When Rafael Bonachela, Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company, first heard Peteris Vasks’ Cello Concerto No 2, written for Argentinian cellist Sol Gabetta, he knew immediately that he wanted to use it for his latest work ab [intra] – even though he admits that he was slightly terrified about doing it justice.

He also knew that he wanted to commission Australian composer Nick Wales, with whom he collaborates regularly, to write some new music in response to the Vasks. “I work a lot with classical music – such as the concerto for cello and strings by [Bulgarian composer] Dobrinka Tabakova that I used for Anima – and  also more hardcore, underground sounds with Nick Wales. Those are the two musical worlds that I really conenct with,” says Bonachela. “For this work I knew I wanted to bring those two worlds that I’ve been playing with [together].  I wanted it to feel like you enter this world and you come out the other end but you never feel like this is Peteris Vasks and this is Nick Wales; it all feels like it’s one work.”

ab [intra], Sydney Dance CompanySydney Dance Company’s...