Upbeat for Tuesday 1 March 2016

Ross Harris and Vincent O'Sullivan

 

Brass Poppies is a chamber opera from the productive relationship of composer Ross Harris and librettist Vincent O’Sullivan. It focuses on the disastrous Gallipoli campaign and the fate of the Wellington Regiment at Chunuk Bair. But it’s also the human story Harris and O’Sullivan tell: by giving a voice to the women and families left behind Brass Poppies becomes a lament for lost and damaged lives. Brass Poppies is being performed at New Zealand Festival and Auckland Arts Festival. 

 

 

Russya Connor

In a world where guys call their enemies “mate” and their friends by a four letter word, navigating social convention in Perth was a baptism of fire for German actress Russya Conno. Despite mercilessly poking fun at Australian conventions Russya's satire The Existentialist’s Guide to Survival in Australia was a sell-out in the Perth Fringe. Russya can't wait to see if Kiwis can take the heat!

 

John Luther Adams

'Sila: The Breath of the World' is an outdoor work by American composer John Luther Adams, which is being staged in Wellington's Civic Square as part of the New Zealand Festival. Adams is a Pullizer Prize winning composer known for his large scale works that reflect the natural environment. In 'Sila: The Breath of the World' the audience is encouraged to move around  to see how the music changes in different vantage points. Adams talks about his love of extremes in music.