Rubiks Collective

Presented by Melbourne Recital Centre & Rubiks Collective

‘Incredibly personal, strangely spiritual and ultimately deeply touching.’ – Limelight

Embark on a musical journey through the unexpected with Rubiks Collective in a world premiere performance of ‘I have a big idea’ by Australia composer Matthew Shlomowitz—a thrilling and poignant monodrama that dares to ask: what if? A theatrical work performed by a single character, this monodrama invites listeners to experience their inner world.

Celebrating their 10th anniversary, Melbourne's cult-favourites Rubiks continues to push boundaries and challenge conventions. Hailed for their ‘incredibly personal, strangely spiritual and ultimately deeply touching’ (Limelight) experiences, they have established themselves as fearless innovators in Australia's contemporary classical landscape.

‘I have a big idea’ explores the moments when inspiration strikes, following one person's journey as their life-changing idea spirals into delightful absurdity. Featuring celebrated vocalist and long-time Rubiks collaborator Lotte Betts-Dean, this thought-provoking work combines spoken word, music, and theatrical elements, celebrating the beautiful collision between our dreams and reality.

The ensemble weaves an extraordinary tapestry of musical styles, from samba to Scandinavian jazz, late Romanticism to old-school Broadway musical—whilst seamlessly shifting between classical and contemporary instruments to create a sound world as dynamic as the human imagination itself.

This performance is generously supported by the Robert Salzer Foundation.

Dates & Times

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Duration: 1 hour (no interval). Please note, running times are approximate and subject to change.

Tickets

Standard $37

Concession $30

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Artists

Kaylie Melville percussion
Tamara Kohler flutes
Lotte Betts-Dean vocals
Gemma Kneale cello
Alex Raineri keyboards

Program

Matthew Shlomowitz
I have a big idea

About Rubiks Collective

Rubiks Collective is one of Melbourne's most exciting art music ensembles, directed by Tamara Kohler (flutes) and Kaylie Melville (percussion). Since debuting in 2015, Rubiks has been hailed as 'a formidable contribution to Australia's growing community of contemporary music makers' (Partial Durations). Rubiks reimagines classical music for the modern era by showcasing bold cross-art collaborations, sharing untold stories and championing gender equity in the arts.

Rubiks' international appearances have included performances in Germany, England, the Netherlands and at the closing events for the 2018-19 Australia Festival in India. National appearances include the Metropolis New Music Festival (Melbourne), City Recital Hall's Extended Play Festival (Sydney), Canberra International Music Festival and the post-genre concert series Dots+Loops (Brisbane).

In 2021, Rubiks was awarded Melbourne Recital Centre's inaugural Percy Grainger Award for its commitment to the commissioning and performance of Australian new music.

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