Josie and the Emeralds, for their concert GIBBONS AND THE NEW, were augmented from its regular quartet of viol players and the versatile beauty of soprano Josie Ryan. Three guest viol players from Melbourne joined the regular group.

Due to the ensemble at hand, the audience were treated to all fantasias requiring six viol parts by the Renaissance master Orlando Gibbons. Communication was of a high quality across the ensemble in these pieces. Closeness of instrumental lines as well as tension and resolution were always appropriately dramatic.

Classic works including voice such as ‘The Silver Swan’ and ‘Fair is the rose, yet fades with heat or cold’ were finely presented amongst the fantasias. The former was chosen in an effective choose-your-own-encore activity by the audience.

As always with Josie and the Emeralds, the concert also featured arrangements of contemporary pieces. Piano miniatures by Ross Edwards worked well with the tone colours at hand in Brooke Green’s arrangements.

Josie and the Emeralds’ director Brooke Green composed two pieces for the viol ensemble and two more for voice with viols. These compositions drew on well varied musical influences. Her expert knowledge of the expressive possibilities of her ensemble contributed to the success of these interesting works.

As always, this ensemble provided an informed example of performance practice enhanced by clever programming. The expanded instrumental forces enabled new repertoire to be performed and an authentic seventeenth century retrospective resulted.

Soprano and Viol Consort Josie and the Emeralds presented GIBBONS AND THE NEW at the St Scholastica’s Chapel, Arcadia Road, Glebe on Saturday 18th November at 3pm. The performance was held as part of the annual Glebe Music Festival.

© Paul Nolan

21 November, 2012

Tags: Sydney Stage Reviews- JOSIE AND THE EMERALDS, Glebe Music Festival, Sydney Arts Guide, Paul Nolan.