Culture.

“Speechless was overwhelming; an experience so forcefully immersive, it was impossible to ignore. And that’s exactly what Australian society needs to experience.” Laura Biemmi, SeeSaw Magazine.

“an excellent opera-theatre experience, creating a nuanced commentary on an emotive issue without the need to preach to the audience. The visceral quality of the sound and the power of the emotions expressed through voice and instruments amply made a point about children in immigration detention. Speechless allows their plight to be heard. Words were superfluous.” The Conversation.

The Speechless Community Choir | Image by Rachael Barrett

“Power in silent plight… amazingly effective and potent.” The West Australian.

“As an evocation of humanitarian crises it was brutal, fascinating and emotionally gruelling. As it should be.” The Australian.

And some audience responses:

“a seriously incredible aural experience – it was a privilege to be in the audience”

“Speechless is challenging, weird, emotional and utterly enthralling.”

Soloist Karina Utomo | Image by Rachael Barrett

PARTNERS

A Perth Festival co-commission.
Proudly supported by Monash University.

Tura’s Annual Program and Speechless are supported by the State Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, in association with Lotterywest and The Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

Louise Devenish On Her First National Tour

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“[An] exciting cross-section of approaches to blending the acoustic and electronic, that shows how diverse percussion music can be”

A passionate advocate of new and Australian music, Louise Devenish has commissioned over 50 works for percussion and premiered countless others. 2018 heralds Louise’s first national tour of her new release music for percussion and electronics, presented by Tura. Performing in May in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne, she will present a collection of works by Australian composers Andrián Pertout, Stuart James, Cat Hope and Kate Moore.

Louise gave a personal reflection on the works and tour:

“These works are the result of long-term collaborations with composers whose work I really admire. The works are particularly special to perform together because three of them were composed for me, on instruments that I love to play. The rich sound world of the works is one I personally really love, of resonant metal percussion instruments across a wide range of deep, low frequency sounds right through the bright, glittering metallics, https://onhealthy.net/product/celebrex/ enhanced by various electronic processes, both live and pre-recorded. It’s an exciting cross-section of approaches to blending the acoustic and electronic, that I think shows how diverse percussion music can be.

The show exists as an album and as a live performance, where the theme of metal is further explored in the video projection – footage of metals from raw to refined is shown on stage: molten, raw materials, shavings and offcuts, and the highly refined instruments themselves [visual projections will be mapped on the instruments by New York artist Ross Karre].

These works were all originally featured amongst other works in my first solo recital series performed between 2014 and 2016. Reflecting on the series, these four really stood out and so were recorded and released as an album in 2017. I feel that I will have a long relationship with these works and will continue to perform them many times. This is my first solo album.”

-Louise Devenish

See the full tour details

Announcing the 2016 Keith Tippett Residency

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TURA is delighted to host internationally acclaimed free jazz pianist, composer and innovator, Keith Tippett in our first ever international Residency as part of our iMprov Program.

Widely recognised as one of the most distinctive and radical pioneers in contemporary jazz and improvised music, Tippett first gained prominence in London in the 1960s with his Sextet and ground-breaking 50-piece ensemble, Centipede. Today, with over 40 years of performance, composition, recordings, broadcasts, film scores, and youth education projects behind him, Tippett brings a wealth of experience to this Residency.

Over the course of the Residency, Tippett will collaborate, improvise, and perform with selected ensembles from the Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO), our very own iMprov Program, and of course, the especially selected Mujician Mosaic band.

As always, our sincere thanks extend to our donors, sponsors, funders and all the individuals who continue to generously support TURA, and therefore enable us to make such outstanding events happen. Without you, international residencies like this one wouldn’t exist. Finally, special thanks to all the incredibly talented and creative musicians, directors and artists who have come together to make this happen.

We look forward to witnessing it all come to life.  Tos Mahoney, Artistic Director

UK-based free jazz pianist, innovator and composer, Keith Tippett will come together with the Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO), members of TURA’s own iMprov Program, and the especially selected Mujician Mosaic band in a first-ever Australian Residency.

The Residency will include two stand-alone concerts. The first, an up-close and personal solo sitting in Tippett’s rehearsal room. With the artist, his piano and little else, this will be an incredible opportunity for lovers of contemporary jazz and improvisation to see Tippett at his freest in a truly creative and intimate setting.

After weeks of dedicated rehearsals, the Residency will then conclude with an epic performance entitled “Mujician Mosaic”.  This will feature extended collaborations with a number of selected ensembles of local musicians and stretch across Tippett’s work as a composer, director, facilitator and performer. Taking shape from dedicated rehearsals with both WAYJO and Mujician Mosaic, the concert will allow for structured playing, reworkings, and totally free improvisatory performances; showcasing collaborating artists as ensemble members and soloists. Also included in the Mujician Mosaic performance line-up is a newly created un-scored, free-form piece with the ensemble from TURA’s iMprov Program, which will be created during their dedicated rehearsal time with Tippett.

Residency

23 November – 7 December 2016 Keith Tippett solo performance

7.30pm, Thursday 1 December 2016

Rehearsal Room, State Theatre Centre of WA

Tickets $30 | $20 concession

Mujician Mosaic

featuring the Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra, iMprov and the especially formed Mujician Mosaic ensemble

7.30pm, Wednesday 7 December 2016

Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA

Tickets $30 | $20 concession

2 Show Discount

Tickets $45 | $30 concession

All tickets from ticketek.com.au