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Page 11 of 18
 Azadi: Songs of Liberation
Melbourne Millennium Chorus #8
Released: 2005
Price: $28
after Concert parties aren't just for fun. It was at the 2004 MMC
concert wind down that Stephen Taberner and Therese Virtue mooted a
concert of songs of liberation
How can we make the concert resonate with contemporary issues? What
graphic image can we to use to ignite peoples interest? What should we
call it? Arnold Zable, the celebrated Melbourne writer and story
teller, solved all
three questions
Arnold was a key member of an international team which gained the
release of Iranian Ardeshir Gholipour from detention in Australia,
detention which nearly cost Ardeshir his life. Ardeshir had painted a
striking picture of magpies and had given copies to those who had
helped secure his release. Azadi means freedom in Iran. What a
wonderful word. Ardeshir and Arnold had given us the issue, the image
and the name central to this powerful sell out concert.
The 350 voice choir rehearsed in Mallacoota, Warrnambool, Bendigo,
Castlemaine, Maldon and Frankston, joining the Melbourne contingent for
the final rehearsal and concert. The choir has never sounded better.
The concert also celebrated Australia's amazing cultural diversity
through dazzling performances by supporting artists.
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