Music

Headwater

Three humans and three double basses paint a world of irresolution.

$35.00
Sessions & Tickets
A woman's face with brown eyes and blue eyeshadow. The atmosphere is dark and moody. Placed over the sides of her face and hair is the blurred face of a man and woman - suggesting a watery presence.

Image Credit: Image: Jody Haines Photography

  • Created by: Helen Svoboda

  • Presented by: Musica Viva Australia in association with Abbotsford Convent

  • Supported by: Musica Viva Australia, the Berg Family Foundation and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria

Headwater follows a stream of consciousness, guided by ideas unrealised and vaporized. The self here becomes water, dispersed across a collage of thoughts and earworms that appear and evaporate into the next - never quite settling, but always moving.

A work by double bassist/vocalist Helen Svoboda, this music performance dissects her eclectic solo identity across six bodies in space - three humans, and three double basses. As Svoboda navigates the ever-changing subconscious, she is joined by Finnish vocalist Selma Savolainen and Sydney double bassist Jacques Emery to bring each fleeting vignette towards a visible life - if only for a brief moment. Expect miniature songs, moments of stark beauty, and occasional nonsensical Finnish language, highlighted by Tilman Robinson as a sound avatar, lighting from Alex Nguyen, and movement direction from choreographer Jo Lloyd.

“A musician who absolutely defies categorisation” (Andrew Ford – The Music Show, ABC), Helen Svoboda is a 2023-24 Musica Viva Australia FutureMaker and Headwater is produced by Michaela Coventry - Sage Arts.

About Musica Viva Australia

Musica Viva Australia is one of the world’s leading presenters of chamber music. Founded in 1945, it is a national organisation and a major force in Australian musical life, delivering concerts across the country featuring outstanding international and Australian artists.

As one of the leading providers of music education in Australia, Musica Viva Australia has been bringing music to schools across the country for more than 40 years, reaching close to 300,000 students annually with live, in-school performances.

Passionate about creating a vibrant musical future for Australia’s artists and audiences, Musica Viva Australia fosters emerging artists through competitions, masterclasses, and professional development programs. This includes Strike A Chord, the national chamber music competition for school students, and FutureMakers, a two year program which nurtures and enables brilliant early-career artists to become Australia’s musical leaders of tomorrow.

  • Duration: 60 minutes

  • Event Accessibility: Blind or Low Vision Rating: Partially Accessible, English no barrier

  • Age suitability: G

  • Event warnings: Sustained Loud Noises.

  • Abbotsford Convent — Magdalen Laundry
    1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford, Victoria, 3067

    Wheelchair Access

    Abbotsford Convent — Magdalen Laundry is wheelchair accessible.

    There is step-free access to the venue. Wheelchair users enter at the main entrance. There are uneven footpaths throughout the grounds.

    There are 2 two-hour accessible on-street parking spaces located on St Heliers Street, beside Gate One. There are six accessible parking places are located at the front of the car park on the northern side of St Heliers Street. There is also a car park located within a short distance of Gate One. The entrance is near a dedicated pedestrian thoroughfare and road cross over.

    There are accessible toilets at this venue, though not all toilet doors are automatic.

    Get directions See all events at this venue See detailed venue & access information

  • Full: $35.00

  • Concession: $28.00

  • Extra Applause: $50.00

  • Blak Tix: $10.00

Sessions: In Person Events

A single $5.50 transaction fee applies to your booking.

Date Time Venue

Thursday, 17 October 2024

7:30pm

Abbotsford Convent — Magdalen Laundry

 Get Tickets

Friday, 18 October 2024

7:30pm

Abbotsford Convent — Magdalen Laundry

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Saturday, 19 October 2024

7:30pm

Abbotsford Convent — Magdalen Laundry

 Get Tickets

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