Festivals tend to reward curiosity. Those with an interest in contemporary music, whether brand new, or older but under-appreciated, would have found much to interest them in Love Unheard: Celebrating Queer Composers through Music.
For starters there’s the venue: The Theatrette on the ground floor of the Victorian Pride Centre. It’s a warm space enlivened by brightly coloured curtains. Being of an intimate scale, one can clearly see the musicians making their music. Those wondering about the curved sections throughout the centre were informed by the show’s co-producer, Mark Chambers, that the inspiration was an Emu egg, a symbol of significance to local indigenous groups.
The show’s programme featured a diverse collection of solo or ensemble pieces. One of the aims was to feature Australian composers, with Christopher Healey introducing some of his works. These included the world premiere of PRIDE!, commissioned by Chambers and partner Francis Ponce to celebrate Midsumma 2025. Performed by Adam McMillan (piano), Niels Bijl (saxophone), and Eliza Shephard (flute), the work shone with the joy (and maybe a bit of the campiness) that Healey had promised.
The programme also embraced some more abstract modes, such as I WILL NOT BE SAD IN THIS WORLD, composed by Eve Beglarian and based on an Armenian troubadour song. Shephard on bass flute interacted with a backing track of the composer’s processed voice, sounding something like Nordic folk singing. The interplay showed how much emotion can be communicated without words.
Variety continued in a bracket by harpist Cristiano Terra (NZ/Brazil), starting with Pytor Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Flowers, showing nimble and precise technique. Prefaced by some comments on a form of marginalised, yet very important love, Terra presented Tangaroa Whakamautai (composed by Maisey Rika): a Māori song relating our lack of respect for the natural world to environmental crises.
Adding William Clark on viola to McMillan, Bijl, Shephard, and Terra set the scene for a piece that featured in the online blurb: A Star, A Journey, A Fire, also composed by Healy. Commissioned by Chambers to celebrate his 12th anniversary with Ponce, the work references the stages of the relationship and the growth of their love. At times a shimmering combination of layers and textures, the five movements were well named, and a suitable tribute to the yearning and comfort found in a serious love story.
In his opening remarks, Chambers commented that he aims to create both spaces for Queer artists to perform, and community events. Based on this inaugural instalment of Love Unheard (slated to return for 2026 Midsumma) he’s off to a very good start.
The performance did feel like a celebration, and this was supported by the detailed, glossy program where vividly coloured pages held interesting insights.
Love Unheard: Celebrating Queer Composers through Music
The Theatrette – Victorian Pride Centre, 79 – 81 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Performance: Saturday 1 February 2025
Information: www.loveunheard.com.au
Image: The Artists of Love Unheard (sourced)
Review: Jason Whyte