HEADWATER

Three Humans & Three Double Basses paint a world of irresolution.

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. Costume design by Geoffrey Watson.

“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.

Premiered at Melbourne Fringe on Oct 17-19, 2024.