Nat Bartsch - Acceptance Does Not Mean Surrender

A powerful musical response to our climate crisis.

Celebrate the release of award-winning pianist and composer Nat Bartsch's tenth album, Acceptance Does Not Mean Surrender, a powerful musical response to our climate crisis. Inspired by conversations with eight climate scientists, hear their voices embedded in Nat’s evocative works, along with sounds of nature and stunning cinematography of the natural environment by Stefan Raabe.

Joined by Nat's ARIA-nominated jazz quartet and members of Monash Art Ensemble, each movement guides listeners through themes that emerged from Nat’s research, offering a space to process climate grief, connect with nature, and cultivate resilience.

‘I hope this piece will also inspire you to find ways to do what you can for climate action; to connect with nature, listen to the science, process some challenging emotions, and find beauty in broken places.’ – Nat Bartsch

Praise for Nat Bartsch

‘You know how you sometimes hear a composer's work and wonder 'where have they been all my life?' Nat Bartsch is one of those people for me.’ – ABC News

‘Nat is one of Australia's most emotive, most unique pianists and composers.’ – Double J

‘Music that's truly relevant for life today... beautiful, intimate music that always seems to have a purpose.’ – ABC Classic

‘This music bypasses surface differences and gets at the common emotional ground we all share. – Cut Common

‘Very rarely, a special artist can stop you in your tracks, cause you to look up and remember there is beauty in the world. Enter Nat Bartsch.’ – Scenestr

Content Warning: This work refers to past and projected future natural disasters, and irreversible impacts of unmitigated climate change on vulnerable environments and communities. Take care as you listen.

Tickets

Standard $45 ($40 Concession)

Please note, seating in the Primrose Potter Salon is General Admission.

A Transaction Fee between $4 and $8.50 applies to orders made online and by phone. Delivery Fees may also apply. A ticket limit of six is in place online to ensure fair ticket access for all. Want to bring a bigger party? Call our Box Office during business hours on (03) 9699 3333 to book.

Artist Listing

Nat Bartsch piano, samples, synths, ambient effects
Robbie Melville electric guitar, loops
Tamara Murphy double bass
Maddison Carter drums, percussion

Monash Art Ensemble
Rob Burke alto saxophone
Paul Williamson trumpet
Natasha Conrau violin
Charlotte Jacke cello

Program

Nat Bartsch
Gratitude
The Knowledge
Anger
Despair
Solastalgia
Amor Fati
Acceptance Does Not Mean Surrender
Community
Radical Joy

About the Artist

Nat Bartsch is a triple ARIA-nominated pianist, composer, producer, mentor, and neurodiversity advocate. Her ethereal, meditative music is uniquely intergenerational, fostering mindfulness, kindness, connection, and community. Nat has performed and toured her original music in jazz and classical scenes for over 17 years – from the Australian bush to jazz clubs in Japan, and to the Royal Albert Hall.

She has released nine albums, including her popular album of lullabies, Forever, and No Time At All, and her response to the Black Summer bushfires, Hope. Her music has been streamed over 15 million times, but more importantly, her albums are often chosen to accompany deeply personal moments, from childbirth to the hours before death. Deftly traversing the space between classical, jazz, ambient and post-rock, Nat is known for her unique re-interpretations of her works with her critically acclaimed jazz quartet.

Nat has been nominated for both jazz and classical ARIA and AIR awards. She also received the Art Music Award for jazz work of the year, and the Luminary award for Victoria for neurodiversity advocacy.

Monash Art Ensemble, founded by Artistic Director Paul Grabowksy AO, is a leading Australian ensemble commissioning, performing and documenting polystylistic new works of Australian music, fostering collaborations between emerging, mid-career and established practitioners of improvised and notated art music.