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Australian composer Westlake’s new work is a celebration that marks a turning point in his life. In a few weeks’ time the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will perform a major new work by Nigel Westlake, with the composer himself conducting. Missa Solis – Requiem for Eli earned Westlake the award for Best New Composition in the Limelight Awards announced last month. No profile of the contemporary Australian composer would be complete without a close look at this latest work (which many are already calling Westlake’s greatest) inspired by an event so tragic that the composer doubted for a year that he would ever compose again. Westlake is best known for his film music, including the hugely popular scores for Babe, Babe – Pig in the City, Miss Potter, and the iMAX productions Antarctica and Solarmax. Westlake’s path to becoming a composer could well be the basis for its own film: now 53, he was immersed in music as a boy, studying the clarinet with his orchestral musician father, Donald Westlake. But Nigel didn’t follow a conventional academic path; instead performing for the ballet and circus, touring overseas with various groups, even forming a fusion band to play his work. His output has been steady and prolific since the early nineties – in more conventional fields of composition! Classical music aficionados point to Westlake’s The Glass Soldier (music from the MTC’s production of the Hannie Rayson play); guitar compositions recorded by Slava Grigoryan, and a considerable output of chamber music. In 2008 Missa Solis, a 25-minute secular Mass to the sun, was commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The secular mass for chorus & orchestra was based on Westlake’s music from Solarmax, and had not yet been delivered – although his ideas for the work were approved by his immediate family: partner Janice, and sons Joel and Eli. Then, in the early hours of June 7, 2008, tragedy struck as Eli, walking home with his older brother and some friends, was deliberately struck by a car and killed. The composer’s “lifelong ambitions simply dissolved … I didn’t see the point in composing or even listening to music for about 12 months”, he told me in an interview as he was emerging from that bleak time. Although grieving for his son, ironically it was Eli’s memory that prompted the composer to start working again. “Eli would be furious that I’d gone off the rails”, Westlake said, “It prompted me to take steps to get back into the studio”. A friend had written in the book at Eli’s funeral: “The gates of darkness will never be closed to the smugglers of light” – and the powerful idea gave rise to two major developments. One was to take on projects in indigenous communities to empower them through music and film, an idea dear to the heart of Eli, a hip hop fan and DJ. “It picked up elements of Eli’s life and was a way for him to live on”, said Westlake. The other was for the composer to start connecting with music again. Westlake credits partner Janice with suggesting a way through the family’s “dark time”. It would be better to assemble existing some work for a CD than getting straight back into composition. Furthermore, such a CD could generate revenue for the Smugglers of Light project, as it was now called. Keen to rediscover his past muse Westlake looked for music that would have a healing element for him, that expressed “tenderness and love”. And so the CD Shimmering Light emerged, a collection of Westlake’s film music. The composer expressed surprise when I asked him if it was a conscious choice that one-third of the tracks were connected with light in some way – he hadn’t noticed! But he agreed with the proposition that the track from Miss Potter, “I’m painting again” had a particular resonance for him. “She goes through grief, and emerges back into her work,” he said. “That track is exactly where in the film she does rediscover her muse”. Now that he was working again too, Westlake looked for something to honour Eli’s beautiful spirit – and found it on his desk: the manuscript for Missa Solis. Not just the music but also the words fitted the idea of a requiem for Eli. The words of a 16th century Italian ode, O Sol, Almo Immortale read: “My joy is born/ Every time I gaze at my beautiful sun; But my life dies/ When I cannot look at it, For the very sight is bliss to me.” Reading “sun” as “son” made the idea irresistible. ‘It was as if Eli was giving me permission to … focus on the music. As if he was on my shoulder, so to speak,’ Westlake said in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald. The world premiere of the completed 44-minute work Missa Solis – Requiem for Eli was performed by the MSO, conducted by Benjamin Northey, at the Myer Music Bowl almost exactly one year ago. Nigel, Janice and Joel Westlake were in the audience, holding hands. But soon, in Melbourne again – as in two recent performances in Sydney – Nigel Westlake will stand on the podium, conducting his greatest work yet and a powerful tribute to his son. And that is where he deserves to be. For information about the concert go to www.mso.com.au and for the Smugglers of Light project www.smugglersoflight.com

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Suzanne Yanko

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Events Calendar

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  • August 2022

Calendar of Events

M Mon

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2 events, 1

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Songmakers Australia: Schwanengesang

August 1 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Songmakers Australia: Schwanengesang

Program Franz Schubert Schwanengesang D 957 Songmakers Australia Schubert’s last song cycle was published after his untimely death at the age of…

Free
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Seraphim Trio – Gallic Charm

August 1 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Seraphim Trio – Gallic Charm

