"Marcus Aurelius" Concert - violinist-composer Rupert Guenther

International violinist Rupert Guenther presents Marcus Aurelius as part of a series of world premiere performances of his fascinating new original works for violin based on the life and work of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (102-180 AD) drawing particularly from his book of writings Meditations in the highly atmospheric Hackett Hall at WA Museum Boola Bardip.

The Marcus Aurelius work illustrates through music the great contrast in psychological maturity which a statesman of Aurelius integrity and humanitarian vision would bring to the world stage if suddenly appearing now, as a leader in the modern world, standing in stark contrast among our current rather psychologically unbalanced world leadership.

The music is a series of 7 extended improvisations as meditations on Aurelius philosophy of good-spiritedness (the Greek eudaimonia), the path of a life spent practicing virtue and living in accordance with nature, and to be in self-control enough to live free from anger, envy, and jealousy, and how a world leader like this would help us achieve a future of security through wisdom, collaboration and cooperation, instead of seeking security through perpetual suppression, domination and wars.

This performance takes place on a specially designed electric baroque violin custom made for the work, created in discussion with Australian master luthier Paul Davies in country Victoria.

Rupert Guenther is a Vienna-trained concert violinist & composer performing internationally across many mediums including acoustic classical, amplified experimental soundscapes, electric violin, improvisation and multimedia genres. He has recorded & released 40 of his own original albums since 2003 including 5 CDs commissioned & recorded by ABC Classic FM, and regularly tours Australia, Europe & the UK. A former sideman to the stars he held positions with Vienna Chamber Opera, worked with Beatles producer Sir George Martin, Olivia Newton-John & Greek superstar Demis Roussos to name a few.