Marcus Aurelius “Meditations”: Violin Sketches in Sound with violinist-composer Rupert Guenther

International violinist Rupert Guenther presents Marcus Aurelius “Meditations” - Violin Sketches in Sound as the world-premiere performance this year of his fascinating new original work for violin based on the life and work of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (102-180 AD) drawing particularly from his book of writings “Meditations”.

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. In a series of 7 extended improvisations, Guenther brings these themes to life as musical 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 and created in collaboration with Australian master luthier Paul Davies in regional Victoria.

“Guenther’s seamless, mood-shifting, jaw-drop-inspiring improvisations communicated beyond chronological time, outside cultures and stock sounds for particular instruments. His unique painting of sentiment, concerns and cultural contrasts from our time reach us with a much needed freshness in the concert format.” - Sydney Arts Guide