Curse of the Gothic Symphony, The (ATOM Study Guide)

Said to be cursed, for over 80 years the immense Gothic Symphony has remained unperformed in its entirety. At over two hours long and requiring two orchestras, four brass bands and five full choirs singing 42 parts, this is perhaps not surprising.

Written by obscure British composer Havergal Brian from 1919-1927 it has been officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records (1974) as the largest, longest and most technically difficult symphony ever composed and is widely regarded as the Mt Everest of classical music.

Filmed over five years, this documentary follows the journey of a brave and committed group of Brisbane enthusiasts, who attempt to break the curse and stage this epic event. Despite constant setbacks and endless drama, they struggle, and struggle on. And what an eclectic bunch they are!

At the core of this odyssey is Gary Thorpe, the Manager of 4MBS FM, who for over 28 years has been pitching the symphony to practically anyone who would listen. Then there is John Curro the beloved conductor from Queensland Youth Orchestra, who likes big works and wanted to have a crack at the curse. Alison Rogers, a local choral master, wanted to challenge herself to see if she could do it – despite there not being enough choristers in Brisbane. And then there's Veronica Fury, the film's producer who crossed the line and got completely caught up in the struggle.

Featuring 'Gothic'-inspired recreations and highly stylised animations, rare archive and beautifully shot actuality, The Curse of the Gothic Symphony charts the parallel stories of Havergal Brian and the Gothic team. This is a colourful and quirky story exploring the passion and obsession it takes to stage a world first event against all odds – it is the 'extreme sport' of classical music.

Curriculum links

This study guide is mainly aimed at middle and upper secondary school levels, with relevance to:

• English
• Media and Film Studies
• History
• Music Studies
• Art and Design
• Cultural Studies
• Ethics and Philosophy
• Psychology