Conducted by Leonard
Weiss
Barbara Jane Gilby,
violin
Lucy Carrigy-Ryan,
viola
Wesley Uniting
Church, Forrest 1 June
Reviewed by Len Power
Canberra Sinfonia under the baton of Leonard Weiss presented
a program of contrasts with their latest concert at the Wesley Uniting Church.
Subtitled ‘A Splendour Of Tangos’, the first half of the
program focussed on this wonderfully sensual South American music.
‘Tanguera’ was originally composed around 1955 but the
Sinfonia played the world premiere of an arrangement by Mariana Rivaya. The combination of strings and French horns
was particularly enjoyable in this well-played, passionate work.
Next, two older tangos – ‘El Choclo’ and La Cumparsita’ were
presented. Both very romantic and colourful,
they were played with great accuracy and a sense of fun. When people think of tango music, the melody
of ‘La Cumparsita’ usually comes to mind as it has become a cliché over the years. It was especially interesting to hear the
whole work played as originally composed.
Two well-known works by Astor Piazzolla, who influenced the Tango Nuevo movement, completed the
tango set. ‘Milongo del Ángel’ in an
arrangement by Canberra’s Dan Walker, is a dream-like work filled with romance
and the performance was sublime. ‘Libertango’
was edgy, passionate and played with great feeling.
 |
| Canberra Sinfonia |
After interval, Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin,
Viola and Orchestra in E-flat major was presented with soloists, Barbara Jane
Gilby on violin and Lucy Carrigy-Ryan on viola.
Oboeists, Chayla Ueckert-Smith and Lucy Preece, also joined the company.
Composed in 1779, this work is in three movements. The first movement was given an enjoyably colourful
and energetic performance. The violin
and viola solo passages by the two soloists towards the end of the movement were
very well-played.
The andante second movement was most enjoyable, sensitively
played by the soloists and the whole orchestra. The bright and exciting finale was also
well-played and brought this enjoyable concert to a satisfying close.
Photo by Chris Retter
Photo by Chris Retter
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.