Canberra Choral
Society with National Capital Orchestra
Conducted by Leonard
Weiss
Artistic Direction
and Choir Preparation by Dianna Nixon
Soloists: Penelope
Mills and Christopher Hillier
Llewellyn Hall 3 June
Reviewed by Len Power
This celebration of contemporary Australian music was
spectacular and hugely enjoyable. It
included works by Graeme Koehne, Carl Vine and Matthew Hindson and the
distinctive styles of each composer gave us an evening of rich and varied
music.
The program commenced with Graeme Koehne’s ‘Tivoli Dances’,
first heard as the music for Sydney Dance Company’s ballet, ‘Tivoli’ in
2001. The four movements mix popular and
classical music styles to great and unexpected effect and the orchestra played
it very well, especially the dramatic opening movement ‘Santa Anna Freeway’ and
the love theme of the second movement.
Carl Vine’s Choral Symphony uses as a text, ‘Anuma Elish’, a
creation myth from northern Babylonia from the period 1300 to 1250 BC and
‘Homeric Hymns’ to the Sun, the Earth and the Moon. The dead languages evoke a sense of ritual
and mysticism relevant to the subject of the work – the creation of the
universe and man’s relationship to the deities of the cosmos. The result is a haunting and atmospheric work
that was beautifully played by the orchestra and sung with great clarity by the
choir.
Matthew Hindson’s ‘It Is Better To Be Feared Than Loved’
uses Macchiavelli’s 500 year old text for its relevance to contemporary
politics to provide the lyrics. A playful
work, it was clear that the choir was having a good time singing it. The accompanying music was quite fascinating
with individual instruments dominant at unexpected moments. The balance between the voices and the
orchestra was excellent.
The final work presented, Carl Vine’s ‘Wonders’, is based on
Walt Whitman’s 1855 poem of the same name.
It describes the uplifting beauty and wonder the poet finds in everyday
things. This is a very moving work that
builds to a stunning crescendo but finishes quietly and very satisfyingly. Soloists Penelope Mills and Christopher
Hillier sang superbly and the choir and orchestra accompanied them in a fine
performance.
This review was first
published in the Canberra City News digital edition on Sunday 4 June. Len Power’s reviews are also broadcast on
Artsound FM 92.7 ‘Artcetera’ program (9am Saturdays) and ‘Dress Circle’ (3.30pm
Mondays).
