Join me as I prepare a body of work responding to imagery in music that evokes the elements. Together with Melbourne concert pianist, Elyane Laussade, I am exploring interpretations and evocations of nature’s elemental processes as reflected in the compositions of composers such as Debussy, Ravel & Chopin. Our collaboration will result in a concert in Melbourne, combining a live performance and an installation and projection of my paintings.
As I prepare these paintings I am listening with deep attention to the repertoire that Elyane has selected and reading about each composer’s intent for their work. I am considering how best to give expression to the theme, melody and mood of each piece of music in colour, form and brushmark.
The elements, earth, air, fire and water, and nature’s processes, captivate and compel me to paint. Every day I see beauty, decay and renewal - the effects of elemental forces. They constantly create change and adaption. As these processes play out, I witness nature seeking equilibrium and balance and offering metaphors for life. A tall, strong tree reaches to the sky, despite the impossibility of it emerging from a rock crevice; verdant new shoots flourish from a fire-blackened trunk; the dedicated parenting of a pair of kookaburras… each of these occurrences seems to express joy, hope, loss and longing. By noticing and paying attention to them I experience deep connection with my humanity, the land and spirit.
I invite you to journey with me as I create work exploring the imagery, energy and themes of the selected compositions and their evocation of the elements in nature. Along the way, I will share notes, musings and photos with you, directly from my studio.
A graduate of the Juilliard school in New York City, pianist Elyane Laussade has delighted audiences on five continents with her imaginative and strongly individual playing.
Originally from the USA, she has now established herself as one of Australia’s finest performers. She has performed on numerous occasions with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and has been featured by ABC Classic FM and 3MBS in studio recordings and live broadcasts.
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“A pianist with a powerful, polished technique and many an original interpretive notion….with an impeccable sense of style and dazzling power.” – Allan Kozinn. Laussade, Pianist, In Recital / The New York Times
One of the first compositions I am working with is the hauntingly beautiful piece, Ritual Fire Dance, a movement of the ballet ‘El Amor Brujo’ or The Bewitched Love.
Read MoreWhat a place to begin this exciting project - with Debussy’s preludes, Feux d’artifice or Fireworks!
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