THE YOUNG SOLOISTS (CONCERT)

Alexander Gilman, artistic director

Snow Concert Hall, Red Hill, 25 November

 

Reviewed by Len Power

 

In their first Australian concert, The Young Soloists, an award-winning group of young virtuosos between the ages of 14 and 23, showed why their world-class reputation has preceded them.

Established in 2013 by violinist Alexander Gilman, who plays in the orchestra, the group members perform as soloists with the orchestra, accompany each other, and share their passion for music. They have performed in many of the prestigious concert halls in the world.

In the first half of the concert, the ensemble performed a wide-ranging program of works by the composers Holst, Bruch, Paganini, Skoryk and Bottesini.

The whole orchestra commenced with Holst’s “St. Paul’s Suite”, a work full of colour with dramatic moments that clearly showed the skill and passion of these players.

Alexander Gilman (4th from left in foreground) and The Young Soloists

“Kol Nidrei” by Bruch was the second item, with 14 year old Lyam Chenaux playing solo cello with the orchestra. His assured performance of this well-known work was one of the highlights of the concert. Chenaux may not yet be as tall as his cello but he showed he will be a giant in the music world in years to come.

Lyam Chenaux

Paganini’s “La Campanella” from Concerto No.2 is a formidable work for any violinist to play. Ji Eun Park skilfully played the solo part on viola, giving it a rich, appealing sound.  There was a second Paganini work, the ‘Variation on the Moses theme by Rossini” and Tara Stranegger played the solo cello part with great sensitivity and passion.

The “Melody” by Skoryk was given a beautiful, romantic performance by Agnes Oberndorfer on solo viola and Clarissa Bevilacqua on solo violin and Alexander Heather on solo double bass played Bottesini’s “Gran Duo Concertante”, giving an electrifying performance of this dynamic work. They made parts of it seem like a good-natured duel between their instruments.

The second half of the program was a performance of Beethoven’s “Sonata No. 9 (‘Kreutzer’) Op. 47 for Violin and Strings”. Haeun Honney Kim played the solo part on a rare and priceless Stradivarius “Kreutzer” violin.

Haeun Honney Kim and the Stradivarius "Kreuzer" violin

The first movement was full of drama with an excellent performance by Kim. The second movement with its beautiful melodies and then its rousing finale made this a memorable performance by the orchestra and soloist deserving of the standing ovation given by the audience.

Two encores followed – “Czardas” by Monti with Emmanuel Webb on solo violin and Alexander Heather on solo double bass and a superb arrangement of, surprisingly, “Yankee Doodle” with Haeun Honney Kim on solo violin.

 

Photos by Peter Hislop

 

This review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 26 November 2023.

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.

 

METAVERSE OF MAGIC

Co-creators: Siobhan Ginty, Suzanne Jones and Del Wynegar

Directed by Siobhan Ginty, Associate Director: Del Wynegar

Production: JONES Theatrical Group, Sydney Coliseum Theatre, Canberra Theatre Centre and Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Canberra Theatre, Canberra Theatre Centre to 3 December

 

Reviewed by Len Power 23 November 2023

 

It used to be enough in magic shows to just have a magician, a props table and a pretty assistant. Now the computer generation has “Metaverse Of Magic”, a spectacular, interactive show that dazzles the eyes with stunning production values built around a troupe of very clever magicians.

The magicians, Charli Ashby, HARA, Horret Wu, Jarred Fell, Sabine van Diemen and Ash Hodgkinson aka Ash Magic are a young, international group. All of them perform astounding illusions with great style leaving us open-mouthed with wonder.

Illusionist, HARA

This is a show has two levels. You can sit back and be entertained in the usual way by this colourful, energetic entertainment or you can choose to interact with a computer game that is part of the show and works via your phone.

Clearly a lot of thought and planning has gone into this game by Simone Clow and George Kacevski of ZEBRAR.  It was easy to follow the set up instructions issued before the show and it added an exciting and challenging extra dimension if you decided to play it.  I had a woeful score at the end of the game compared to other players, but I certainly had fun playing it.

Alex Hodgkinson aka Ash Magic checks the game scores

This co- production brings together the work of a number of very creative people. The eye-popping production design is by Patrick Larsen of Studio Bound, the lighting and video design is by Paul Collison of Eleven Design, sound design is by Julian Spink, composition is by Adam Gubman of Moonwalk Audio, choreography is by Lauren Elton and Nick Eltis of Technik is responsible for the technical direction and design.

It is a slick entertainment utilizing the best in current computer technology and is full of top class illusions. It is hugely entertaining and suitable for children as well as adults.

 

Photos by Jeff Busby

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.

AMERICA SINGS! (CONCERT)

 

AJ America, mezzo-soprano

Roland Peelman, piano

Art Song Canberra

Wesley Music Centre, Forrest 19 November

 

 Reviewed by Len Power

 

Exploring the changing world of American art song, “America Sings!” was a fascinating journey that focussed on composers like Stephen Foster, known as the “Father of American Music”, through foreign composers that visited America such as Gustav Mahler, who brought a German influence, and Australia’s Peggy Glanville-Hicks as well as contemporary American composers like Charles Ives and Taylor Swift.

The mezzo-soprano, AJ America, is a performer, conductor and creative producer. She is the Artistic Director and founder of Luminescence Chamber Singers and Children’s Choir and currently serves as Chair of the Minister’s Creative Council.

Pianist, Roland Peelman, has been active in Australia for over 30 years as a conductor, pianist, artistic director and mentor to singers, composers and musicians.  He has been the Artistic Director of the Canberra International Music Festival since 2015.

