My Nurse and I (for a cappella SATB choir, 2010) was commissioned by Concordis Chamber Choir, directed by Andrew Hunter. The title of the work harks back to a painting of the same name by the Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo. Painted in 1937, the artwork inspired a poem (also of the same name) by the contemporary Australian poet, Nicolette Stasko.

In three sections, my setting begins with a vibrant, rhythmic music set to the poem’s opening lines:

I am twined in the great trees
by the river
my hair a flock
of cockatoos
settling in branches

The pace of the music slows upon the commencement of the middle section of the work. Envisaged as a kind of lullaby, it alludes to Frida Kahlo’s painting – a self-portrait – in which she appears as a ‘babe in arms’. My lullaby section begins and ends with onomatopoeic choral sounds of water and forest birds.

Like a frame for the piece, my setting of the opening lines of the poem returns in the final section of the work, with a trumpet-like choral flourish serving as a coda.

I gratefully acknowledge Nicolette Stasko for permitting me to set music to her poem. I also sincerely thank Andrew Hunter and Concordis Chamber Choir for commissioning the setting and for affording the work its premiere performance.

Matthew Orlovich.
Composer.

Performed by Gondwana Chorale, conducted by Paul Holley @ Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

29 MAY 2019
Touring Choristers of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Chorus, dir. by June Tyzack.

Program: As a prelude to a massed choral performance of Verdi’s “Requiem” in the Palau de la Musica (Barcelona) on June 1, 2019 (featuring Simon Halsey conducting the Berlin Rundfunkchor and the Orfeo Catala), this “Welcome Concert” features three choirs: a Croatian choir, a Spanish choir, and touring members of the TSO Chorus. Under the direction of June Tyzack, the TSO chorus members perform an All-Australian program featuring music by Ross Edwards, Lisa Cheney and Matthew Orlovich.
Venue: Basilica Santa Maria del Pi, Plaça del Pi, 7, 08002 Barcelona, Spain.

SATURDAY 17 JUNE 2017
Performers: ACSMF Festival Choir, conducted by Sam Allchurch.
Venue: Great Hall, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2017 (7PM)
Performers: St Peters Chorale, dir. by Kathryn Morton.
Venue: St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

SUNDAY 8 JANUARY 2016 (3PM)
Performers: St Peters Chorale, dir. by Kathryn Morton.
Venue: Brandenburg Choral Festival of London 2017 Spring Series, St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, London, EC1A2DQ England.

TUESDAY 3 JANUARY 2016 (1:15PM)
Performers: St Peters Chorale, dir. by Kathryn Morton.
Venue: The Nave, Bristol Cathedral, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TJ, England.

TUESDAY 2 JANUARY 2016 (1PM)
Performers: St Peters Chorale, dir. by Kathryn Morton.
Venue: Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LX, England.

TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER 2016
Performers: St Peters Chorale, dir. by Kathryn Morton.
Venue: International Tour – England, Wales, France, Germany & Austria.

SUNDAY 31 JULY 2016 (3:30PM)
Performers: Loose Canon Chamber Singers, dir. by Helen Thomson & Elizabeth Eden.
Venue: Hobart Town Hall, Hobart, Tasmania.

SUNDAY 18TH AUGUST, 2013 (3PM)
Performers: Voyces, Inc.
Venue: Perth Town Hall, Cnr of Hay & Barrack Streets, Perth, WA.

SATURDAY 10TH NOVEMBER, 2012 (7PM)
Performers: Vox (Ballarat, VIC, Australia)
Venue: Art Gallery of Ballarat, 40 Lydiard Street North Ballarat, VIC, 3350.

SUNDAY 28TH OCTOBER, 2012 (2PM)
Performers: Vox (Ballarat, VIC, Australia).
Venue: Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum, 14 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine, Vic 3450.

SATURDAY 7TH APRIL, 2012. (10AM)
Performers: Gondwana Chorale, dir. by Lyn Williams.
Venue: Four Winds Festival, Barragga Bay, NSW, Australia.

SATURDAY 22ND JANUARY, 2011 (6PM)
Performers: Gondwana Chorale, conducted by Paul Holley.
Venue: Gondwana National Choral School Concert 2011, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, NSW, Australia.

FRIDAY 22ND OCTOBER, 2010 (1:30PM)
Performers: Concordis Chamber Choir, dir. by Andrew Hunter.
Broadcast: 3MBS.FM – Dress Circle.

SATURDAY 14 AUGUST, 2010
Performers: Concordis Chamber Choir, dir. by Andrew Hunter.
Venue: Australian National Eisteddfod, Llewellyn Hall, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT.

SATURDAY 29 MAY, 2010 (7:45PM) – WORLD PREMIERE PERFORMANCE –
Performers: Concordis Chamber Choir, dir. by Andrew Hunter.
Venue: Ian Roach Hall, James Forbes Academy for Performing Arts, Scotch College, 1 Morrison Street, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia.