Symphonic Poem
Symphonic Poem
Symphonic Poem


The Advertiser - Geelong, Australia, 24 Feb 1992

The Australian Ballet at its Best

The Australian Ballet opened its 1992 season at the Victorian Arts Centre on Friday night with two brilliant examples of what it does best. The company has an established reputation both at home and abroad for the successful presentation of original and imaginative works. Timothy Gordon’s Symphonic Poem, a choreography to Josef Suk’s Prague Op.26, premiered Friday, is certain to enhance the company’s eminence in this regard still further.

Symphonic Poem is a one-act work described as abstract by its creator. But Suk’s composition is far from abstract as is most music of the late romantic period. It expresses zealous patriotism and almost hysterical anxiety for the beautiful city of his fatherland in musical terms of unmistakable realism. If Timothy Gordon means by abstract a concentration on form and pattern his achievement is nevertheless considerable.

With a flowing narrative of myriad numerical groupings and geometric placements all randomly sequenced, the vitality of a large group led by Miranda Coney, and Adam Marchant, this dance abstraction fascinated by its infinite richness of choreographic ideas.

A work such as Symphonic Poem ensures the Australian Ballet will never become moribund as a creative force in Australian cultural life.

BRIAN CHALMERS