A performance of cherished works and Gallic beauty. About the artists Seraphim Trio is as much a lifelong friendship as a…

$40 – $50

0 events, 2

1 event, 3

11:30 am - 12:40 pm

Mostly Mozart – Musical Mavericks

August 3 @ 11:30 am - 12:40 pm

Mostly Mozart – Musical Mavericks

Riveting passion balanced with delicate lyricism. About the artists Scottish born James Crabb is widely regarded as one of the world’s…

$42 – $49

0 events, 4

0 events, 5

1 event, 6

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Ray Chen

August 6 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Ray Chen

World-renowned violinist Ray Chen makes his long-awaited return to Australia with some of the most demanding, impressive, and emotionally riveting works…

$65.55 – $159

2 events, 7

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Flinders Quartet Concert 2

August 7 @ 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Flinders Quartet Concert 2

Join Flinders Quartet for the sumptuous romanticism and grandeur of Brahms, and the ingenuity and wit of Haydn. Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba -…

$29 – $38
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Corpus Medicorum Concert #3

August 7 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Corpus Medicorum Concert #3

Corpus Medicorum Rebirth 2022 Concert Series. Artists Charlotte Miles cellist Keith Crellin OAM conductor Program Edward Elgar Cello Concerto, Op.85 Antonín Dvořák Symphony No.7…

$10 – $60

1 event, 8

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Stewart Kelly – Schubert’s Swansong

August 8 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Stewart Kelly – Schubert’s Swansong

A journey to the corners of human experience with Schubert’s Schwanengesang. About the artists Stewart Kelly is one of Australia’s most sought-after…

$40 – $50

0 events, 9

0 events, 10

1 event, 11

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Melbourne Guitar Quartet – Flow My Tears

August 11 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Melbourne Guitar Quartet – Flow My Tears

Innovative arrangements, technical flair and superb playing. About the artists Melbourne Guitar Quartet have carved out a reputation for curating utterly…

$40 – $50

1 event, 12

7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Recurring

Stravinsky’s Ballets

August 12 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Recurring

Stravinsky’s Ballets

Wicked magicians, unrequited love, and human sacrifice for a bountiful spring – these ballets have it all! The MSO travels through…

$64 – $119

1 event, 13

7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Recurring

Stravinsky’s Ballets

August 13 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Recurring

Stravinsky’s Ballets

Wicked magicians, unrequited love, and human sacrifice for a bountiful spring – these ballets have it all! The MSO travels through…

$64 – $119

4 events, 14

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

The Lieder Society of Victoria: Erwartung – Markus Matheis & Dean Sky-Lucas

August 14 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

The Lieder Society of Victoria: Erwartung – Markus Matheis & Dean Sky-Lucas

"Erwartung" Markus Matheis & Dean Sky-Lucas In this recital ERWARTUNG (expectation) Markus Matheis and Dean Sky-Lucas present a concert which chronicles…

$20 – $25
3:00 pm - 4:15 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

August 14 @ 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

Now firmly established as one of Australia’s most prestigious singing events, the RMP Aria is Australia’s pre-eminent competition for oratorio soloists.…

$25 – $56
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

August 14 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s third concert of the year takes us through works by Benjamin Britten, Don Bank, and…

Free
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

August 14 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

Now firmly established as one of Australia’s most prestigious singing events, the RMP Aria is Australia’s pre-eminent competition for oratorio soloists.…

$25 – $56

0 events, 15

0 events, 16

0 events, 17

2 events, 18

6:30 pm - 7:20 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Harold in Italy

August 18 @ 6:30 pm - 7:20 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Harold in Italy

The prose of Lord Byron provides the artistic inspiration behind this large-scale symphonic poem by Berlioz. MSO Principal Viola Christopher Moore…

$55 – $95
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Guitarra – Paco Peña and The Grigoryan Brothers

August 18 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Guitarra – Paco Peña and The Grigoryan Brothers

A perfect merger of two musical worlds in one performance. About the concert Paco Peña, described by Guitar Player magazine as the ‘world’s…

$79 – $110

1 event, 19

7:30 pm - 9:35 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Poetry in Music – Berlioz and Tchaikovsky

August 19 @ 7:30 pm - 9:35 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Poetry in Music – Berlioz and Tchaikovsky

The prose of Lord Byron provides the artistic inspiration behind two large-scale symphonic poems by Berlioz and Tchaikovsky. MSO Principal Viola…

$69 – $119

2 events, 20

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Sheku Kanneh-Mason & the Kanneh-Mason Family

August 20 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Sheku Kanneh-Mason & the Kanneh-Mason Family

Sheku Kanneh-Mason shot to global fame after his mesmerising performance at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.…

