Forest Collective, in their own words, is
a not-for-profit multi disciplinary arts organisation made up of creative, young professionals who strive to enrich audiences through innovative, collaborative, experimental and traditional art forms. We start 2014 with the support of volunteers, donors and sponsors who assist us in presenting local and international music, art, dance and theatre that provokes and compliments Melbourne creative community.
My nephew, Evan Lawson, who I have mentioned before, is the Artistic Director and CEO. He has drawn around him a very talented group of young musicians and artists, who love to experiment and explore more unusual aspects of the musical world.
Last night they presented a beautiful concert, The Garden of Ice. They performed it in the Salon, at the Melbourne Recital Centre. This one of Melbourne’s most prestigious spaces. And they made the space resonate with stunning sounds.
The advert for the programme puts the performance like this
Youthful Melbourne-based multi-disciplinary organisation, Forest Collective present new works alongside influential composers inspired by the mythology, music and the natural beauty of Scandinavia.
Jean Sibelius and Claude Debussy, known as peers and colleagues, led to the commission of a new composition’s from Forest Collective Artistic Director Evan Lawson and peer, Lisa Illean, who have been strongly influenced by their recent time in the Netherlands and Finland. Contemporary Scandinavian composers, Lars Ekström and Kaija Saariaho will also be featured embodying exquisite contemporary northern European music.
Forest Collective will be joined by Melbourne Soprano Rosemary Ball for a walk through this wintry garden.
The six pieces were all evocative.
While I was listening to the title piece, The Garden of Ice by Lars Ekstrom I was thinking of those of you who have been writing living through and writing about the cold winter in North America this year. In the music I could hear the wind whistling through cracks in the barn wall, the snow crunching under thick boots and ice breaking from frozen branches.
There were beautiful pieces by Sibelius and Debussy. However, one of the strengths of the collective is that it is prepared to be adventurous. There was the world premiere of Lisa Illean’s And the black sea, Breaks….. as well as Evan’s flute solo Sikinnis No 1. It was delightfully played by Naomi Johnson.
Forest Collective are a very polished group of young, experimental musicians. Their music is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is dramatic and interesting. Like all those who work in the arts, they need funding and/or other support. If you can help out in anyway, go to their website. I will leave you with a link to a video of their programme launch. At the end are the dates of the performances still to come.
Anne Lawson Art 