The Glide

Overview

It's difficult to argue with the fact that we are uniquely positioned to appreciate the beauties of the ocean. Still, it comes as a bit of a surprise when the Artistic Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra also professes his love for surf photography and steers a series of performances in that direction.

This is exactly what Richard Tognetti has done. His first attempt, experimenting with the links between sound and surf, resulted in an international tour and an acclaimed documentary — the cleverly named Musica Surfica. This is the second installment in that series. The program features parts of Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 15, a traditional number entitled The Seal Song, and a number of Tognetti's own compositions. To offset the sound, a big screen projects Jon Frank's still photography and footage. Frank has been a senior photographer for Surfing World magazine for over ten years and has filmed a number of surfing documentaries, including Musica Surfica.

The Glide is unique amongst the multimedia collaborations we've seen of late, in that it's a genuine blend of two exceptional talents. If the subject piques your interest, take this chance before they're off across the waters again.

Image: photo by Jon Frank, courtesy of ACO