I Starred Last Night, I Shone

Les Murray (E)

Les Murray’s "Performance" has long been one of my very favourite poems. Its ironically irreverent take on the self-possessed life of the performing artist has always appealed to my wry side. I’ve long sought an opportunity to set it to music and a project exploring repertoire with my daughter, mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean, offered the ideal situation. What started life then as a duo for us both has since grown into this "Purbeck-Krzyzowa" version for voice and string trio.

Of course, it’s not just a straight setting of text. Being a poem about the act of performing, as described by a performer who is reflecting on the magnificence of their own most recent accomplishments, it seemed important for the opening section to be that very performance. So the work begins with a brief but virtuosic and contrapuntal romp for all the gathered artistes before launching into Murray’s flamboyantly sardonic words. Enjoy!
Brett Dean, 2024