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‘Stunning’: Choirs turn hidden gorge into natural amphitheatre

The Australian Boys' Choir sings for the large crowd at Ormiston Gorge.

The Australian Boys' Choir sings for the large crowd at Ormiston Gorge. Photo: ABC

A remote gorge hidden in Central Australia has been turned into a stunning and uniquely Australian concert venue for more than 1000 people at the Desert Song Festival.

Ormiston Gorge, 130 kilometres west of Alice Springs in the West MacDonnell National Park, became a natural amphitheatre for the concert.

It was one of the final events for the 10-day Desert Song Festival, and director Morris Stuart said it was a big turnout.

“The crowd is up and happy and positive, so it’s a wonderful way to round off the 2017 Desert Song Festival,” he said.

“I think we had well over 1000 people here today which put a bit of pressure on us, but logistics apart, beautiful afternoon, wonderful contribution from singers and from musicians as well.

“I love music, I love choirs, and when you can blend all the voices and bring the audience in as well, it’s just a really special feeling and a really special occasion.”

Morris Stuart leads a choir at Ormiston Gorge

Desert Song Festival director Morris Stuart leads a choir at Ormiston Gorge. Photo: ABC

One of the choirs performing at the event was Adelaide-based Poco Tutti, which is mainly made up of singers with a disability.

Artistic director Patricia Rix said the gorge was one of the best venues in which the choir had performed.

“It’s stunning, there’s no place like it,” she said.

Ms Rix added the natural acoustics of the gorge perfectly suited choral music.

“It’s a beautiful place to sing, particularly if you sing to the rock and it bounces off. It’s gorgeous,” she said.

“[The acoustics] are very live and they’re very friendly to voices, so that big overhang of rock kind of acts like a cathedral ceiling.”

-ABC

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