"Toasting Mother Earth"

Newcastle Music Festival proudly presents Anna Fraser and Jack Symonds in concert. From the antiphony of Hildegard of Bingen, nearly 1000 years ago, through settings of the mysticism of Walter de la Mare, and the laments of the ill-fated Lili Boulanger, you will also enjoy two world premieres: Ross Fiddes' very contemporary "Toasting Mother Earth", and Jack Symonds' Guardare, meravigliarsi… five Nocturnes for piano. This incredible concert visits the worlds of American minimalism, Japanese fusion of Eastern and Western traditions, new Australian works, and music set to poetry by mystics and luminaries, including DH Lawrence. Anna says: "Each piece ... sends provocative messages for us all to be more attuned to the miniscule changes in our environment (like the yearly changes of the season) and not to allow ourselves to be complacent about caring for our shared ‘home’ but to make active changes each day to sustain our existence on this unique planet." Photo credit: Noni Carroll