THE AMERICAN

The American explored different perspectives of America through music, bringing together composers from Australia, the United States and the Czech Republic. The program opened with the world premiere of Nicholas Kyriakacis’ Cacophony in Three Movements, inspired by a British photographer’s image of an American street, followed by George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Antonín Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12 “American”.

The concert brought together a small ensemble of strings, piano and percussion at the Callaway Auditorium, with Josh Spirek performing on double bass. The program looked at America from three very different perspectives, moving from a contemporary Australian response to American life, through Gershwin’s unmistakable jazz-inflected sound, to Dvořák’s impressions of the country during his time there.

Nicholas Kyriakacis - Cacophony in Three Movements (World Premiere)
George Gershwin - Rhapsody In Blue
Antonín Dvořák - String Quartet No. 12 “American”