A rich , lustrous , many layered concert that swirls from passionate Romantic to brand new by the Willoughby Symphony and Choir , filmed at The Concourse , Chatswood and streamed by the Australian Digital Concert Hall.
First up was Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances , with no apparent conductor but led by Maria Lindsay . Bartok collected umpteen folk songs of his region , and we hear the perhaps unconventional rhythms ,colourful scale combinations , circular construction and transparent melodies .The music explodes vehemently ,then ranges from brisk to pensive. At times the music hovers and quivers and is rather moderate in tempo or is quite allegro with pizzicato , almost running .
Alla Pavlova ‘s Monologue (2002) was next, energetic and fervent but also polished and refined. Pavlova wrote the short piece following her father’s passing (he was an amateur violinist ). The piece has a Russian ambience, is profound and yet earnest. The violin doesn’t stop pouring a glorious melody.
Then we heard Thomas Tycho’s Concerto for Violin, with scurries and flourishes bubbling and erupting. Maria Lindsay ( to whom the work is dedicated ) on violin was controlled, precise and exquisite but also caught the feverish emotions in a technical display of prowess while the music tumbles. There was an intense give and take relationship between Lindsay and conductor Penicka-Smith.
There was thunderous applause leading to an encore after the Tycho. It was the Czardas by Vittorio Monti arranged by N. M. Lacanski , featuring Maria Lindsay. The Czardas piece is divided into seven sections, with several tempo changes, at first delicate and fragile, then it speeds up most compellingly – it is a wonder sparks don’t fly!
After interval the Young Composer Award for 2023 was announced – Klearhos Murphy with his Prayer for Makronissos. This world premiere for the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Willoughby Symphony Choir by the Australian-Greek composer who dedicated the piece to his great-grandfather, and to all of those who lost their lives during the Greek Civil War and to all those detained
Murphy is a Melbourne-based Australian Greek composer who has worked with a variety of national and international ensembles. His area of specialisation is composing and arranging music for symphonic and chamber music settings, drawing from Western Art, Byzantine and Greek-folk traditions.
The choir surges with a huge wave of sound and there are shimmering, floating, circling strings and soft lamentations leading to a tumultuous conclusion.
This was followed by Antonín Dvořák’s – A Hero’s Song (1897). It is multi layered and complex. Dvorak portrays his hero experiencing joy, hope, suffering and pain, darkness and light in at times driven, sweeping, tumbling melodies. The work is scored for the usual full orchestra of the era, including triangle, cymbals and bass drum in its percussion section, which was very busy, and the flute and horns are featured.
This brought the latest Willoughby Symphony and Choir concert to a close.
Running time two hours including interval
https://australiandigitalconcerthall.com/#/item/107912
Artists:
Dr Sarah Penicka-Smith – Conductor
Maria Lindsay – Violin
Willoughby Symphony Orchestra
Willoughby Symphony Choir
Program:
Béla Bartók – Romanian Folk Dances
Alla Pavlova – Monologue
Thomas Tycho – Concerto for Violin
Czardas by Vittorio Monti
Interval
Young Composer Award – Klearhos Murphy
Antonín Dvořák – A Hero’s Song