A community’s anthem of compassion

A RITE of passage for the young men of Mostar, in Bosnia Herzegovina, is to leap from Stari Most, the Old Bridge, to the river below.

This is the inspiration for Birdman one of the songs in composer Richard Chew’s, post-conflict oratorio Stari Most, which will be performed at Concert for Compassion on Sunday, 27 October.

Professor Chew, Arts Academy Director said Stari Most is about the bridge as a symbol of a strong multicultural community coming together after the Bosnian War destroyed it in the 1990s.

“The bridge crossed between east and west Mostar where people had intermarried for hundreds of years,” Professor Chew said. “It’s really about what happens when the war ends and you rebuild the bridge but you haven’t rebuilt the problems in a community which was broken by the war.

“It is very pertinent to bring to Ballarat when we are trying to heal so much here.”

This unique Ballarat performance of Stari Most will feature soloists Sharon Turley, soprano, and Josh Rowe, baritone, from the State Opera of South Australia, in the lead roles of Alma and Dino.

The 22 musicians in the Inscape Chamber Orchestra are led by Dunja Lavrova, an internationally recognised violinist.

“I am very lucky to have been able to hand pick the musicians who make up the orchestra to play my music,” Professor Chew said. “It has been a lot of work and fundraising but it has been really enjoyable.

“This is a much better way of doing it than having a ready-made orchestra.”

Students from the Arts Academy and Loreto College combine as a 40 strong choir to perform on the night.

Professor Chew said while this event wraps up Compassionate Week, it is also about showcasing home-grown students and professional musicians.

“It is about giving the students the best possible opportunities,” he said. “Because their studies are skills based, they would rarely have an opportunity to sing with a professional orchestra during their time at the Academy.

“I think it is vital that we have this wonderful regional arts academy here in Ballarat.”

An unusual feature of the recital is the concurrent screening of a film made by Alex McEwan.

Mr McEwan will fly from the UK to project a backdrop of stunning images of Mostar prior, during and after the war.

Professor Chew said every time, no matter where the oratorio is performed, Mr McEwan is there in person to play the film.

“He has made some beautiful images for the audience to understand the context of Stari Most and what the two main characters Alma and Dino are singing about,” he said. “It’s a beautiful piece of work.”

Hosted by Federation University’s Arts Academy and Compassionate Ballarat, the event will also feature songs from Compassion, a song cycle composed by Nigel Westlake and sung by internationally celebrated singer-songwriter Lior.

The Concert for Compassion is at the Performing Arts Centre, Loreto College, 1600 Sturt Street, Ballarat on Sunday, 27 October from 6.30pm.

Tickets online at eventbrite.com/e/concert-for-compassion-tickets-72332214601.