The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra will transport Brisbane audiences to a mystical realm in Karakorum: A Medieval Musical Journey, the debut Queensland performance of French medieval world folk ensemble La Camera delle Lacrime, featuring narration by legendary Australian actor David Wenham, on Tuesday 7 August in QPAC’s Concert Hall.
Artistic Director Paul Dyer said the performance is “absolutely ancient” but altogether new. “I saw Karakorum performed by La Camera delle Lacrime at a stunning monastery in France’s Auvergne region and was totally blown away by the experience,” Paul said. “I was so excited and inspired that I ran backstage after and asked Bruno and Khaï-dong , the artistic directors if they would travel to Australia to perform it with the Brandenburg. Karakorum had me hooked from the first notes, both musically and spiritually. It has a powerful mix of Western renaissance music, Christian psalms, Mongolian melodies, Buddhist hymns and Sufi chants. It absolutely took my breath away.”
Karakorum reimagines the music encountered by 13th Century Flemish monk William of Rubruck on his epic Silk Road journey from Constantinople to Karakorum (the ancient capital of the Mongol empire) just 20 years earlier than the journey of Marco Polo .
When Karakorum is restaged in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from 25 July, Australian audiences will experience something very different to what has been seen by European audiences.
“I wanted to introduce an English narration to guide us through Rubruck’s great journey, and I imagined the voice of David Wenham,” says Paul. “I’m happy to announce that David Wenham has come on board for this project, which is a dream come true. I’m excited about the chance to collaborate with one of Australia’s great acting talents on such a unique and theatrical project.”
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