Music in the Regions in partnership with Arts Mildura present Heartland.
The great didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton and powerhouse violinist Véronique Serret blend songlines and storytelling in this compelling collaborative work. Inspired by the poetry of William’s mother, Aunty Delmae Barton, the message of Heartland is of peace and love carried by an eagle spirit.
Barton and Serret welcome listeners into a unique soundscape, drawing on the power of connection to place. Violins, didgeridoo and guitar are joined by soaring vocals, ethereal loops and electronic effects in a distinct evocation of the Australian landscape. From its roots as a seven-minute commission for the 2019 Canberra International Music Festival, this extraordinary work has grown into an hour-long reimagined “chamber oratorio” exploration of Country, landscape, culture, language and identity.
About the Artists
For two decades, William Barton has forged a peerless profile as a performer and composer in the classical musical world, from the Philharmonic Orchestras of London and Berlin to historic events at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Day 2019, Anzac Cove and the Beijing Olympics. His awards include Winner of Best Original Score for a Mainstage Production at the 2018 Sydney Theatre Awards and Winner of Best Classical Album with ARIA for Birdsong At Dusk in 2012. With his prodigious musicality and the quiet conviction of his Kalkadunga heritage, he has vastly expanded the horizons of the didgeridoo — and the culture and landscape that it represents.
Véronique Serret is a violinist, vocalist and composer effortlessly bridging the divide between classical and contemporary art forms. In demand as a leader, chamber musician, mentor and collaborative artist, Véronique is known for her inclusive sound-world her musical flexibility and willingness to collaborate across genres, as well as her work on the 6 string electric violin. Over many decades Véronique has been fortunate to work extensively with Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Dance Company and as concertmaster of the Darwin Symphony.