Topology returns to Salihara Festival

Australian contemporary music ensemble Topology has returned to Indonesia to perform at Jakarta’s fourth Salihara Festival on 20 October 2012.

Topology performed its latest production ‘Ten Hands’ at Komunitas Salihara on 20 October. Topology’s artistic director Robert Davidson said the ensemble also presented a composition master class for local music students to engage with Indonesia’s creative community and further develop artistic exchange between Indonesia and Australia.

“This visit has given us the opportunity to deepen our understanding and appreciation of contemporary music in Indonesia. It also provides us with a chance to promote high quality, contemporary Australian music,” said Mr Davidson.

“All of Topology’s members are extremely excited to be back in Indonesia, to Komunitas Salihara following our time spent there in 2010 and after appearing at Surabaya’s Seni Festival in 2007. We received an extremely warm welcome from Indonesian audiences and we are thrilled our new show ‘Ten Hands’ has been so warmly received,” he said.

Topology’s work spans many musical genres, with the group collaborating with pop, jazz, comedy and techno artists. Its principals are: Christa Powell (violin), Bernard Hoey (viola), Kylie Davidson (piano), Robert Davidson (bass), John Babbage (saxophone) and Therese Milanovic (piano alternate).

‘Ten Hands’ is a musical mystery tour, taking listeners through an emotional landscape of symphonic proportions. The evolution of ‘Ten Hands’ really has been five minds working together as one,” said Mr Davidson.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty said Topology’s return visit would further strengthen professional and personal connections between contemporary creative groups in Indonesia and Australia.

“Strong people-to-people links are essential in a dynamic, broad-ranging relationship like that between Australia and Indonesia. It’s through these personal connections we can deepen understanding of and appreciation for one another,” the Ambassador said.

The group’s Indonesian visit is supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through its Australian International Cultural Council (AICC) grants program. Topology is one of 18 successful applicants to receive an AICC grant for arts and cultural projects to be conducted around the world.

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Vicki Miller, First Secretary (Cultural) tel. (021) 2550 5260 mob. 0811 959 0304