A terrific concert by the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, streamed by the Australian Digital Concert Hall from the Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts in Melbourne.
Featuring guest leader US violinist Jenna Sherry, we heard two works finely played. The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra play on period instruments or replicas and concentrate on historically informed performances.There was great connection between the ensemble and each were given a moment to shine. Demanding attention was paid to the detail of the music and structure of both works. The idea behind the concert was that the two works on the programme transferred outside social music of serenades or divertimento into salons and soirees and, later, the concert hall where people sat and actually listened attentively, helping establish their composers with the wider public.
The programme began with Louise Farrenc’s Nonet in E flat major, op.38 (1849) which is rarely performed. Finely crafted, scored for violin, viola, cello, double bass, horn, clarinet, oboe and flute, yes it is perhaps influenced by Beethoven’s very popular Septet but also features complex orchestrations and rich textures showing off Farrenc’s ability for tremendous orchestration, showing that she was a lady to be taken seriously, and helped her at the Paris Conservatoire where she was an (underpaid) Professor for thirty years .
The first movement Adagio-Allegro was a brisk, flowing at times, very passionate and emphatic ensemble piece, with the melody passed around. The piece swoops and swirls with a fabulous solo for Sherry. .
The second movement, Andante con variazione was slower, opened by melancholy strings and then joined by the rest of the ensemble. It ebbs and flows, sometimes urgently, sometimes far more pensively.
The third movement, the Scherzo vivace had an emphatic, many layered opening. The strings scurried, woodwind fluttered, with give and take, and passing the melody around which led to the Adagio-Allegro fourth movement which brought the work to an end with a strong flourish.
After a short interval we heard the Beethoven Septet in E flat major, Op.20 (1799) which was exquisitely played. This is a complex work, blending woodwinds and strings, seemingly an effortless work yet hiding its technical demands.
The work opened emphatically, the first movement being Adagio – Allegro con brio (in E-flat major) with the horns stating a phrase strongly then passing it around the Orchestra as an interwoven conversation with flourishes that led to a brisk conclusion.
Then the second movement Adagio cantabile (in A-flat major ) which was slower and more lyrical with the main melody taken and passed among the Orchestra.
Energetic yet precise the music ebbed and flowed n the third movement Tempo di menuetto (in E-flat major).
The fourth movement Tema con variazioni: Andante was finely controlled, brisk and elegant and concludes with a flourish.
The Scherzo: Allegro molto e vivace (in E-flat major) featured questioning woodwind and a circular melody that was taken and passed around the Orchestra.
Lastly we heard the dynamic Andante con moto alla marcia (in E-flat minor) – Presto (in E-flat major) with a shimmering solo by Sherry.
Mention must also be made of Co-Artistic Director Nicole van Bruggen’s superb playing on the clarinet which blended gracefully with the oboe as played by Tatjana Zimre, leading to the creation of some deliciously floating passages. There was also the splendid playing of Anneke Scott on natural horn, Rob Nairn on double bass, bassoonist Lisa Goldberg , Daniel Yeadon on cello and Stephen King’s viola . All the instruments come together to create a deliciously captivating concert.
Running time – approximately one hour forty minutes
https://www.arco.org.au/new-perspectives
ARTISTS
Members of Australian Romantic &
Classical Orchestra
Georgia Browne (Paris) | Flute
Tatjana Zimre (Amsterdam) | Oboe
Nicole van Bruggen (Brisbane) | Clarinet
Anneke Scott (London) | Horn
Lisa Goldberg (Gent) | Bassoon
Jenna Sherry (London) | Violin
Stephen King (Adelaide) | Viola
Daniel Yeadon (Sydney) | Cello
Rob Nairn (Adelaide) | Double Bass