The Reef – Linking Surfing, the ocean and music.
The Reef Photo by Ed Sloane
In May, Australian Chamber Orchestra Artistic Director Richard Tognetti took musicians and surfers to the rugged surf coast and tough desert landscape of northern Western Australia.
It was to create a new performance piece that combined music and nature.
The Reef is an extraordinary performance and one that premieres in Darwin before taking off down the WA coast and concluding at the Sydney Opera House where tickets are on the verge of a sell out.
Travelling with Tognetti and ACO musicians to world heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef was photographer Jon Frank, director Mick Sowry, composer Iain Grandage, didgeridoo player Mark Atkins, singer Steve Pigram from Broome, and professional surfers Derek Hynd, Ryan Burch and Dane Beevor.
Together they have created a new work using music and film to further delve into the links between surfing, the ocean, landscape and music.
“There will be incredibly strong surfing footage; that’s an integral part,” Tognetti said.
“It’s that, and the music and the landscape.
“Those things can be superficially strung together: there are lots of films like that.
“But when you make it as a performance art piece, then you’re entering into really hard territory.”
The tour is a collaboration between WA new music organization Tura and ACO2, the ACO’s youth and regional touring ensemble.
The Reef, featuring ACO2 led by Richard Tognetti, with Mark Atkins and Steve Pigram, will be performing at the Matt Dann Cultural Centre in Port Hedland on July 12.
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