Sydney Reviews

Left – Time for Three. Photo – LeAnn Mueller

Zachary DePue, Nicolas Kendall and Ranaan Meyer met while studying together at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. To relieve their stress they jammed in empty classrooms after lesson time. They would play music that they had been learning and incorporate music that they were listening to. They would just play and see what worked, what made them feel good. And so Time for Three was born. 

Performing at the Sydney Opera House with The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Time for Three played both traditional scores as well as their own compositions and arrangements.  

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra was conducted by Jessica Cottis who was a joy to watch. She maintains a strong professional aura without letting it squash her enjoyment of the music. This captivating combination bought a joyful formality to the performance and for the first half of the show it was her who entertained me most. She led the orchestra wonderfully and in return they played beautifully.

When Time for Three made their entrance the crowd was clearly ready for a great show. The three men responded and I felt a wave of anticipation for what was to come. However once they picked up their instruments and began to play something got lost. They seemed to blend in with the orchestra both visually and aurally. The combination of the orchestra and the three men seemed to drown out the best of both leaving you feeling disconnected. I struggled with the disconnection. I couldn’t find the joy in the music as I was watching the three men perform what I was sure was technically great but couldn’t distinguish them from the orchestra. The orchestra that I had so enjoyed moments before were suddenly diluted as I tried to focus on the new elements that were now centre stage. 

There were moments where I was given what I came for; where the orchestra and Time for Three seemed to get it right and the energy of the musicians met the energy of the music. At intermission I held onto these moment hoping that they were just warming up and I would get more.

And more I got. The second half was a completely different show. The orchestra was perfectly supportive without swallowing up Time for Three. Time for Three played with gusto and enthusiasm and I could hear their instruments, appreciate their talent and enjoy the showmanship. Playing songs that they had composed seemed to create an extra layer. They were connected and so were the audience. Watching them play their version of Little Lion Man by Marcus Mumford was a joy. To hear a song I know so well reinterpreted by an entire orchestra and an string trio was magic. They followed this with a rendition of Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen and won me over. It was beautiful.

The second act also saw the trio engage more with the audience. There were opportunities for their voices to be heard through singing and through the telling of their stories. This generated another affinity as it allowed you to see the trio’s personalities and they made you laugh.

Their performance in the second half was everything I had come for. It was the beauty of classical music, the excitement of combing tradition with innovation and the joy of a genuine and enthusiastic performance.


Sydney Symphony Orchestra
TIME FOR THREE

Conductor Jessica Cottis

Venue: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Dates: 27 – 29 August, 2015
Tickets: $39 – $99    
Bookings: 02 8215 4600 | www.sydneysymphony.com