Sydney Symphony Orchestra wind quintet performs at Cathedral Gorge. Photo credit: APT
The natural amphitheatre that is Cathedral Gorge proved the perfect concert hall for APT’s Symphony in the Kimberley.
Over five days, guests on select APT Kimberley Wilderness Adventures were delighted when they entered the gorge to find a wind quintet from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) waiting to play especially for them.
APT Kimberley Wilderness Adventures head Angus Tandy said the performances were the realisation of a long-held ambition for APT to host a world-class musical event for guests in the gorge.
“Guests are always blown away by the acoustics when we take them to Cathedral Gorge and they will often sing or ‘cooee’. To have the SSO there was amazing, the sound was phenomenal and people were getting quite emotional sitting there listening.”
“We will definitely be seeing if we can do something similar to show off the gorge again.”
Tucked in the Kimberley’s World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park, Cathedral Gorge is renowned for both its spectacular beauty and acoustic brilliance, and is one of the major highlights on an APT Kimberley Wilderness Adventure.
SSO wind quintet musicians – Principal Flute Janet Webb, Associate Principal Oboe Shefali Pryor, Principal Horn Robert Johnson, Principal Bassoon Matthew Wilkie and Clarinetist Chris Tingay – presented a programme of classical and contemporary pieces, showing off the gorge’s amazing acoustic qualities and complimenting the breathtaking scenery. Symphony in the Kimberley was an APT Signature Experience and the result of a successful partnership between the award-winning travel operator and the SSO. In March this year, an SSO string quartet performed a series of live performances on board selected APT 15-Day Magnificent Europe river cruises.
APT is also a proud sponsor of the 2016 SSO Master Series concerts at the Sydney Opera House.
Cathedral Gorge features on APT’s 15-Day Kimberley Complete; 16-Day Kimberley, Kakadu & Arnhem Land; and 9-Day El Questro, Gorges & Purnululu tours.