The program commenced with two songs by Stephen Foster, “Beautiful Dreamer” and “Hard Times Come Again No More”.  A J America’s rich mezzo-soprano gave these songs a comforting warmth.  Her clear diction made every word count.

Roland Peelman and A J America

The program of many contrasting songs was a good showcase for America’s fine vocal ability.  Highlights from the first half of the program included “Songs To The Dark Virgin” by Florence Price and Charles Ives’ electrifying “Majority” which was given a strongly dramatic and winning performance by America. Peelman’s breath-taking accompaniment to this work included moments where, not just his fingers, but his whole arm had to be used on the keyboard!

Roland Peelman playing Charles Ives' "Majority"

The second half of the program commenced with Peggy Glanville-Hicks’ haunting “Thirteen Ways Of Looking At a Blackbird”, followed by the edgy “Five Elegies” by Hans Eisler, a life-long collaborator with Berthold Brecht. The two very different works were sung well by America.

A J America

After the songs by Eisler, it seemed a natural step to two songs by Kurt Weill, “Dirge For Two Veterans” from the poem by Walt Whitman and the sublime “Speak Low”. America sang this with a sensitivity that added a welcome dimension to this well-known song.

The program finished with “The Last Great American Dynasty”, a 2020 song by Taylor Swift. America and Peelman gave this a performance that was both witty and colourful, bringing this highly stimulating program to a close.

 

Photos By Peter Hislop

 

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.

 

BLAMEY STREET BIG BAND SWINGS WITH THE BEATLES (CONCERT)

Conducted by Ian McLean

Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah, 18 November

 

Reviewed by Len Power

 

The Harmonie German club was really swinging when Ian McLean and his Blamey Street Big Band in concert gave an extra dimension to the much-loved music of the Beatles.

Blamey Street Big Band

Including at least one song from every Beatles studio album and some of their singles, the 22 piece big band moved from one hit to another, showcasing the extraordinary output from the Beatles’ 13 albums and showing in these arrangements how adaptable these songs are. Canberra’s leading jazz vocalist, Leisa Keen, joined the band for many of the songs, adding an extra sheen to this memorable evening of music.

Leisa Keen

The band, conducted with energy and sensitivity by Ian McLean, set an appealing, relaxed mood with a delightful jazz-funk arrangement of “Blackbird” and then Leisa Keen joined them to sing two numbers, “Here Comes The Sun” and “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”. Both songs were superbly sung and played, bringing back memories to those of us of a certain age who were around when the songs first burst onto the scene in the 1960s.

Ian McClean, conductor

Many of the songs had arrangements by the band’s principal saxophone player, Andrew Hackwill, and there were other arrangements written for the Count Basie Big Band, Ella Fitzgerald and others. In a first, band member and saxophonist, Jack Percy’s beautiful arrangement for “All You Need Is Love” was heard and, surprisingly, Andrew Hackwill’s lush new arrangement for the Beatles song, “Now and Then”, released only recently, was hauntingly sung by Leisa Keen.  Various band members and their instruments were featured in certain songs.

In the second half of the show, guest conductor, Natalie Dajski, of the Band of The Royal Military College, expertly conducted four songs, “Norwegian Wood”, “Something”, “Octopus’s Garden” and “Eleanor Rigby”. The rest of the show was conducted by Ian McLean and included the songs “Yesterday”, “She Loves You” and “Penny Lane” as well as others, most of them sung by Leisa Keen.

Each of the evening’s songs was given an interesting, relaxed introduction by the conductors and Leisa Keen. Their personable connections with the audience and the fine music played and sung made this a memorable, nostalgic evening of song from the fondly remembered Beatles era.

 

Photos by Dalice Trost

 

This review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 19 November 2023.

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) (REVISED)

Written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winfield

Directed by Ylaria Rogers

A Canberra REP production

Canberra REP Theatre, Acton to 2 December

 

Reviewed by Len Power 17 November 2023

If you are looking for a Christmas show where you can relax, leave your brain at the door and just have fun, “The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised)” might be just the show for you. I think we’re safe in assuming that no-one would be expecting a serious show with THAT title!

Written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winfield, it started out as a short send up of “Hamlet” at a fair in California 1983. Bit by bit, the show was added to until it morphed into “The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged)” and appeared with great success at the Edinburgh Festival in 1987. The rest is history with the show receiving an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest running Shakespeare show on the West End in London after a run of 3,744 performances, ending in 2005.

Canberra REP’s production goes for the most silliness you can cram into two hours from start to finish with three actors, Callum Doherty, Alex McPherson and Ryan Street, giving high energy performances from start to finish. They must be exhausted by the end of the show.

There is quite a bit of imagination in the staging and the director, Ylaria Rogers, and the cast have milked every moment for maximum effect. This isn’t a thinking man’s comedy – the script and the playing are as broad and obvious as possible.  Kayla Ciceran’s set design of half-finished stage sets and messy heaps of props gives this crazy show the right atmosphere.

The play itself seems to run out of steam in the second act and concentrates on “Hamlet” with some cringe-worthy audience participation and the multiple running of this sequence, including backwards. The action at times has a sense of desperation about it as if the actors are trying too hard to be funny.

Comedy can be a personal thing and how you react to this show depends on your own taste. Many audience members on opening night were laughing their heads off while others “sat like patience on a monument” (“Twelfth Night”, Act 2 Scene 4).

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.

 

 

 

33RD ACT ARTS AWARDS PHOTOS

 Here are the photos from Tuesday November 14's presentation of certificates for the ACT Arts Awards:

Photos by Len Power

(you're welcome to make copies - just right click and 'File Save As...)