UQ Orchestra presents a “bottomless” Shakespearean feast

The University of Queensland’s Symphony Orchestra and Chorale will take to the stage at Brisbane’s QPAC on Sunday for a concert commemorating 400 years since Shakespeare’s death and the Bard’s influence in the classical music sphere.

UQ’s Choral Conducting Fellow Graeme Morton will direct A Shakespearean Feast, featuring Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Shostakovich’s Hamlet Suite and Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast.

The program is conducted by UQ’s Dr Warwick Potter, renowned as one of Australia’s best.

It will showcase a world première composition by UQ Bachelor of Music (Honours) student John Rotar, called The Transformation of Bottom.

“The Transformation of Bottom is not intended to be a direct narrative representation of a defined set of exploits, but rather an overture-style piece exploring the rollicking ‘sword fight and botty jokes’ side of William Shakespeare through the prism of the cheeky character Nick Bottom and the world of A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Mr Rotar said.

Dr Potter said the concert was a unique chance to experience UQ’s Orchestra and Chorale as they've never sounded before.

“The School of Music performs two concerts in QPAC’s Concert Hall each year and it is a wonderful opportunity for students to perform alongside our staff and have the experience of playing in a major venue,” he said.

“It also introduces them to a range of composers and some rarely performed works.”

Shakespearean Feast is on Sunday 29 May from 2-4pm in the Concert Hall, QPAC. Tickets are available from QPAC.
Media: Dr Warwick Potter, w.potter@uq.edu.au, 0419 443 275; School of Music, Concerts and Community Engagement Officer Thorin Kerr, concerts@uq.edu.au, 0424 246 172.