Download Iconic Canberra sites take centre stage at the CIMF

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Five iconic Canberra locations take centre stage at the Canberra International Music Festival
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Five of Canberra’s most iconic locations provide a dramatic backdrop for the Canberra International
Music Festival’s Sounds on Site concert series. The Canberra International Music Festival runs
from Friday 1 May to Sunday 10 May with a program of over 30 concerts and free events celebrating
notions of time and space, music and motion – Music, Einstein and You.
Einstein and his remarkable contribution to the world of science is the inspiration behind the 2015
festival. Music fed Einstein’s imaginative thinking, focused his mind and contributed to his understanding
of space and time. Sounds on Site uses five stunning locations as a starting point for a unique discussion
on the relationship between music and science. Three of Canberra’s most eminent scientists discuss
different aspects of research that was prompted by Einstein’s groundbreaking General Theory of
Relativity.
Astronomer and Nobel Laureate, Professor Brian Schmidt, presents a discussion on space exploration at
Mount Stromlo Observatory on Tuesday 5 May. This interstellar exploration is set amidst site-specific
performances of the festival’s composer-in-residence, Kate Moore. Kate is an alumni of ANU School of
Music and has been living and working in The Hague, Holland for 14 years. Her expressive and trancelike music is gradually conquering the concert halls in Europe and New York, and now features as a
centrepiece in this year’s festival.
The Shine Dome provides an intimate location for a ‘strung out’ discussion of String Theory with
Professor Craig Savage, Professor of Physics at the ANU (Wednesday 6 May). The 2015 Young Artist
Festival Fellows join the New Zealand String Quartet and Claire Edwardes (percussion) to perform Roger
Smalley’s Strung-Out, as well as other music for strings and percussion. Professor Savage enlightens
audiences on the meaning of string theory from a scientific perspective. The concert is dedicated to the
memory of climate scientist Professor Michael Raupach, who at the time of his recent death was Director
of the ANU Climate Change Institute.
Forest Music takes audiences on a walk through the green labyrinth of Canberra’s Botanical gardens to
discover music and musicians underneath its canopy and hidden among the bushes (Thursday 7 May).
Dr Judith West discusses the science of the Gardens as the festival's Young Artists join The Song
Company and Ensemble Offspring with music that harmonises with nature itself. This musical treasure
hunt is dedicated to Professor Tony McMichael, an epidemiologist who played a pioneering role in
developing research on the health risks from global climate change and other large-scale environment
changes.
From the Letter to the Law takes audiences from the National Library to the High Court, again with a
special selection of music that befits the setting, arguably the most beautiful man-made location in
Canberra.
For Artistic Director, Roland Peelman, Canberra provides the perfect setting for exploring this connection,
for not only do we boast a wealth of musical talent, but Canberra is also home to many of the nation’s
leading science and research institutions:
“Canberra is the most beautiful place in autumn. The days are sunny, the air crisp, the colours reflect a
very rich world of history and connection with the land. The ‘Sounds on Site’ series is a direct response to
Canberra’s environment and enables our audience to experience music in a different way, more like an
art gallery where you are free to wonder about, or like a garden where you can smell the flowers or have
a conversation underneath the trees, or watch the sky. More than any other events at the festival, it is an
opportunity to get close to the festival artists as well! It will be a lot of fun, I’m sure. "
For full program information, please visit www.cimf.org.au/festival-overview
For more information, including interviews, photo opportunities and hi resolution images please contact
Miranda Borman, Publicist, on 0434 100 571 or [email protected].
SOUNDS ON SITE
CONCERT DETAILS
Sounds on Site I
Lamentations for a Soldier
Monday 4 May, 12.00pm, Turkish Embassy
Commemorating both Gallipoli and the massive losses on the Western front, featuring The Song
Company and the Turkish ney (flute) player OğuzMülayim with traditional music from the sufi tradition, as
well as Western music of loss and redemption.
Sounds on Site II
Space Exploration
Tuesday 5 May, 12.00pm, Mt Stomlo Observatory
Visit the site of Canberra’s first observatory (now the site of ANU’s Astrophysics department) to enjoy
site-specific performances with music by the Festival’s composer-in-residence Kate Moore, as well as a
talk by Nobel Laureate Professor Brian Schmidt. The event concludes at 1.30pm with a bring your own
picnic lunch and the opportunity to meet Kate Moore.
Sounds on Site III
String Theory
Wednesday 6 May, 12.00pm, The Shine Dome
Visit the extraordinary space of the Shine Dome, home of the Australian Academy of Science. The string
players among the 2015 Young Artist Festival Fellows join the New Zealand String Quartet and
percussionist Claire Edwardes in Roger Smalley’s Strung-out, as Professor Brian Savage enlightens you
on the significance and implications of Einstein’s insight that E=mc2.
Sounds on Site IV
Forest Music
Thursday 7 May, 12.00pm, The Australian Botanic Gardens
Forest Music takes you on a walk through the green labyrinth of Canberra’s Botanical gardens to
discover music and musicians underneath its canopy and hidden among the bushes (Thursday 7 May).
Dr Judith West discusses the science of the Gardens as the Young Artist Festival Fellows and The Song
Company join Ensemble Offspring and others to perform music by Moore, Butterley, Glass and others.
Sounds on Site V
From the Letter to the Law
Friday 8 May, 12.00pm, National Library of Australia to the High Court
From the Letter to the Law leads the audience from the foyer and terraces of the National Library,
through Reconciliation Place to the lofty spaces of the High Court. Traverse through some of Canberra’s
most beautiful vistas accompanied by the music of Gabrieli, Ford, Glass and others.
To book tickets, please visit www.cimf.org.au/festival-concerts