In this Centenary year a special musical symphony has been composed to mark the event, a collaborative effort involving 11 composers from Turkey and Australia.
he Australian and International premieres of the Gallipoli Symphony—a musical and visual journey which tells the story of the 1915 Gallipoli Campaign – were announced by the Australian Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator the Hon Michael Ronaldson.
Senator Ronaldson said the international premiere would be performed by the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra at the historic Hagia Irene in Istanbul on 4 August with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra to perform the Australian premiere in Brisbane on 24 November this year.
“I am pleased we have been able to work closely with the Turkish Government and the Queensland Government to bring this unique experience to Australian and Turkish audiences,” Senator Ronaldson said.
“Since being commissioned by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in 2006, 11 composers from Australia, New Zealand and Turkey have worked over the course of a decade to compose the individual movements that comprise the symphony.
“Each year, one of the movements has been performed for visitors to the Gallipoli Anzac Day service. These premiere events will be the first time the individual movements have been performed together as the complete symphony,” Senator Ronaldson said.
Queensland Premier and Arts Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said “We will be proud to host the Australian premiere of the Gallipoli Symphony at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane”.
“I applaud the hard work of all involved in bringing this moment of historical significance to life through magnificent compositions which reflect the Anzac legacy.”
Tickets to the Australian performance will be on sale through the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. The ABC will also broadcast the invitation only Istanbul international premiere and ABC Classic FM will broadcast the Brisbane Australian Premiere.
The Symphony has received generous support from the Turkish and New Zealand Governments, the Queensland Government, Qantas Airways and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
The premieres in August and November will be the first time the symphony has been performed in full and forms a unique component of the Anzac centenary commemorations.
Read more about the Gallipoli Symphony here: http://www.gallipolisymphony.com
Our thanks to Len Thompson for bringing the Gallipoli Symphony to our attention.
