Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music (BIFEM) strutted onto the international music scene in September 2013, winning critical praise from around the world and delivering festival audiences a visceral experience. BIFEM is a platform for virtuosity in musicianship and innovation in composition, with an emphasis on premiere or rarely performed long-form works. BIFEM has quickly become one of Australia’s peak events for truly progressive music.
BIFEM’s lauded ensemble Argonaut is drawn from a flexible roster of virtuosi from across Australia and from visiting international guests, playing together exclusively in Bendigo.
Performances include:
BEL CANTO
Cassandra Miller’s Bel Canto uses two ensembles playing simultaneously to create a living, aging portrait of Maria Callas that draws inspiration from her live recording of Vissi d’arte.
ARGONAUT IN AOTEAROA
Two world premiere commissions from two of the freshest compositional voices in contemporary New Zealand. Antonia Barnett-McIntosh’s Drawing Attention and Dylan Lardelli’s Cleaving to Seconds.
MOTIONS OF LARGE REAL BODIES
BIFEM closing concert with the Argonaut String Quartet. Alvin Lucier’s Vespers, Istanbul-based composer Deniz Nurhat and Chicago-based composer and improvisor Katherine Young make their BIFEM débuts, and the legendary US composer Robert Ashley’s String Quartet.
REO HOU | FUTURE VOICES NZ
Eight young composers currently studying across the four major New Zealand universities writing short works for four of our favourite Argonauts - Aaron Barnden, Mauricio Carrasco, Samuel Dunscombe and Gemma Kneale.
HURDY GURDY & PURE DATA
Dunedin-based composer | performer Kerian Varaine’s extraordinary project to marry ultra-new diffusion with ancient strings is nothing short of genius. Joining Kerian is Christchurch-based iconic violinist Mark Menzies, in only his second-ever Australian appearance.
T | ANDE | LA
Legendary Swedish composer and performer Sten-Olof Hellström brings his remarkable algorithmically-driven live synthesis electronics to BIFEM with the premiere Australian version of his witty and wily Tandem Musca Cacavit (Finally the fly shat). Light sensor live electronics are the spine of the mesmerising ritual of Ann Rosén’s Candela. Live flames and live electronics. Varsågod.
GRAPHITE BARRIER
Swedish composer Ann Rosén’s real-time graphic work is a 2019 collaboration with BIFEM icons the Argonaut String Quartet. Joined by Ann’s long-time working partner, electronics performer | composer Sten-Olof Hellström.
PLUS so much more including workshops, solo performer recitals, live performance lectures, the family friendly Cushion Concert and the Festival Hub running Friday and Saturday nights at Shades Bar, upstairs at The Capital where you can unwind after the shows.
BIFEM 2019
September 6-8
in venues in and around Bendigo, Victoria
Free and ticketed events are available, as well as festival passes and single tickets. For the full program head to the BIFEM website.