Australia’s most dynamic musical platform, the annual Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music (BIFEM) has recently launched its program for 2016.
“2016BIFEM in September this year will deliver audiences the highest standard of musicianship and innovative composition,” said Founder and Artistic Director, David Chisholm. “The fourth annual edition of BIFEM evolves from the sophisticated vision of the last three critically acclaimed festivals.
“This year 2016BIFEM is radically scaled up in size to include several chamber orchestral works and one symphonic spectacle with over 120 local, national and international musicians featured across the weekend event.”
Program highlights of 2016BIFEM include: the Australian debut of Swiss group Cod.Act collaborating with the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra. pho:ton reimagines the orchestral experience with players directed by lights triggered by the piano soloist, Peter Dumsday producing stunning visual and aural patterns.
The 2016 return of superstar conductor Maxime Pascal, working once again with Bendigo’s own Argonaut Ensemble. The world premiere of two double concerti: Jack Symonds’ Viola d’amore and Percussion double concerto, Decdadent Purity, and David Chisholm’s hyper-flamboyant, Harp Guitar Double Concerto.
Paris duo Kasper Toeplitz and Myriam Gourfink’s movement and music work, Data_Noise, Peter de Jager presents an all Xenakis program for solo piano and solo harpsichord, while Melbourne industrial designer Christopher Boots, presents a lighting installation in the 2016 Sound Gallery.
Diaspora Australian ensemble ELISION celebrates their 30 year anniversary with three concerts across the weekend featuring two world premieres by Aaron Cassidy and Liza Lim, and a collaboration with Australian National Academy of Music, and the exclusive Australasian debut of Irish composer Jennifer Walshe’s hard-hitting opera, XXX_LIVE_NUDE_GIRLS!!! – featuring live video, found objects and a cast of 17 Barbie dolls.
Now in its fourth year, BIFEM continues to receive significant international praise. Alistair Noble wrote in Tempo music journal (Cambridge) earlier this year: “The festival has established itself as an annual event of unparalleled significance in Australia, and the continuing success of BIFEM is a validation of the vision of its founder and artistic director, the Australian composer, David Chisholm, who has created something miraculous.”
The 2016 Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music (BIFEM) runs 2 – 4 September. For more information and full program, visit: www.bifem.com.au for details.
Image: Argonaut – Seeing Double (supplied)