Canberra International Music Festival
Fitters Workshop, 3 May 2015
Reviewed by Len Power
It was a good idea to program these two quite different
cantatas by Bach in the Canberra Music Festival’s ‘Bach On Sunday’ concert.
The cantata, ‘Ich habe genug’ (I have enough) was composed
in 1727 for the Feast of Purification of Mary, also known as ‘Candlemas’. It shares the common theological theme that
death is understood to be a joyful release from the cares of the world. The journey from an acceptance of approaching
death to a peaceful resignation and ultimately to the joy of escaping worldly
suffering is movingly portrayed through Bach’s music.
Original scheduled counter-tenor, Tobias Cole, was
indisposed and baritone, David Greco, took his place at short notice. The sombre theme of the early part of the work
was movingly sung by Greco with the right amount of controlled feeling and his joyful
singing of the relief from suffering displayed the full richness of his voice.
The second major item on the program, Bach’s ‘Coffee
Cantata’ is a delightful mini-opera which details the clash between father and
daughter when the father is concerned her life is ruled by the drinking of
coffee. A work for three voices, narrator,
father and daughter, it’s a light and funny piece that was delightfully sung by
tenor, Paul McMahon, as the Narrator, baritone David Greco as the father and
soprano, Alex Oomens, as his daughter.
There was great acting chemistry between Greco and Oomens onstage and
they were obviously enjoying performing it together. Alex Oomens fine soprano was especially
pleasing to listen to in this work.
Between the two cantatas there was a short work for two
cellos, ‘Broken Rosary’, written and performed by Kate Moore, the composer, and
Rosanne Hunt. A deceptively simple work,
it created a marvellously haunting atmosphere.
Originally published in Canberra City News
digital edition 4 May 2015
