Dead Symphony

Winter is great for many reasons: hearty meals, Guinness, scarves, no mozzies – plus the inclement weather is a good time to ponder and catch up on a bit of art and culture.

Dead Symphony is showing as part of the Arts Centre’s Winter Program and being billed as a morbid mix of social documentary, art, biological science and music (it sounds a lot like my Year 11 curriculum).

Taking place in the bowels of the Arts Centre, Dead Symphony’s creator Saskia Moore has fashioned a light and sound installation that asks the question: what does death sound like?

Not a bang or a whimper apparently. Moore researched scores of near death accounts and came up with some surprising results: many people experience beautiful musical symphonies as the reach the end of this mortal coil.

Moore has put together her findings to create 40 different sound stories that interpret the sounds her subjects have experienced. Adding to the sense of theatre – the audience will encircle the six musicians as they replicate, or perhaps give a sneak peek – of the final gig we’re likely to hear. Dead straight.

Dead Symphony is playing at the Arts Centre Melbourne from August 7 – 10.
For more information and tickets visit artscentremelbourne.com.au.