From mystical folktales to fading memories, Light and Matter responds to experiences beyond our physical world.

Joined by renowned soprano Jane Sheldon, Ensemble Offspring’s octet perform two world premieres, a visceral Australian premiere and a classic from a recently departed icon. From mystical folktales to haunting fragments of fading memories, this is a program which is truly out of this world.

Georges Aperghis’ Wild Romance isn’t as tender as the title suggests, but is undeniably passionate. Extreme tensions between the vocalist and chamber ensemble evoke the reconstruction of a painful distant memory. Kaija Saariaho’s Light and Matter captures the continuous transformation of light on glinting leaves in New York’s Morningside Park. World premieres by Australians Bree van Reyk and May Lyon navigate the intangible and mystical themes of the program, including Scottish folklore and disembodied voices.

ARTISTS

Georges Aperghis – Wild Romance (2016) – AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
Kaija Saariaho – Light and Matter (2014)
May Lyon – Do Na Chaill (2024) – WORLD PREMIERE
Bree van Reyk – new work (2024) – WORLD PREMIERE

PROGRAM

Claire Edwardes (Artistic Director, percussion)
Jane Sheldon (soprano)
Lamorna Nightingale (flutes)
Ben Opie (oboe)
Jason Noble (clarinets)
Véronique Serret (violin)
Andrew Jezek (viola)
Blair Harris (cello)
Jack Symonds (piano)
Bree van Reyk (percussion)