Perth Symphony Orchestra is inviting all Perth Catholics to be immersed in the remarkable narrative of Benedictine monk turned composer, philosopher and philanthropist, Bishop Rosendo Salvado.
The Bishop of the Bush is part of the WA Stories chamber music series set to redefine the concert experience for the 21st century audience.
Breaking away from convention, “WA Stories” promises a spellbinding odyssey where extraordinary music, captivating visuals, diary fragments, photos of the past and vivid narration converge to unveil the stories of renowned figures who made a stamp on Western Australia’s history.
The performance will follow his travels from his hometown in Spain to our WA shores and the impact he made on our WA history.
The concerts will take place Friday 16 and Saturday 17 August at 7pm at the Hacket Hall at the WA Museum, Perth Cultural Centre.
At the age of 15, Rosendo Salvado entered the Benedictine Abbey of San Martin at Compostela. He was clothed in the habit in 1829 and took his final vows in 1832.
In 1835, he was forced to flee to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, after the anti-Catholic government of Juan Álvarez Mendizábal decreed the closing of all monasteries and the secularisation of monks as a result of the First Carlist War.
He was received into the Abbey of Trinità della Cava, near Naples, where he was ordained to the priesthood in February 1839.
In a statement released for occasion the PSO said the performance will allow the audience to discover his adventurous story intricately woven with treasured paintings, historic photos, diary fragments, and resplendent melodies of 19th century Spain and Italy.
“Experience this fusion of cultures as 19th-century masterpieces intertwine with a unique Spanish journey into the bush, as it became part of our WA history, bringing to life this extraordinary tale of friendship and collaboration.”
The “Bishop of the Bush” performance is one of three from PSO’s unique chamber music series, ‘WA Stories’, connecting people with the stories of WA Icons.
Through this particular performance, Perth Symphony seeks to celebrate Bishop Salvado’s progressive relationship with the Aboriginal people, his interest in and respect for their culture.
The Yued people saved his life, and from all we know, he was a true friend of the Yued people, dedicating his life to recording their language, culture and customs.
Perth Symphony acknowledges that the institution that Bishop Salvado founded at New Norcia, had a huge impact on the local Aboriginal people, and that there were dark times for many people and families after Bishop Salvado’s death.
We acknowledge that the story we tell through this performance is that of Bishop Salvado. We have not attempted to tell the wider story of New Norcia, as it is not our story to tell.
Perth Symphony remains committed to the vision of reconciliation that celebrates strong and positive relationships and outcomes between Aboriginal Peoples and the wider Western Australian community.
Readers of The Record will receive a 10% discount for a Bishop of the Bush concert. Use Promo code STORY10.
To purchase tickets, go to https://perthsymphony.com/concerts-and-tickets/whats-on/wa-stories-bishop-of-the-bush