The debut performance by the Central Australian Aboriginal Women's Choir in our Concert Hall on 11 December 2022 was a resounding success with audiences treated to extraordinary choral singing from the outback.
QPAC was the first stop on the acclaimed Choir's national tour and also marked its first ever Queensland performance.
The Choir captured the audience's imagination even before the performance started, with the 24 singers chanting from the wings as they made their way on stage, setting the scene for an unforgettable concert.
Choir Master Morris Stuart AM led the stunning Choir in a unique program that showcased the language and culture of 60,000 years of human occupation of Central Australia, delighting the audience with his entertaining banter and stories.
The Central Australia Aboriginal Women's Choir and Choir Master Morris Stuart AM performing at QPAC. Photo by Darren Thomas.
The Choir's unique repertoire comprises early Romantic Era and Baroque musical arrangements, featuring German sacred poetry (hymns) preserved by women from remote central desert communities and sung in Language.
The captivating concert featured Sacred Songs Celebrating The Western Arrernte Language, Sacred Songs Celebrating The Pitjantjatjara Language, Rounds German Folk Tunes, Songs For All Of Us of (including Waltzing Matilda and I Am Australian translated into Pitjantjara) and a three-song Finale.
And it wasn't just the Choir singing; people were encouraged to sing the well-known songs, some in Language, and even received a thumbs up from choir members
The audience was also treated to a traditional campfire song with the Choir and Morris seated cross legged on the stage.
The Central Australia Aboriginal Women's Choir performing at QPAC. Photo by Darren Thomas.
Three separate standing ovations showed the audience appreciation for this incredible Choir and Limelight magazine ran a glowing 4.5-star review saying:
“The precision, blend, fullness and intensity of the sound that this choir makes is utterly glorious.” Limelight
Read full Limelight review here
Find out more about this amazing Choir and how it is raising global awareness about the cultural richness and diversity of Australia's First People, in a SBS documentary Song keepers of the Central Desert.
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