TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - String Quartet Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) performed alongside Indonesian composer Vishnu Satyagraha in the concert titled Two Nations in Harmony: An Australia-Indonesia Concert Ensemble in Jakarta on Thursday, 9 July 2026. The performance is part of efforts to strengthen cultural relations between Australia and Indonesia through musical collaboration.
Australian Charg d'Affaires to Indonesia Gita Kamath said that music serves as a medium to strengthen relations between the people of both countries. "Music has the power to unite people across cultures, and this concert highlights the strength of our partnership through creativity and collaboration," said Gita Kamath on 9 July 2026.
According to Gita, over the past decade, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has collaborated with various partners in Indonesia. This collaboration has been realized through a memorandum of understanding with the Yogyakarta Regional Cultural Office and the Yogyakarta Royal Orchestra to promote cultural exchange, artist capacity development, and collaborative performances.
In the concert, Vishnu performed two of his original works, Yarra Code and Aluna Digdaya. Both compositions were inspired by his experiences and the communities he encountered in Australia and Indonesia, blending elements of Western classical music with Indonesian musical traditions. One of the pieces, Aluna Digdaya, combines string quartet play with rhythmic sounds of traditional lesung, creating a musical representation of the meeting of two cultures.
Tempo had the opportunity to watch the performance that evening. Both songs, combining the harmonies of string instruments with traditional Indonesian musical instruments, were unique. In the song Yarra Code, Vishnu added the sound of drums. Yarra Code is a contemporary composition inspired by the Yarra River in Melbourne and the Code River in Yogyakarta. The four-part piece depicts the journey of the river from upstream to downstream as a metaphor for the lives of people in both cities. Combined with the play of the kendang and an ensemble of string instruments, the composition reflects the convergence of Indonesian and Australian musical traditions while showing how the river shapes the landscape and the lives of the surrounding community.
The song Aluna Digdaya stood out in the concert. Vishnu Satyagraha combined the performance of a string instrument ensemble with the gejog lesung, a percussion musical tradition that utilizes a wooden lesung and has been designated as an intangible cultural heritage of Indonesia. Through this combination, he presented a dialogue between the Nusantara musical heritage and Western classical music traditions. The strong rhythm of the gejog lesung formed the basis of the composition, while the string instruments built a broader harmony, creating a sonic landscape that depicted the meeting of ancestral traditions with contemporary musical expression. Not only the instruments, but the musicians from Indonesia who played traditional instruments also added their voices. Sometimes they voiced 'hey', and there were also unique cak sounds characteristic of Indonesian art. This collaboration of Western and Eastern music drew the attention of the audience in Soehanna Hall, The Energy Building, Jakarta that night.
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO), which showcased its talents that evening, is one of the oldest and most prominent symphony orchestras in Australia. Based in Melbourne, Victoria, the MSO is known for actively holding concerts both domestically and internationally, as well as having various educational programs, developing young musicians, and engaging in cross-cultural collaborations.
Aside from the concert in Jakarta, the MSO musicians were also scheduled to conduct a workshop themed Leadership in Arts before continuing their visit to Yogyakarta. These activities were supported by the Australia-Indonesia Institute and the Government of the State of Victoria as part of strengthening bilateral relations in the arts and culture sector.
Read: Australia Hit by Major Telstra Outage, Affecting Mobile Services and Regional Trains
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
India, Australia Seal Key Uranium Export Deal
3 hari lalu
The announcement came as Modi met his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, in Melbourne for the third India-Australia Annual Summit.
Australia Hit by Major Telstra Outage, Affecting Mobile Services and Regional Trains
5 hari lalu
Australia's largest telecommunications provider, Telstra, suffered a major nationwide outage on Wednesday, disrupting mobile and internet services.
Australia, Fiji Sign Defense Alliance Pact to Counter China
6 hari lalu
Fiji, which had grown closer to Beijing under its former leadership, will now consult Canberra on security developments.
Great Barrier Reef Again Avoids 'In Danger' Label
7 hari lalu
UNESCO acknowledged Australia's efforts towards the Great Barrier Reef's health but raised concerns over mass bleaching.
2026 World Cup: Argentina Advances, Egypt Awaits in Round of 16
9 hari lalu
Argentina defeated debutants Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.
Highest Paying Degrees in Australia With the Best Salaries
9 hari lalu
The highest paying degrees in Australia span a wide range of fields, proving that lucrative careers aren't limited to a single industry.
Why Indonesians Favor Shorter Vacations Across Asia, Australia
10 hari lalu
The latest data report indicates a shift in the travel trends of Indonesian tourists, who now prefer shorter trips to Asia and Australia.
Indonesia Pushes for Stronger Food Cooperation with Australia
10 hari lalu
Indonesia is open to investment opportunities in priority sectors. The government is seeking stronger deals with Australia across various sectors.
Australia-Vanuatu Deal Bars Foreign Bases in Island Nation
13 hari lalu
Australia and Vanuatu signed a deal seen as countering China's security influence, while Vanuatu also pursues an economic deal with China.
Indonesia, Australia Discuss Regional Security in Cambodia
15 hari lalu
ASEAN and Australia are developing more robust operational standards on immigration and border affairs.
