This spectacular, compelling, rather overwhelming concert was another superb performance as part of their Studiocast online series by the Australian Chamber Orchestra led by Richard Tognetti. It was filmed at the Hordern Pavilion with imagery and video projections by the Jon Frank Beizj Studio and features magnificent playing of great intensity.
From the spiky opening bars of Arvo Part’s TABULA RASA we are catapulted into a surging, volcanic world.
The imagery and projections are of water – at times it appears the Orchestra is submerged, with huge crashing waves.At other times, there are pink clouds.
After the sharp spiky string of the opening the piano and strings were melancholic.A pulsating, repeated emphatic dominant rhythm was established with Tognetti and Satu Vaska briefly ‘singing’ on their violins. The piano meanwhile, played by guest pianist Brenda Jones, had a somewhat timid and delicate dialogue with the strings, which turned into a yearning dialogue between Tognetti and the piano.
Suddenly the mood changes and the piano and Tognetti are joined again by Vaska in speedy, fiery scurries and flourishes in a glittering, relentless cascade of notes. The strings jumped up and down and there was a tumultuous, volcanic eruption, leading to a collapse. After a tiny pause, to catch our breath, the music changes, is richer, multi layered, flowing and slower, becoming very pensive and quivering. It drifts and meanders in a dreamlike, meditative state (this is accompanied by the pink cloud projections, previously mentioned). For the conclusion, Timo-Veiko Valve on cello and Maxime Bibeau on double bass, rumble dolefully.
There was a sweeping ensemble opening to Shostakovich’s ‘Chamber Symphony in C minor’ (arr. Barshai), then Tognetti on violin slides into an aching lament, while the rest of the Orchestra’s strings quiver and vibrate in accompaniment.The music is rich, dramatic and multi-layered.
Suddenly everything changes to sharp, energetic, spiky, furious scurries that are furiously fast, darting, jumping and whirling – with an ominous red background (Stalin?). An emphatic beat from the cellos and double bass was heard whilst the violins metaphorically fled.
This was then followed by projections of Constructivist like symbols .Tognetti on violin gingerly attempts to pick a path but is confronted by the deeper rumbles of cello and double bass. This changes to delicate, seemingly terrified, teetering strings who are accosted by the rest of the Orchestra. Tognetti then luminously ‘sings’ on the violin, answering the angry rest of the Orchestra.
With cloudlike projections behind them the Orchestra flows but there is also an argument between the two sections of the Orchestra. Timmo-Veikko Valve on cello and Tognetti on violin murmur a quiet,rippling lament whilst the hushed Orchestra ensemble accompanies,but with some spiky phrases.
We are back to the underwater, turbulent sea projections as the music takes us to the passionate, reflective conclusion.
Running time approx. 50 minutes
The ACO in TABULA RASA is currently available to subscribe to and watch online.
https://www.aco.com.au/whats-on/2021/studiocast-tabula-rasa
Program:
Arvo Part ‘Tabula Rasa’
Shostakovitch (arr. Barshai) Chamber Symphony in C Minor Op.110a SHOSTAKOVICH – (arr. Chamber Symphony in C minor, Op.110a
Featured image : Australian Chamber Orchestra ‘Tabula Rasa’