Australian String Quartet meets jazz in Perth composer Vanessa Perica’s No Feeling is Final on national tour

WAAPA alumna and renowned jazz composer Vanessa Perica returns to Perth in May, launching a national tour of her new work for the Australian String Quartet, No Feeling is Final. “I couldn’t be more excited to bring this piece to my old hometown,” she tells thewest.com. “My time studying at WAAPA is a big part of who I am. I studied there, I worked there. “I formed many of my lasting friendships there. In fact, six members of my jazz orchestra, who are some of my closest friends, are former peers from WAAPA — so the connection runs deep.” Composing for a string quartet is a new departure. Why now? “I’m always looking for the next challenge and this seemed a logical next step,” Perica says. “Back in 2021, I had the great privilege of writing commissions for two collaborations with my group, the Vanessa Perica Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. “It was through those two projects that I met the concertmaster of the MSO at the time, the phenomenal Dale Barltrop. “After falling in love with his playing in that setting and after hearing him with the Australian String Quartet, I knew that I needed to write for the ASQ. “Writing for string quartet has long been regarded as a rite of passage for any serious composer. There’s nowhere to hide in this genre — it’s incredibly exposing.” Perica’s notes on her composition reference the state of the world and a tumultuous personal time. Can she still find hope in musical expression? “As far as the world goes, I don’t think I’ve ever lived through a more uncertain time,” she says. “It can feel pretty disheartening but there’s still so much beauty out there. “I find real comfort in music and the arts — it’s healing to absorb and cathartic to create. “Turbulent times force you to dig deep, to tell stories that really matter to you. I think that can inspire the creation of great and compelling art.” Perica says she finds “artistic fodder” as the world’s troubles deepen, and her personal journey evolves. “Just a few days ago, I visited the (Edvard) Munch Museum in Oslo and saw the iconic painting The Scream,” she says. “This masterpiece came about from a personal experience of Munch’s. He related the story of how in 1892, whilst walking with two friends, he felt a sudden and huge wave of anxiety and fear as the sky turned bright red at sunset. “He described it like hearing a ‘scream passing through nature’, which he then turned into the famous painting we know today. I really felt this angst when seeing it in person. It was visceral. “Yes, for me this is hope. A prime example of the powerful enduring nature of art. That Munch could channel that moment 130 years ago into something that still resonates so powerfully today.” Touring, Perica says, will be enlightening, seeing the work evolve over time and distance travelled. “I’m particularly looking forward to experiencing the varying interactions with different audiences and spaces,” she says. “I’m hoping that folks walk away feeling uplifted and inspired after hearing this piece. It’s a journey that I’ve put a lot of love into. “I think my jazz background infused into this classical work will offer a fresh new perspective in string quartet writing. “Being a composer can be lonely work at times, as we bunker down and chip away on our compositions. So seeing this piece go ‘on the road’ so to speak, is a lovely way to connect with audiences across the country.” Perica is a radical convert to the string quartet as a genre— one of the most homophonous formats yet devised — and ASQ in particular. “Hearing the ASQ live is breathtaking!” she says. “I really encourage anyone who hasn’t seen them perform in the flesh to do so. It’s an exhilarating experience, no matter the repertoire. “I must say that since I moved to Melbourne 10 years ago, Perth audiences have been so incredibly warm and supportive whenever I return. “There’s nothing quite like coming home and feeling the embrace of the community that helped shape you. I hope they enjoy my labour of love for this extraordinary group.” ASQ’s Rapture tour brackets No Feeling is Final with Beethoven’s Serioso String Quartet No.11 in F minor, Janazcek’s String Quartet No.2 Intimate Letters, and Golijov’s Tenebrae. WA dates are Mt Barker on May 7 and Perth on May 8, followed by Eastern States capitals. Tickets at asq.com.au