Night of the Soul
The Cutaway
Sydney, Australia
January, 21 2022
In terms of venues, it does not come more unique than the approximately 5,200 square metres that are raw beauty known as The Cutaway: Given that the below-ground situated, concrete based space is carved into an artificial hill that serves as a native botanical garden, offers a myriad of possibilities and unrivalled flexibility as an eye-catching backdrop for a range of large-scale events. The fact that it is located right next to the beautifully restored Barangaroo Reserve, i.e. a stone throw from water does not hurt either in terms of adding to the appeal.
Apart from the visual and aesthetic aspects, which were enhanced by the beauty that is the dusk of an Australian sunset in January, the Sydney Festival incarnation of the Night of the Soul could not have chosen a better a better canvas to unleash their choral bliss on as acoustically, it turns out that The Cutaway is not dissimilar to what an expansive cathedral would be able to provide.
Designed to hit the sweet spot between meditation and being serenaded by the sonic beauty that emanates from Sydney Philharmonia Choirs’ Chamber Singers, the evening was designed to take one on a journey, meandering between the yin and yang of emotions with the power of the human voice taking centre stage and ultimately culminating in a gripping medieval Gregorian chant, all the while the audience was invited to get cosy on the yoga mats that have been provided.
Programmed and conducted by Brett Weymark, the evening was curated in a manner so that lighter and darker moments ebbed and flowed in a melange comprised of such classic compositions such as Ola Gjeilo’s Dark Night of the Soul and Luminous Night of the Soul, Eric Whitacre’s crystalline Nox Arumque and Lux Arumque, Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel, with Samuel Barber’s immortal Agnus Dei being the centerpoint.
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image provided by Sydney Festival
