Conducted by Jonathan
McFeat
Soloist, Liam O'Connell, Guitar
Holy Covenant
Anglican Church, Cook 30 June.
Reviewed by Len Power
‘Winter Strings’, a cool-sounding concert by Musica Da
Camera String Orchestra, was presented in the cosy Holy Covenant Anglican
Church in Cook. The well-chosen program
of works by Warlock, Fauré, Mendelssohn, Handel, Sibelius and Vivaldi warmed
the audience with fine playing under the baton of Jonathan McFeat.
The concert commenced with the Capriol Suite composed in
1926 by Peter Warlock. After a bright
opening, the second quiet, reflective dance was especially well-played. The dramatic dances and finale that followed
were vibrant and strongly performed.
Gavriel Fauré’s ‘Pavane’ was written in 1887 for piano and
orchestra. It can now be found in
arrangements for many combinations of instruments. Solo guitarist, Liam O’Connell, presented it in
an arrangement for guitar and string orchestra.
The arrangement was a good showcase for O’Connell’s talented guitar
playing and, while the orchestra accompanied him well, the quieter guitar
passages were a little lost under the full sound of the other instruments.
 |
| Guitarist, Liam O'Connell |
The orchestra then gave a strong and enjoyable performance
of Mendelssohn’s ‘String Symphony No. 10’.
They really brought out the full colour and emotion in the music in the
dramatic sections of the work.
After the interval, the orchestra re-commenced with a
well-played Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 2 by George Friedrich Handel. It was very clear that the orchestra members
were particularly enjoying playing this work.
 |
| Musica Da Camera String Orchestra |
The next item, Impromptu Nos. 5 and 6 by Finnish composer,
Jean Sibelius, proved to be the highlight of the concert. These two beautiful works are highly
atmospheric and were played with great feeling and sensitivity by the
orchestra.
The concert finished with a rousingly good performance of
old favourite, Concerto for Strings in G ‘alla Rustica’ by Vivaldi.
 |
| Conductor: Jonathan McFeat |
Now celebrating their 40th year, Musica Da Camera
and conductor, Jonathan McFeat, gave the audience another highly enjoyable
concert.
Photos by Peter
Hislop
This review was first
published in the Canberra City News digital edition of 1 July.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on his ‘On Stage’ performing arts radio program on Mondays
and Wednesdays from 3.30pm on Artsound FM 92.7.