$59 – $119
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Real and Right and True – Lotte Betts-Dean and Calvin Bowman

August 20 @ 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Real and Right and True – Lotte Betts-Dean and Calvin Bowman

"Real and Right and True" - a celebration of the art song tradition of Australia and the United Kingdom. Lotte Betts-Dean,…

$10 – $35

2 events, 21

11:00 am - 11:45 am

Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra – Romantic Adventure

August 21 @ 11:00 am - 11:45 am

Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra – Romantic Adventure

Be swept up the whirlwind of love in Romantic Adventure. Coruscating works make up this scintillatingly curated program, with each piece…

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

MYO – The Dancing Orchestra

August 21 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

MYO – The Dancing Orchestra

Melbourne Youth Orchestra welcomes popular, Vienna based Australian conductor Warwick Stengaards to the podium for The Dancing Orchestra. Vivacious music by Khachaturian,…

$15 – $30

1 event, 22

7:30 pm

Great Performers 2022: Yeol Eum Son

August 22 @ 7:30 pm

Great Performers 2022: Yeol Eum Son

Yeol Eum Son’s graceful and timeless interpretations have moved audiences all over the world. Highly regarded as a brilliant virtuoso, she…

$49 – $119

1 event, 23

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Selby & Friends Twilight Series – In the Shadow of War

August 23 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Selby & Friends Twilight Series – In the Shadow of War

The surprising connection between these works is that of wartime conflict and how it impacted each composer. Program Matthew Hindson -…

$55 – $57

0 events, 24

1 event, 25

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

ELISION – The Aesthetics of Disappearance

August 25 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

ELISION – The Aesthetics of Disappearance

ELISION is an experimental classical music ensemble focused upon pushing sonic and instrumental boundaries in search of visceral expressive experiences. The Aesthetics…

$30 – $37

0 events, 26

0 events, 27

0 events, 28

0 events, 29

0 events, 30

0 events, 31

0 events, 1

0 events, 2

0 events, 3

1 event, 4

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Wanderlust

September 4 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Wanderlust

The Friends of the Auburn Tower Inc presents Wanderlust, featuring Elyane Laussade, piano, and Luke Severn, bass baritone, in a musical…

$20 – $35
August 1
August 1 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Songmakers Australia: Schwanengesang

August 1 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Seraphim Trio – Gallic Charm

  • There are no events on this day.
August 3
August 3 @ 11:30 am - 12:40 pm

Mostly Mozart – Musical Mavericks

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
August 6
August 6 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Ray Chen

August 7
August 7 @ 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Flinders Quartet Concert 2

August 7 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Corpus Medicorum Concert #3

August 8
August 8 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Stewart Kelly – Schubert’s Swansong

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
August 11
August 11 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Melbourne Guitar Quartet – Flow My Tears

August 12
August 12 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Recurring

Stravinsky’s Ballets

August 13
August 13 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Recurring

Stravinsky’s Ballets

August 14
August 14 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

The Lieder Society of Victoria: Erwartung – Markus Matheis & Dean Sky-Lucas

August 14 @ 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

August 14 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

August 14 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
August 18
August 18 @ 6:30 pm - 7:20 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Harold in Italy

August 18 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Guitarra – Paco Peña and The Grigoryan Brothers

August 19
August 19 @ 7:30 pm - 9:35 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Poetry in Music – Berlioz and Tchaikovsky

August 20
August 20 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Sheku Kanneh-Mason & the Kanneh-Mason Family

August 20 @ 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Real and Right and True – Lotte Betts-Dean and Calvin Bowman

August 21
August 21 @ 11:00 am - 11:45 am

Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra – Romantic Adventure

August 21 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

MYO – The Dancing Orchestra

August 22
August 22 @ 7:30 pm

Great Performers 2022: Yeol Eum Son

August 23
August 23 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Selby & Friends Twilight Series – In the Shadow of War

August 25
August 25 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

ELISION – The Aesthetics of Disappearance

September 4
September 4 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Wanderlust

August 20
August 20 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Sheku Kanneh-Mason & the Kanneh-Mason Family

August 20 @ 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Real and Right and True – Lotte Betts-Dean and Calvin Bowman

August 21
August 21 @ 11:00 am - 11:45 am

Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra – Romantic Adventure

August 21 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

MYO – The Dancing Orchestra

August 22
August 22 @ 7:30 pm

Great Performers 2022: Yeol Eum Son

August 23
August 23 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Selby & Friends Twilight Series – In the Shadow of War

  • There are no events on this day.
August 25
August 25 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

ELISION – The Aesthetics of Disappearance

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
September 4
September 4 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Wanderlust

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