"The Curse of the Gothic Symphony"
is a feature-length documentary that lifts the veil on the epic journey taken
by a band of Brisbanites to perform the
biggest symphony ever composed and has finally made its way to Brisbane's Event Cinema for all to see. Three
members of our own Esk Community Choir, Tom Byrne, Kathleen Watts and Sue
Walker, were a part of the Chorus of this historical event and that these
three shining stars in this mighty musical heaven were able to place the name
of the ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR alongside
the names of some of the greatest Choirs in Queensland is truly praise worthy.
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| Kathleen Watts, Tom Byrne & Susan Walker |
The Gothic
Symphony in D minor is described as the musical equivalent of climbing Mt.
Everest and credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the largest
Symphony ever written. Until December
2010, it had not been performed in 30 years, only three times since its
completion in 1927, never outside Britain and never, until this time, in its
entirety, all these bearing testimony to its extreme difficulty. Involving a 160 piece orchestra, 2 brass
bands, 300 choristers, a 50 voice children's choir, 4 soloists... almost 600
people on stage, the "Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, The Gothic", had
gone unperformed due to its enormous logistical requirements. Composed by the
Englishman, Havergal Brian in 1919, the work was for this and many reasons also believed to be cursed.
Under the
auspices of 4MBS Classic FM's Gary Thorpe and his 30 years of harbouring a
"Gothic obsession", a team of willing and enthusiastic producers,
musical and creative directors a choral
conductor willing to come on board, musicians and choristers from Brisbane and
around the world, the curse has now been broken. Kathleen, Tom and Sue from the ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR were privileged to
be a part of the Symphony's Chorus, billed as a "spectacle of musical
gigantism and sensory beauty". And
it truly was and is beautiful, as well as powerful and at times quite complex,
with anguished outbursts alongside serene beauty and it deserved to be heard. Under the Choral direction of the enormously
talented Alison Rogers and under the baton of Maestro John Curro, it was heard at QPAC on 22nd December 2010 by an
enthusiastic, completely sold-out house who watched this "colossus rise from its long slumber".
The story
of the Gothic Symphony and its previous failed attempts to stage it has
inspired the making of this documentary film, “The Curse of the Gothic
Symphony". Commissioned by the ABC seven years ago, it was a strong
impetus for Gary Thorpe and his team to complete the task. It is a gripping, often humorous and
inspiring feature-length film that parallels the life of the composer,
Havergal Brian, with the epic journey of the team trying to stage its
performance against all odds. This
amazing film made its Australian premiere at the Melbourne International Film
Festival in 2011 receiving standout high praise and accolades from the public and
critics alike. It was again screened at
the Brisbane International Film Festival last year to packed audiences many of
whom, by no coincidence, were part of the cast.
The homegrown connection aside, this is a major musical Symphony of
historical significance, attempted by many but achieved by Brisbane's own, staged in Brisbane, the journey now for
all to see produced on film and starring
a chorus of highly credentialed unique human beings who accepted this huge
challenge.
