A two-month residency of music and visual art will culminate this weekend at Rockhampton Museum of Art (RMOA) when Camerata – Queensland's Chamber orchestra - performs original pieces inspired by some of the artworks on display at the museum.
Five musicians from Camerata, along with the orchestra's 2024 Emerging Composer-in-Residence Alexandra Mison, have each selected a specific artwork from two current exhibitions: the National Gallery of Australia's touring exhibition Know My Name: Australian Women Artists and Collection Focus: Women and have responded to that artwork through music.
The process has been underway since October, with musicians working on their pieces remotely before arriving in Rockhampton this week.
Rockhampton Regional Council Communities, Heritage and Culture spokesperson Cr Drew Wickerson said:
"This a wonderful opportunity for the people of Rockhampton to see some of the artworks currently on display from a different perspective, through the eyes of Camerata musicians.
"I would like to encourage people to come and see – and hear – Camerata as they perform their responses to these works," he said.
"We don't often see projects like this outside of the major cities and it's exciting for Rockhampton.
"Visitors will witness one-of-a-kind collaborations between music and art, exploring the powerful themes of these groundbreaking exhibitions. In some performances, the music will be performed live in front of the stunning artworks, truly a sensory experience not to be missed," he said.
Brendan Joyce, Camerata Artistic Director and leader said:
"Though we have undertaken projects like this before, it's the first time we are doing this in Rockhampton – a city that holds a special place in our hearts as the first centre we visited on our first annual regional Queensland tour way back in 2009.
"Now the city boasts one of the most stunning galleries in the nation, a truly splendid piece of architecture and I tell people visiting the area that it should be number one on their tourism list.
"We have responded to artworks in Know My Name and Collection Focus: Women – two stunning and compelling collections that we've all been inspired by for the artistry and poignancy," he said.
The public can experience Camerata performing live in several events at RMOA:
Camerata – Kindy Performances. Thursday 5 December at 10.30am and 11.30am. FREE but bookings are essential.
Camerata Live in Concert: Friday 6 December at 6.30pm. Ticketed event. $60 per person. Contact RMOA to buy tickets (www.rmoa.com.au/Whats-On/Camerata-Live-in-Concert).
Public in-gallery performances: Saturday 7 December at 10am, 10.45am and 1.30pm. FREE.
