Classic Melbourne Review: ‘Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Cybec 21st Century Composers’ Showcase (2025)’ by Julie McErlain
“The signpost for the Cybec Foundation is “Giving Opportunity to Others”. Its charitable fund has gifted an extraordinary sum of more than $10 million to support education, social welfare, health, science and the environment, and here, to the performing arts. Since 2003, more than 80 young Australian composers have had works commissioned and performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and this most welcomed annual concert of premier performances is a treasured event. Proudly, it is the first concert given by the MSO each year, with premier public performances of orchestral music by “living” composers. What an opportunity to have a personal mentor, rehearsal time with the MSO, a highly popular public concert, and the chance to be chosen as a future MSO composer-in-residence. Cybec’s program also extends to funding the MSO assistant conductor and presenter, today Leonard Weiss, an award-winning conductor, educator and champion of contemporary works.
With nearly a full house and an excited atmosphere in the Iwaki Auditorium, the MSO musicians were nicely spaced but with a reduced number of 9 strings. Cybec participants are encouraged to include a wide range of tonal resources, so it was pleasing to see a centrally positioned harp and a full backdrop of brass and woodwind including the tuba, shining and colourful, even though there was a sense that the strings would be overpowered by the brass…
…As contemporary composers look for inspiration and meaning from ecology, nature and our expanding sense of the cosmic universe, so too did Robert McIntyre respond musically to these themes presented in three richly thoughtful texts by Savanna Wegman – Tidal Drawings: A Javelin into light, Unfolding as afterglows, Beyond this breath, falling. When asked by Weiss about the structure of the narrative in his composition, McIntyre spoke of how the poetry inspired the tone colours he wanted to emulate. Strings were now featured in the opening scene, exploring, winding and weaving with solo tones from cello and vibes leading to silence followed by gently glowing muted brass. Solo instruments featured, in particular expressive bass clarinet melodies and a final build-up driven by low brass crescendos and full orchestral texture.
Always this is an inspiring occasion, a celebration of the connection of our best orchestral musicians with young living composers in an atmosphere of excitement, and support for the talented and hard-working teams promoting new Australian music. While only one composer will be selected to be in residence with the MSO in 2026, tonight everyone was a “winner”.”
FULL ARTICLE HERE
