Press Release
15 November 2023

Ensemble Offspring

Lone Hemispheres

Saturday 9 December
5pm
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre

Pictured: Jane Sheldon

Ensemble Offspring’s world-renowned chamber musicians step into the spotlight as soloists.

Performing alone yet moving within each other’s orbit, Ensemble Offspring’s world-renowned chamber musicians step into the spotlight as soloists. Now in its fourth iteration, Lone Hemispheres presents Australian world premieres alongside the avant-garde masterpieces which inspired them.

Huw Belling, Jane Sheldon, Holly Harrison and Lachlan Skipworth represent the latest generation of Australian composers, and have worked closely with Ensemble Offspring’s soloists to sculpt sister works to classics by Kaija Saariaho, Liza Lim, Jacob Druckman and Magnus Lindberg. Supported by the musicians’ deep connection with their instruments, these daring young composers pay homage to compositional greats in an all-round showcase of Australian prowess.

“There is such musicianship on display in every single performance, combined with an integrity and devotion to the pieces being performed. It really is a very special project.”
— Loud Mouth

The final concert of Ensemble Offspring’s 2023 season, the beloved Lone Hemispheres concept makes its triumphant return to the live stage after being captured as a successful video series in Sydney's 2020 lockdown. An unfortunately appropriate concept for isolated performers at the time, it's refreshing to see the project return for its artistic merits, rather than out of necessity.

“There’s an extraordinary intimacy and focus to the performances that invites close, detailed listening, an atmosphere further enhanced by the pairing of newer works with ‘classics’ from composers creating music in or around the spectralism movement.”
— Limelight

This one-time-only event brings new music to the outskirts of Sydney, performing an ambitious program – including four world premieres – in the wonderfully refurbished Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. Join Ensemble Offspring as they end 2023 with a bang, showcasing Australia’s most exciting compositional voices.

  • Program

    Kaija Saariaho – NoaNoa (1992)

    Jane Sheldon – Spectre: three attempts to summon her (2023)
    WORLD PREMIERE

    Liza Lim – The Su Song Star Map (2017)

    Holly Harrison – Ice Giant (2023)
    WORLD PREMIERE

    Lachlan Skipworth – Ocean Pulse (2023)
    WORLD PREMIERE

    Jacob Druckman – Reflections on the Nature of Water (1991)

    Huw Belling – Music in Sweatpants (2023)
    WORLD PREMIERE

    Magnus Lindberg – Ablauf (1983)

  • Performers

    Claire Edwardes (Artistic Director, percussion)

    Lamorna Nightingale (flutes)

    Jason Noble (clarinets)

    Véronique Serret (violin)

    Niki Johnson (percussion)

Featured Composers

  • Kaija Saariaho

  • Jane Sheldon

  • Liza Lim

  • Holly Harrison

  • Lachlan Skipworth

  • Jacob Druckman

  • Huw Belling

  • Magnus Lindberg

About Ensemble Offspring

Ensemble Offspring is Australia’s leading new music group. Uniting the country’s most fearless instrumentalists under the leadership of internationally acclaimed percussionist Claire Edwardes, they subvert classical music traditions and deliver concerts that “burst with imagination, energy and inspiration” (Seesaw Magazine).

As the foremost champions of contemporary music in Australia, Ensemble Offspring have commissioned and premiered over 350 works and have toured new Australian music around the world. Their dedication to excellence and amplifying underrepresented voices has earned multiple APRA Art Music Awards and ARIA Award nominations.

Through their pioneering spirit and relentless commitment to equality, Ensemble Offspring continue to shape a vibrant and diverse artistic future for Australian music.