Left - Madeleine Easton. Photo - Steven Godbee
In front of a full house of expectant guests, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra presented Bach and the Barber at Recital Hall in what was to be a very special occasion with very special guests. The concert heralds the upcoming 21st birthday season of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, which was conceived by Artistic Director Paul Dyer in 1989. As a celebratory measure for this period performance, a rare keyed glockenspiel has been brought out from the UK and unexpected imports, Hans-Georg Wimmer (Guest Baritone) and Madeleine Easton (Guest Concertmaster).
The selected program contains pieces by little known Dutch composer Wassenaer and greats J.S.Bach, Handel, Mozart and Rossini. The design of the program is such that it gently introduces itself in a sombre tone then becomes more effervescent as the party wears on. Wimmer does an exceptional job at being the life of the revelry, not just with his voice but also his character that shines through in complimentary counterpoint to the music. I have always found that a good way of judging the success of a performance is in its illusory brevity. Bach and the Barber moves through two intervals and eight movements at a knights pace and ends without the feeling that any time has elapsed.
Much effort has gone into the mastery of this program. The keyed glockenspiel that has been flown in from Britain was done so specifically to honour the authenticity of Mozart’s Magic Flute, and the effect was …magical! The only instrument that it can be likened to for the sake of the readers understanding is a child’s toy piano if it were animated and coated with fairy dust (i.e. Disney style). And because the strings are a prominent and weighty feature of the program, it seems an obvious technical choice to place a now seasoned period Concertmaster at the helm. Madeleine Easton proved the veritable Pied Piper as she led her fellow musicians through to a frivolous finale with The Barber of Seville.
As one could expect from a period ensemble, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra provide a reformation of music from the baroque, classical and romantic eras. As a showcase of these styles of music, Bach and the Barber remains faithful to history through its use of traditional instrumentation and adoption of some seriously talented and highly specialised musicians. This pre-birthday performance was not just a spectacle befitting a museum but a genuine, flawless re-creation of the music that shaped Western culture. Dyer deserves much commendation for his unwavering commitment to the evolution of such a significant Australian orchestra. The passion he envelops the orchestra with and care he takes selecting pieces and players ensures the survival of this genre of music long into the future.
The evening also represented the launch of the 2010 season for the orchestra. The new season offers five concerts featuring guest artists from around the globe and themes such as; Vivaldi Olympia, Handel Coronation, Mozart, Love & Paris, Baroque Tarantella and Palazzo Baroque. As a birthday wish, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra hope “to continue sharing the extraordinary gift of period music and the development of young and emerging artists”. If Bach and the Barber is a benchmark for the upcoming anniversary year, then I can say with certainty that 2010 will be a vintage ripe for the drinking.
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
Bach & the Barber
with guest concertmaster Madeleine Easton
Venue: City Recital Hall, Angel Place
Dates/Times: Fri 31 July, Sat 1, Wed 5, Fri 7, Sat 8 August @ 7pm
Tickets: $26.50 (under 30) to $120.00. Booking fees apply
Bookings: City Recital Hall Box Office (02) 8256 2222 or www.cityrecitalhall.com.au or Brandenburg Box Office (02) 9328 7581 or www.brandenburg.com.au
