Hear ethereal musical clusters, floating tones and swathes of spacious sound in this music series inspired by the symbolism of clouds.

Presented alongside the Magritte exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Cloud music brings together American composer and musician William Basinski, Hong Kong ambient composer and musician Olivier Cong, a string quartet from the Australia Chamber Orchestra and a vocal and musical ensemble from the Sydney Chamber Opera to offer unique musical works aligned to the art of Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte.

Hosted in the Art Gallery’s atmospheric Kaldor Hall on Wednesday evenings, Cloud music will feature a diverse repertoire, from Erik Satie and John Cage to contemporary compositions by the likes of Gabriella Smith and Pascal Dusapin.

Cloud music will also feature the world premiere of new works by Jane Sheldon as well as the Australian premiere of excerpts from Thomas Adès’s The exterminating angel. 

Wednesday 15 January 2025 8–9pm

• Sydney Chamber Opera

Sydney Chamber Opera, featuring Jane Sheldon, Jessica O’Donoghue and Jack Symonds, with violist Christopher Cartlidge. Mise en espace created by Alexander Berlage.

Wednesday 22 January 2025 7–9pm

• William Basinski and Olivier Cong

  William Basinski’s music calls on obsolete technologies and analogue tape loops to create intensely evocative, and at times haunting, atmospheres. Opening the evening’s performance will be Olivier Cong whose 2024 album, Tropical Church, has been widely acclaimed.

Wednesday 29 January 2025 8–9pm

• Australian Chamber Orchestra

The Australian Chamber Orchestra String Quartet featuring Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba and Tim Yu (violins), Elizabeth Woolnough (viola) and Eliza Sdraulig (cello)