Where Will They Bury My Bones?
Join audiences in Aotearoa and around the world for the digital premiere of composer Gareth Farr’s moving response to our state of mind during times of profound uncertainty.
Written by New Zealanders living in different countries – composer Gareth Farr (NZ), librettist Paul Horan (NZ/AUS), and baritone Julien Van Mellaerts (NZ/UK) – during the COVID pandemic, Where Will They Bury My Bones? is a concert in four movements with three instrumental interludes that contemplates our sense of dislocation in our corner of the world.
Transforming the classical music form of the requiem into a piece that speaks directly to New Zealanders and the way we’ve experienced loneliness, distance, and uncertainty under lockdown and border restrictions, this deeply poignant and thoughtful performance is a moment to stop and reflect on our journey through the pandemic to date – and the safe future we’re all working together towards.
Streaming available worldwide
The event will also be broadcast by RNZ Concert at 9:30pm Sat 19 March, on air, on their website, and Facebook page
Reflecting on the general theme of displacement in Where Will They Bury My Bones?, initially created in response to considering many New Zealanders’ experience of often being away from home, composer Gareth Farr and his artistic team have found their music now has additional meaning. The horrors of war in Ukraine and the dire situation of millions of displaced people in exodus from their home brings a newer currency to the word “displacement” than was originally imagined when the work was created. In recognition of the current times, Gareth asks you to consider donating to Unicef's Ukraine appeal here.
