The inaugural Aurora Festival got off to a flying start today with an extremely informative lecture given by Professor Anne Boyd at the magnificent Campbelltown Arts Centre, shown below.

Speaking on the topic of Australian music, Professor Boyd mades some very salient points about some different approaches to Australian music that have common features through their approaches to landscape. Some of the works presented included Ross Edwards’ Dawn Mantras, Peter Sculthorpe’s String Quartet No. 11, an excerpt from David Lumsdaine’s Kali Dances as well as the first movement from one of Boyd’s own works, Meditations on a Chinese Character.

The audience was very appreciative of the opportunity to hear Professor Boyd speak on this topic, on which she is a noted expert. A lively and wide-range question and answer session concluded the most auspicious introduction to this new festival.

The next events in the Aurora Festival take place at the Riverside Theatre in Parramatta, on Saturday 29 April, including a solo lecture/recital by Terry Riley.