Living Poems of the Sea is a meditation on the enthralling world of dolphins and whales in music, sound, words and images.
Acclaimed flautist Sally Walker was inspired to create Living Poems of the Sea through her experiences of playing her flute to enraptured dolphins and her friendship with dolphin researcher Dr Olivia De Bergerac. Sally plays music accompanying videos and images of human-dolphin interactions over decades, and narrates a story illustrating the importance of dolphins, whales and their complex relationship with humans.
With stirring words and music by composer Lyle Chan, and special appearances of music by Christopher Sainsbury and Miguel del Aguila, Living Poems of the Sea is a work of art that asks a fundamental question: how are we meant to relate to these remarkable creatures?
Program
Living Poems of the Sea (70 min), WORLD PREMIERE
Artists
SALLY WALKER, solo flute and narration, percussion
LYLE CHAN Composer and Writer
MURRAY FARRELL, ROBERT LOADER, GRANT STEVENS Video Artists
MATT BARNES Sound Artist
WILLEM JACQUIER Lighting Artist
DR OLIVIA DE BERGERAC Interviewed Dolphin expert
UNCLE OSSIE CRUSE MBE AM Interviewed Indigenous Elder
CHRISTOPHER SAINSBURY, MIGUEL DEL AGUILA, ERIC SERRA Composers
GERGÖ RUGLI Ocean Photographer
FRANK FUTURE Interviewed Skipper of Imagine Cruises
KATE SERGI Hair and make-up
Additionally:
- Eugene Ughetti, for believing in this project from the beginning and the Canberra International Music Festival
- National Film and Sound Archive and Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand
- Imagine Cruises and Dolphin Swim Australia
- Drs Trish and Wally Franklin and Mark Franklin from The Oceania Project
- To the generous donors: Kathy Deutsch, George Deutsch OAM, Peter Duncan AO, Dr Annie Duncan, John and Irene Garran, Patricia Stone and Anon. (4)
- ANU School of Music
This project is made possible thanks to the generous support from Kathy Deutsch and George Deutsch OAM, Peter Duncan AO and Dr Annie Duncan, John and Irene Garran, Patrcia Stone and anon. (4).
Image: Portrait of Sally - Rohan Thomson, Dolphin photos - Grant Stevens, Graphic design - Cole Bennetts
Tickets and further information here.