No Friend but the Mountains

Inspired by Behrouz Boochani’s book of his refugee journey and six-year-long incarceration in Manus Island, the LSO and Gareth Brynmor John give the UK premiere of this heart-stopping song-cycle by Luke Styles.

Conceived for chorus, soloist, and large orchestra, his richly-imagined score unfolds across twelve impassioned songs and interludes, faithfully shadowing the trajectory of Boochani’s ordeal. Addressing aspects of Australian history and identity, ‘a work such as this changes a composer’ Styles confesses. ‘This will always stand out as a milestone work for me’. Boochani eventually secured asylum in New Zealand.