A luscious, gorgeous concert brought to us by the excellent Pinchgut Opera.It was filmed at the City Recital Hall on April 3 and streamed as part of the Pinchgut at Home series .As ever Erin Helyard conducts the distinguished Orchestra of the Antipodes and there are some impressive singers.
Pinchgut here performs ten selections of mostly psalm settings from the challenging 1641 opus, Selva morale e spirituale by Monteverdi , utilizing the landmark anthology of liturgical works that he composed during his career in Venice. The last collection of Monteverdi’s music published in his lifetime, it embodies the ultimate flourishing of his brilliance.
In this setting , Monteverdi fuses instruments , text , music and voices. While its intention is spiritual, the compilation is full of dance ,drama and blends words and music, voices and instruments. Monteverdi combines old and new styles of writing.As always , Helyard and Pinchgut play close , detailed attention to the structure and text of the music.
Pinchgut Opera’s eight-strong vocal ensemble comprises sopranos Chloe Lankshear (the inaugural Taryn Fiebig Scholar) and Amy Moore, mezzo-sopranos Hannah Fraser and Anna Fraser, tenors Louis Hurley (who was recently appointed as The Humanity Foundation Taryn Fiebig Scholar) and Richard Butler, and basses David Greco and Andrew O’Connor.
Artistic Director Erin Helyard energetically conducts from the claviorgan. The concert opens with a bubbling , tumbling Dixit Dominus à 8, SV264 . With the splendid Orchestra of the Antipodes going flat out the sopranos soar.
A delicate yet strong sensitive harp solo (Hannah Lane ) follows leading to the Salve Regina , which features a duet for the sopranos . Helyard on the claviorgan is accompanied by the harp in the lush ,slow, meandering music .The theorbo ( Simon Martyn-Ellis ) was also showcased .
The Beatus Vir à 6, SV268is powerful and pulsating , was next, the strings section very busy along with the ( sackbuts and recorders . There is entwining and give and take between the six singers which then becomes tumbling and cascading.
This was followed by the Credidi del Quarto Tuono à 8, SV275 an example played by the instrumentalists as a ‘broken consort’ of wind and stringed instruments.
Next was a bouncy theorbo solo, leading to the Laudate Dominum Secondo à 8, SV273 , which simmered and surged in a spirited discussion.
A harp solo led to the joyous combination of voices in the swirling, tumbling Laudate Dominum Primo à 5 con stromenti (à 4), SV272that became stately and assured.
The concert concluded with a boisterous , celebratory Dixit Dominus à 8, SV263 , the entwined voices and orchestra going full throttle and leading to the triumphant conclusion.
The music is exalted , full of passion, splendour and expressiveness.
Running time : 75 minutes
https://www.pinchgutopera.com.au/the-spiritual-forest