The Conference of the Birds

About

The Conference of the Birds is a multi-dimensional artistic program by Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, presented in partnership with QPAC and Brisbane Festival. Centered on the 12th-century Persian poem by Attar of Nishapur, the concert explores love, faith, and humanity’s search for courage, balancing a sense of loss with hope. The performance integrates Lembit Beecher’s composition with spoken text and Peter Sís’s visual illustrations, enhanced by design and lighting to create a holistic concert experience. The program opens with Mendelssohn’s Sinfonia No. 10 in B Minor (Adagio and Allegro), continues with Beecher’s The Conference of the Birds as the program’s core, and includes Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending with Brendan Joyce as violin soloist. Narration by Liz Buchanan frames the music and articulates the poem’s translation, guiding audiences through the thematic journey.