ACO: A Resonance of Emerald

The Auckland Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Peter Scholes, and with special guest Helen Medlyn, performs a 'composer portrait' of Eve de Castro Robinson.

“And as for ‘why do I compose?’ There seems to be an inner surge of creative energy which must spring out and manifest itself in musical form. This usually involves much gazing out at trees and water (two life forces) and summoning up embryonic flickers and traces of sounds and ideas which may agree to be shaped and manipulated into larger forms and structures.

"I’m continually trying to figure out how to bridge the gap between being able to allow something to come into being and then to make some personal ‘concrete’ sense of it. I do try to achieve a balance between the peace of mind necessary for depth and clarity of contemplation, and the open and trusting (and therefore extremely vulnerable) state of being that is creative. I can only compose from inner conviction and speak with my heart. And I often return to a statement by Berio, who sees music as ‘a gift to be given and a gift to be received’ “.