Whitlam Quote Gets Turned Into A Waltz

“Well may we say ‘God Save The Queen’, because nothing will save the Governor General!” Whoever thought that Whitlam could be made to in a waltz?! Forty years after Gough Whitlam made this famous proclamation, the phrase has been turned into a waltz which will be performed at the Australia Ensemble@UNSW’s concert Big Decisions. 

Composer and double bass player Robert Davidson provides us with a witty and delightful series of thoughts on power and politics in his ensemble piece with video in what is a first for Australia Ensemble audiences…….and what is a waltz without an accompanying tango? Paul Keating gets a bit of a serve in a new version of the Keating Tangos.

Politics and power are darker notions, however, when we consider the music of Dmitry Shostakovich. The glorious Cello Sonata of 1934 was written just before his censure by the Soviet Cultural office for his opera Lady Macbeth of Mtensk and at a time of personal turmoil which seems to heighten the expressive power of this music. Beethoven too had a Russian connection, namely with Prince Razumovsky, an amateur violinist of some repute and commissioner of three of Beethoven’s most famous quartets, the third of which will form the centrepiece for this program.

The programme:
Robert DAVIDSON Big Decisions for fl ute, clarinet, violin, viola and double bass with video (2001)
Dmitry SHOSTAKOVICH Sonata for cello and piano Op.40 (1934)
Raffaele MARCELLINO, Robert DAVIDSON and Maria GRENFELL Selections from The Keating Tangos for flute, clarinet and piano (1999/
rev.2015)
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN String Quartet in C major ‘Razumovsky’ Op.59 no.3
Guest artist: Robert Davidson, double bass

Tickets: Adult $48/ Senior $35/ Concession $27/ Student rush $15

Bookings & enquiries: 02 9385 4874 or click here .