Playing in support of MND Australia: Behind the scenes at The Fading Symphony

MND Australia | Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Motor neurone disease (MND), sometimes also referred to as ALS, is a progressive terminal neurological disease with no known cure or effective treatment.

Tim and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) worked with MND Australia in 2015 on The Fading Symphony, a campaign to raise awareness and funds: for research into finding a cure, to support people living with MND and for global projects fighting ALS/MND.

Please donate $5 (or £s or €s!) at thefadingsymphony.com/donate

Each day in Australia two people die from and two people are diagnosed with MND, which can strike men or women, young or old, from any country, race or demographic. People living with the disease progressively lose the use of their limbs and the ability to speak, swallow and breathe whilst their mind and senses usually remain intact.

The Fading Symphony sees Tim and the SSO, at the Sydney Recital Hall, performing a moving rendition of Neil Finn’s Crowded House hit Don’t Dream It’s Over. As they play, they poignantly illustrate the progression of the debilitating symptoms; highlighting the physical impacts metaphorically through deteriorating performances by the artists. As Tim and the orchestra fall silent a donation is requested, following which the orchestra comes back to life and plays on, flourishing to an uplifting crescendo.

In this ‘Behind the Scenes’ video, Tim and Kirsten Harley talk about the impacts of MND and the importance of staying positive when faced with adversity. The videos are part of a short playlist, so it’s immediately followed by the ‘Making of The Fading Symphony’ with some performance clips and Tim talking about the project.

“What has stayed with me is meeting Dr Kirsten Harley who lives with MND and is a board member for MND New South Wales… Tim Minchin also met Kirsten and was inspired and moved by her attitude on life.”

Guy Patrick, creative lead at The Works

“Our goal is to help people currently living with MND lead better, longer lives and continue to work towards finding a treatment and cure for this indiscriminate killer.”

Carol Birks, national executive director of MND Australia