So Near So Far

An epic tale of vision, betrayal, and transformation, this musical journey follows Charles Yelverton O'Connor - the Irish engineer who dared to reimagine Australia’s largest state. From the misty hills of Ireland to the unforgiving landscapes of Western Australia, O'Connor's extraordinary story is a raw, passionate exploration of ambition, innovation, and the devastating human cost of visionary dreams.

Against a backdrop of colonial expansion, gold rushes, and political intrigue, a singular man battles impossible odds. With nothing but engineering brilliance and unwavering determination, O'Connor transforms an emerging frontier, constructing marvels that would define a state: the magnificent Fremantle Harbour and the audacious Goldfields Water Pipeline.

But greatness comes at a price. As political enemies circle and public criticism mounts, O'Connor finds himself trapped between his monumental vision and a world desperate to break him. This is a story of an immigrant's ultimate sacrifice - a haunting meditation on how one man's dream can reshape an entire landscape, even as it destroys him.

Performed by an intimate ensemble blending Celtic roots and Australian grit, "So Near So Far" is a musical odyssey that pulses with raw emotion, revolutionary spirit, and the complex legacy of a true unsung hero.

A Powerful Story

PRESS

  • “One highlight of the Fremantle International Jazz Festival were Perth percussionist Michael Pignéguy’s commissioned 40-minute opus based on C.Y. O’Connor, the civil engineer responsible for taking water to remote parts of Western Australia.”

    — STAFF WRITER, All About Jazz

  • The composer charged with the task of paying tribute to O'Connor was Perth jazz musician Michael Pignéguy. An accomplished percussionist of international standing, Pignéguy drew on an exceptional palette of musical influences and expertise to engineer a 40-minute work named after the engineer that condensed O'Connor's life into four areas; Initiation, Success, Tragedy and Liberation.

    — RICHARD JOHN, The West Australian

  • "Local jazz personality Michael Pignéguy lead his ensemble through 40 minutes of music, representing the life of O’Connor. Displaying both elements of swinging jazz and a more formal approach to composition, Pignéguy’s piece was to be the perfect representation of the divide between original/conservative jazz that the festival showcased.”

    — JULIAN TOMPKIN - Festival Reviewer

THE ARTISTS

  • Michael Pignéguy

    Artistic Director, Composer, Arranger, Performer

  • Fiona Rea

    Songwriter, Singer, Recording Artist

  • Emily Gelineau

    Violinist, Composer, Pianist

  • Russell Holmes

    Pianist, vocalist

  • Phil Waldron

    Basses and Mandolin

Background

This project is a meditation on the significant legacy of Charles Yelverton O’Connor, the almost unstoppable Irish Engineer who played an instrumental role in shaping the state’s future at the turn of the 20th Century.  From the majestic Fremantle Harbour to the controversial Kalgoorlie pipeline, which stoked the fires of gold prospector determination, O’Connor’s creativity, foresight, determination and brilliance has had an indelible effect on every single West Australian. 


Due to his historical importance, cultural doyen Helen Matthews, saw fit to commission Michael in 2003 to compose a work in O’Connor’s honour to open the Fremantle International Jazz Festival. Michael did just that and created his own impression of key points of the master’s life in the form of a four movement suite for a 27 piece ensemble which brought together an 8 voice, chorale, strings and jazz instruments. The musical scope of the work was significant as Michael presented O’Connor’s life through the lens:

  • Initiation

  • Success

  • Tragedy 

  • Liberation

These focal points allowed for the emotional exploration of O’Connor’s formative years in Ireland and then his move half around the world to Western Australia following the completion of challenging projects in New Zealand. His drive to transform his new home and reshape its future is one of the great national stories, not only for the vision that it represented but also for the scale of what was completed in such a short time. 

The original four movement work, which was performed on the steps of the Maritime Museum in Fremantle, mesmerised the audience while the depth of artistic expression that was conveyed with the amazing array of artists that was assessembled. The NEW PROJECT with vocalist Fiona Rea and violinist/pianist/composer Emily Gelineau seeks to continue to explore the ideas and concepts of the original work but delve more fully into the cultural and familial aspects of O’Connor’s experience. Michael hopes the spirit of the music will flourish within the new artistic partnership and be a worthy tribute to the great man’s legacy.

“Fiona Rea’s energetic style was warmly received by the audience.”

— XPress Magazine

“Emily Gelineau brings a youthful energy and brightness to the music”

— FringeFeed 2024

“Pignéguy drew on an exceptional palette of musical influences and expertise that condensed O'Connor's life into four areas; Initiation, Success, Tragedy and Liberation.”

— The West Australian

“Fiona was exceptionally engaging with the audience, bringing her personality and humour out for all to see.”

— XPress Magazine

— RICHARD JOHN, The West Australian

FREMANTLE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL | 2003

“The entry point for the 2003 festival was on Friday night: the premiere of a commissioned work celebrating one of Western Australia's monumental heroes, the civil engineer C. Y. O'Connor. Best known for the construction of the golden pipeline (delivering much needed water from Mundaring to the Kalgoorlie goldfields), O'Connor was also a visionary in the creation of Fremantle Harbour. The composer charged with the task of paying tribute to O'Connor was Perth jazz musician Michael Pignéguy. An accomplished percussionist of international standing, Pignéguy drew on an exceptional palette of musical influences and expertise to engineer a 40-minute work named after the engineer that condensed O'Connor's life into four areas; Initiation, Success, Tragedy and Liberation.

Scored for a jazz orchestra that augmented a big-band line-up with strings, chorale and extended percussion section, Pignéguy skilfully deployed an enormous range of musical styles to create a homogenous work that allowed the audience to live each moment while keeping in mind the overall scope of the piece. With the spectacular new maritime museum as a backdrop, and embraced by the Fremantle Harbour, the opening concert was an unforgettable beginning.”