Australian Youth Orchestra Music Camp Concert Series
Llewellyn Hall
9 January 2016
Review by Len Power
Since 1948, Australia’s most talented young musicians have
come together at the Australian Youth Orchestra National Music Camp to make music,
exchange knowledge and draw inspiration from others who share their
passion. This year over 220 participants
took part in the intense two week program, which comprises of rehearsals,
tutorials, public performances, broadcasts and workshops. There are four major orchestral public
concerts – one in the afternoon and one in the evening on the two Saturdays of
the music camp. There is no admission charge
for the public to attend these concerts in Llewellyn Hall.
The first concert had works by Handel, Veress, Ravel and
Schumann. Three large orchestras drawn
from the music camp participants were on show and what a show it was. Smalley Chamber Orchestra, directed by Monica
Curro, played an exquisite Concerto Grosso by Handel, followed by a fascinating
and atmospheric set of Four Transylvanian Dances by Veress. Bishop Orchestra then played a rousing
Rapsodie Espagnole by Ravel. It was conducted
by Australia’s Brad Cohen, now Artistic Director of West Australian Opera. The final work for this concert was Schumann’s
Symphony No. 3, played beautifully by Alexander Orchestra, which was conducted
by visiting American, Erik Nielsen, who currently works in Europe.
The second concert began with the Overture to Oberon by
Weber with the Alexander Orchestra conducted again by Erik Nielsen. This was followed by the Smalley Chamber Orchestra
with Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro and then the highlight of the concert –
Astor Piazzolla’s Aconcagua with James Crabb on solo accordion. The first movement was played by the Bishop
Orchestra and the second and third movements were played by the Alexander
Orchestra. It was clear as this work
progressed how much both orchestras enjoyed playing this dramatic and exciting
work. James Crabb’s solo playing was
superb. With a nod to Canberra’s
Summernats, Bishop Orchestra, under conductor Brad Cohen, played ‘Short Ride In
A Fast Machine’, a delightfully quirky piece by John Adams. This was followed by Ravel’s Daphnis and
Cloe, Suite No. 1. Both pieces
clearly displayed the strong musicianship of the orchestra members.
One of the unique aspects of attending these concerts is to
experience orchestras of a much greater size than normal. In the dramatic passages of the works, the orchestras
nearly lift the roof off the Llewellyn Hall.
These concerts are entertaining and exciting. The fact that the players are students and
the concerts are free to attend in no way means they are of a lower quality
than concerts given by professionals. These
young musicians really show what they can do under world-class conductors and when
accompanying top musicians like James Crabbe.
Len Power’s reviews
can also be heard on Artsound FM’s ‘Artcetera’ program from 9.00am Saturdays.