Dive to the depths of the ocean with Ensemble Q’s Deep Blue. This stunningly atmospheric and descriptive program of works celebrates our fascination and love for the sea.

George Crumb’s iconic Vox Balanae (Voice of the Whale) asks the players to wear black clothing, eye masks, play electric flute, electric cello and amplified piano and perform only under blue light, creating an underwater atmosphere that could well be the closest experience to being underwater without actually getting wet. It was in the 1960’s that Crumb first heard recordings of whale sounds on tapes recorded by marine scientists, inspiring the 1971 composition that features singing, whistling, crotales, bird sounds, rattles and clatters and of course, whale sounds, all presented in the most beautiful and atmospheric way possible.

Award-winning composer Paul Dean then takes the underwater experience to another level with The Sea Meets Infinity, placing the bass clarinet and percussion deep underwater to recreate haunting sounds evoking the scene of a shipwreck. And back on shore, Ensemble Q welcomes back family member and guest artist, UK based mezzo soprano Lotte Betts-Dean for the most exquisite and deeply romantic version of Ernest Chausson’s Poème de L’amour et de la mer.

Program
George Crumb – Vox Balanae (Voice of the Whale)
Frank Martin – Pavane Couleur du Temps
Paul Dean – The Sea Meets Infinity
Margaret Sutherland – Nocturne for violin & piano
Interval
Ernest Chausson – Poeme de l'amour et de la mer

Performers
Natsuko Yoshimoto, violin
Anne Horton, violin
Imants Larsens, viola
Trish Dean, cello and Co-Artistic Director
Phoebe Russell, double bass
Alison Mitchell, flute
Paul Dean, clarinet
Daniel de Borah, piano
Jacob Enoka, percussion
and guest artist Lotte Betts-Dean, mezzo soprano

Presented by Ensemble Q and QPAC
Recorded at QPAC’s Concert Hall for Digital Stage.

About Ensemble Q
Ensemble Q is celebrated as one of Australia’s leading ensembles. Proudly Company in Residence at QPAC, they have been selected as national and regional touring artists for Musica Viva, appear regularly throughout the year as featured artists on ABC Classic and have performed at major festivals including the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, the Queensland Music Trails’ Opera at Jimbour, Brisbane Music Festival, Brisbane Festival, Queensland Music Festival, Bellingen Music Festival, and George Town Festival in Penang.

They are regularly invited to perform at the coveted Ukaria Cultural Centre in South Australia and have a strong Sydney-based audience. Their core members are drawn from Principal and Concertmaster seats in the QSO and leading faculty of Queensland Conservatorium and University of Queensland. They conduct their major series in QPAC’s Concert Hall in partnership with QPAC, and their boutique Underground series is consistently sold out well in advance.

Ensemble Q also partners with Opera Queensland, 4MBS Classic FM, the Lisa Gasteen National Opera Program and the Queensland Choir in the formation of a training orchestra to support productions by these companies and provide paid student placements alongside the highest level professional musicians.