Our Celebration with Electric Fields and the ASO

Floods of Fire is conceived by Airan Berg, led by Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, presented in collaboration with Adelaide Festival, The University of Adelaide, and over 100 South Australian partner organisations.

We acknowledge that the land we make music on is the traditional country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains. We pay respect to Elders past and present and recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that this is of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today. We extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are with us for this performance today.

Sun 17 Mar, 7.30–9.45pm
Adelaide Festival Theatre

Act I
Pudnanthi Padninthi Buckskin & Goldsmith arr./orch. Ferguson
Acknowledgement of Country

Floods of Fire Symphony arr. Julian Ferraretto
World Premiere

Adam Page et al – Six Seasons
Zhao Liang et al – Tale of the Fire Phoenix: To Be or Not To Be (Contemplation)
Zhao Liang et al – Tale of the Fire Phoenix: Flight Ahoy 
Grayson Rotumah/Luke Harrald – Storm
Hilary Kleinig et al – Rebirth (Gol Pamchal) 
Grayson Rotumah/Luke Harrald – Spear 
Hilary Kleinig et al – Lullaby for the Earth (Growing) 
Hilary Kleinig et al – Lullaby for the Earth  (Lullaby)
Adam Page et al – Survival Symphony – Undertow 
Julian Ferraretto et al – Lament/Renewal 

– Interval 20 minutes –

Act II – Electric Fields
Anpuru Maau Kutjpa
Shade Away
Lore Woman
Glorious
Dali
From Little Things Big Things Grow
Tjitji Lullaby
Litjatitjatilu Maau Kutjpa *
Pukulpa
2000 and Whatever
Catastrophe
Antara Maau Kutjpa

Arr. Alex Turley
* Arr. Mark Ferguson

Introduction

Every Australian has a climate story. It may be the story of packed bags and hurried evacuations from homes surrounded by bushfires. It may be the smell of ash drifting through a city, the cleanup after a flood, or the simple act of inviting a neighbour into an air-conditioned home on a scorching afternoon.

These stories are increasingly common. In Floods of Fire, we invite you to listen to the members of our diverse communities who, like you, have been touched by the impacts of the climate crisis. Listen to their music, and hear their messages of hope for a better future.

Floods of Fire Symphony, making its world premiere tonight, is built on the life experiences of hundreds of people in our local communities. The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra commissioned this extraordinary music four years ago, and we are deeply moved that you have joined us for its premiere.

Tonight we welcome to our stage some extraordinary talents, from vocalist Farhan Shah to guzheng soloist Zhao Liang, musicians of Quirkestra, and many more. Floods of Fire was conceived and directed by Airan Berg, led by Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and presented in collaboration with Adelaide Festival, The University of Adelaide in celebration of their 150th anniversary, and over 100 South Australian partner organisations.

This performance of Floods of Fire – created from a unique collection of voices in Australia, with artists who come together for one night only – is itself a reminder of the transient nature of our world.

To celebrate the world premiere of Floods of Fire, the ASO joins forces with Electric Fields – one of Australia’s most remarkable electronic dance music acts that was recently named Australia’s entry into the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, featuring talented Zaachariaha Fielding and Michael Ross. In the words of the artists: “Electric Fields’ music is about the connectedness between us all, and the land is the conductor, and we just have to listen to hear the notes and sing in tune with all our senses.”

Alex Turley’s orchestral arrangements of their hit songs have yielded rave reviews. We are equal parts proud and excited to have commissioned brand-new song Litjatitjatilu Maau Kutjpa (Arr. Mark Ferguson) in response to the Floods of Fire theme, which premieres on this special occasion under the baton of Aaron Wyatt.

As you bring your own climate story to this event, we hope you will feel united with your local communities, and filled with hope for Australia and the world.

About the music

A typical symphony will feature four movements. Its composer will allocate melodies and harmonies to each instrument in their orchestra.

Floods of Fire Symphony is far from typical. It is symphonic in scale, but not in structure. It is an orchestral work, but features instruments rarely given a voice in this setting. It’s a composition without a solitary composer’s name in lights. And it tells a story of destruction, while sharing a message of regeneration.

The symphony is complex and contradictory, representing the collective human experience that fuelled its creation. Floods of Fire Symphony – an Adelaide Symphony Orchestra commission – was produced through an unusual process known as “collaborative composition”. Six composers were sent to work with communities to unearth sounds and stories from those experiencing Australia’s climate crisis in their own backyards and turn it into original compositions. From these separate works, composer-arranger Julian Ferraretto united these voices into one symphony for collective survival. Firefighters and scientists, school children and arts organisations – everyone had a voice in this years-long collaborative composition.

The symphony is the culmination of the Floods of Fire project. Over the past four years, a selection of leading Australian composers connected with these community groups to craft several standalone pieces of music. Excerpts from these completed works have now been woven together, and their melodies and messages are synthesised in this new 45-minute symphony. The epic-scale Floods of Fire Symphony is performed in one continuous flow. Some transitions between excerpts will feel seamless, while others will strike you as abrupt. Key players – a choir, theremin virtuoso, saxophonist, guzheng soloist – fade in and out of action as they portray environmental cycles of birth, destruction, and renewal.

In the movement Lullaby for the Earth, calm is portrayed through orchestral colour – strings and winds offer a soothing lament for wilderness lost. Spear brings visceral energy through warlike horns and adventurous water percussion. Cultural stories of creation are shared through unique sound worlds – a woodwind instrument that rings like birdsong, reminding us of all we have to lose. When the voice of a solo tenor soars above the orchestra, a lone French horn mimics the note, then carries it forward to signify growth and renewal. It’s the flood that washes away destruction, the flame that opens a seed pod, and the collective spirit of a country that must work together to survive.

In the second half of the show, the Floods of Fire program features 2024 Eurovision-contending duo Electric Fields. This electronic music outfit – Zaachariaha Fielding and Michael Ross – performs Alex Turley’s orchestral arrangements of their hits including Tjitji Lullaby and From Little Things, Big Things Grow. Adelaide concertgoers will be treated to their brand-new ASO commission Litjatitjatilu Maau Kutjpa (Arr. Mark Ferguson).

Thank you to our partners

Floods of Fire is led by Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, presented in collaboration with Adelaide Festival, The University of Adelaide, and over 100 South Australian partner organisations.