Sydney Reviews

As my partner and I walked into the A&I Hall on Saturday, we remembered so much history there, together and individually. Even waiting two years (my how time flies) for the Southern Cross Soloists to musically en-lighten Bangalow again, seems an eternity. Imagine, then, if you can possibly grasp the concept: 65,000 years of Australia's First Nations' people studying the stars and using their interconnectivity with sky and land to inform their daily lives – now that is astronomical, literally! 

How fortunate Bangalow is to witness (and a World Premiere, I might add) the Southern Cross Soloists AND SXS Next Gen Artists perform the new works inspired "by the night sky and the Seven Sister constellation". First Nations' composers Brenda Gifford and Eric Avery, with Sean O'Boyle AM (also 'new work World Premiere'), collaborate with actor/writer Paula Nazarski and SXS Artist in Residence didgeridoo soloist Chris Williams. This is a marriage made in heaven.

First Nations' "celestial knowledge and deep understanding of the land has been aurally passed down from generation to generation through sophisticated systems, stories and Songlines, marking the continuity and intricacy of the oldest culture in the world." Apparently, it is still happening, after being transported by the compositions from Gifford, Avery and O'Boyle, letting all and sundry at the A&I Hall (acoustically erect) know that the history-through-music will be passed on to hopefully everyone, worldwide. We saw it first. Chuffed? Very much so.

Eric Avery comes out onto the stage, big beaming smile, and welcomes us to country: we knew, then, that we were in for a treat. Walking through the crowd, the call of the Didgeridoo (Chris Williams) and introductions on so many levels: Intro to country; intro to Didge sounds reflecting animals, streams, insects, the sound of land and birds and and and (getting carried away): intro to past history and land before time. A perfect introduction to Paula Nazarski, relating stories of the dreamtime, creation, and allowing us, the audience, to share this rich cosmic glow. And the music followed...

The rustle of leaves, cleansing and enlivening the stage, cultures coming together through the sound of the Didgeridoo: close your eyes and feel the passing of the moon, the sun and the earth awakening. The marriage of sounds coming from the musicians – storytelling never sounded so beautiful.

Through Paula's narration we saw Venus, first and last star; the Rainbow Serpent and "human nature to creep upon the ground". The Cello (thank you Erna Lai) made me cry. I was not the only one in the audience, I might add. The Didge (take a bow, Chris Williams) incorporating all that could have been lost. Singing strings telling us the stories (Robert Smith on violin; Kyle Brady on viola; Lexie Elvin on double-bass) and please pass the tissues. This is musical storytelling – the narrator stimulates through the story and the musicians bring it to life. 

The Milky Way, a river – "a mystical canoe taking us to the spirit island" and fires in the sky. Enter the piano, softly, softly (beautifully rendered, Crystal Smith) and another musical journey begins. The Dark Spaces between the Stars? Emu larger than life with eggs even larger, to be banished to the heavens: Hello Eric Avery, multi-talented, with violin and soulful voice. Didge and violin hold musical hands and keep the audience totally enthralled. 

Love, Lust and Passion (plus Danger) with the Seven Sisters Dreamtime epic unfolding before us – the sisters turning to fire and going to the heavens to get away from a passionate pursuer. Musical storytelling and the journey of the ancients – oh what we could learn if we only listen (and observe). The warriors are in the mountains and this requires feisty fighting music and musical prowess at every level. Welcome the flute (Jessica Walther) clarinet (Drew Gilchrist) and the symbiosis between the SXS Next Gen Artists; Southern Cross Soloists Tania Frazer (oboe and so much more!), Alan Smith 'all over the violin' and Emily Newlan making magic with the horn.

Maps and Journeys: The World's First Astronomers is mesmerising, like a soundtrack to the birth of the earth, moon and stars movie, except the pictures are in our heads, conjured by composers and musicians and presented with passion.