This concert was a wonderful way for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra to begin their 2015 season. Handel fans and lovers of Baroque music in general will relish this concert which was indeed ‘heavenly’.
The programme’s theme is music itself, built around Dryden’s Ode for St Cecilia’s Day. What one particularly noticed this time was the special organ with two angels in green and blue given a prominent place on stage, and unforgettable was the GIANT bouquet of lilies that graced the upper gallery.
Under the energetic and emphatic leadership of Paul Dyer the choir and orchestra on period instruments were scintillating, and Argentinean soprano Mariana Flores and Portuguese tenor Fernando Guimaraes made very impressive Australian debuts.
Darkly beautiful Argentinian soprano Mariana Flores wore a long, feathery light grey dress. Members of the orchestra were wearing a ‘new wardrobe’:- the women wore stunning new gowns designed by legendary fashion icon Carla Zampatti whilst the men were dressed by MJ Bale.
The concert began with the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from Solomon HWV67, which had a flowing , circular feel and scurrying violins.
The rest of the concert concentrated on St Cecilia , beginning with the wonderful Cantata Look Down Harmonious Saint HWV 124, a rarely heard showcase for very handsome guest artist Guimaraes in a thrilling performance. (A cantata is usually a rather small scale vocal work , generally two or three arias linked by recitative, scored for solo voice and continuo or small ensemble. This particular cantata is an accompanied recitative and a long virtuoso tenor aria).
There were violin flourishes in the first fast section and luscious use of legato. A yearning feeling was powerfully evoked and it was hauntingly performed.
Next was the Ode to St Cecilia’s Day HWV 76 using the text from Dryden’s poem From Harmony, which is about music, its role in the creation of the universe and its ability to shape human emotions.
The work opens with a typical ‘French’ overture with an elegant stately first section a bright vibrant middle and a minuet like conclusion. The choir was in thrilling form.
The rather slower, rippling, soaring air What passion cannot music raise and quell for soprano and solo cello was given a soulful performance by Flores, full of languor.This was contrasted with stirring trumpets and woodwind for The Trumpet’s Loud Clangour for tenor (Guimaraes) and thrilling chorus. Trumpets, timpani and the use of dotted rhythms evoke the atmosphere of an eighteenth century battlefield. Duck and run for cover and it is …interval!
Part 2 of the Ode began with a stately, elegant processional march in two sections for trumpet and strings .This was followed by the achingly beautiful soprano solo, The soft complaining flute exquisitely performed by Flores, full of long rapturous notes and crystal like clarity and accompanied by flutist Melissa Farrow.
More vibrant string passages followed and then the hypnotic tenor aria Sharp violins proclaim– marvelously sung by Guimaraes,– with the strings in unison but also having a dialogue between the two string sections.
Paul Dyer moved to the organ to play But oh! what art can teach for Flores, which in part has a slow almost waltz like feel as the soprano voice soars brightly. Flores was fiery and dramatic accompanied by violins and continuo in her next set piece, Orpheus could lead the savage race– and listen for the unexpected rather ironic use of a hornpipe theme.
The choir was in exhilarating form for the thrilling conclusion, the ode the dead shall live, the living die and music shall untune the sky.
For an encore the Handel duet: As steals the morn from L’Allegro, il Penseroso, ed il Moderato was exquisitely performed, fiery yet delicately beautiful, bringing the glorious concert to a great conclusion with their sumptuously matched voices.
Running time 2 hours (approx) including interval.
The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Choir in HANDEL: HEAVEN AND HARMONY runs in Sydney at the City Recital Hall 25 Feb-6 Mar various dates and then tours nationally.