The Sydney Symphony has delivered a Debussy arrangement with cor anglais and a Bach arrangement with marimbas!  The third and last piece was Steve Reich’s piece played by four marimbas. It was a night of percussion. And what fun it was. Clearly the musicians were having fun, too.  They were Alexandre Oguye (cor anglaise), Sophie Cole (violin), Rosemary Curtin (viola), Fenella Gill (cello), David Campbell (bass), and the four percussionists, Rebecca Lagos, Timothy Constable, Joshua Hill and Alison Pratt.

This was a cocktail concert in the Utzon Room, where the intimacy was perfect for these quartets. Listening to good music, looking through the windowed wall at the VIVID-decorated boats cruising by and watching the smiles of the musicians couldn’t make for a better entertainment’. Yes, concerts can be ‘entertainment’ and they should be.

Presenter Genevieve Lang introduced each of three works with just the right mix of information and humour. First was Debussy’s ‘Rhapsodie’. It didn’t sound very rhapsodic but then, it was a modern arrangement, not strictly Debussy. The second piece was J S Bach’s Concerto in D major.  This was the winning piece. Bach and marimbas – J. S. would have loved it.

Lastly, Steve Reich’s Mallet Quartet.  It’s the Mallet Quartet because four percussionists are tapping, banging and cajoling four types of marimbas into sounds that echo around the intimate Utzon space vibrating through your head. Meditative? Rejuvenating? Mesmerising? Yes, all of that. Totally engaging. 

How wonderful that the large-numbered Sydney Symphony gave us this wonderful respite from BIGNESS. More, please.