Directed by
Barbara Jane Gilby
Soloist: Lucy
Carrigy-Ryan, viola
High Court of
Australia
Sunday April 15, 2018
Reviewed by Len Power
This concert, held at the High Court of Australia, was a celebration
of Musica Da Camera string orchestra being part of the Canberra music scene for
40 years. In fact, we were told that they
played the first concert in the building after it opened in 1980.
Musica da Camera was formed in Canberra in 1979 as a small
baroque ensemble. Over the years and
under successive musical directors it has grown in size and its repertoire has
expanded to embrace chamber music of all styles and periods.
Barbara Jane Gilby, concertmaster of the Canberra Symphony
Orchestra, conducted this concert from the first chair. Six well-chosen short works were played.
 |
| Barbara Jane Gilby |
The concert commenced with the well-known Concerto for
Strings in G ‘alla Rustica’; by Vivaldi.
The orchestra played the three contrasting movements with great energy
and clarity.
Hindemith’s Trauermusik was next with soloist Lucy
Carrigy-Ryan on viola. This hauntingly
reflective work was very well played by both soloist and orchestra. It was followed with Elgar’s Serenade for
Strings and the orchestra brought out all the warmth and colour of this
atmospheric work.
 |
| Lucy Carrigy-Ryan |
Crisantemi (or Chrysanthemums) by opera composer, Puccini,
was next. This romantic, dramatic work
was one of the highlights of the concert, played with great sensitivity by the
orchestra. Another romantic work
followed – Waltz for Betz by James Grant.
Lucy Carrigy-Ryan gave a fine performance of the solo part on the viola, nicely supported by the orchestra.
The final work, Whirling Dance, by Australia’s Graeme
Koehne, was an excellent showcase for the orchestra’s ability. They met the challenge of this work very
well, making this a dramatic and rousing finale for the afternoon’s
concert. For an encore we were treated to a
work by Ennio Morricone, Gabriel’s Oboe, from the movie ‘The Mission’. It was sweetly played by the orchestra
bringing this delightful concert to a close.
Photos by Peter Hislop
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in his ‘On Stage’ performing arts
program on Monday and Wednesday at 3.30pm.
