Riverstage Opera

The Brisbane Festival 2013
Verdi in the Park

Saturday 21st September.

On the bank of the Brisbane River, in the Botanical Gardens and under the stars thousands were treated to a glorious evening of music by The Queensland Opera and The Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Above is the stage in front of thousands on the grass up the slopes but unfortunately there where several annoying kids right at the front of the stage who yelled, ran and danced around while the singers were trying to create moods and beautiful music. A family evening to me is one where children are given the chance to experience something new not be let run wild to distract both performers and audience. The professional singers and musicians soldiered on but it must have been difficult.

Celebrating of the 200th anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi’s birth, renowned soprano Cheryl Barker and fabulous young tenor Kang Wang, Emily Burke, Douglas McNicol, David Hibbard and the famously mighty Opera Queensland Chorus gave a passionate concert performance conducted by Simon Kenway.

Watch out World

Kang Wang is on the way!

Tenor Kang Wang whom I saw last year at the Queensland Conservatorium in The Rake's Progress was born in Harbin, China to parents who are both opera singers. As a student at The  Conservatorium he worked under Mr Joseph Ward OBE and was the "People's Choice" of the Dame Joan Sutherland National Vocal Award 2010 and one of the five finalists of the Australian Singing Competition 2010. A favourite amongst Brisbane audiences and me for his leading roles in several operas at the Conservatorium.  This youthful tenor was the star of the evening. Set against a bunch of professional and seasoned singers Kang as usual drew the attention and huge reaction of the audience. 

He is due to launch a huge career like so many that have graduated from the Concervatorium here. It has an unusually high rate of world stars emerging from its stages under the guidance if some of the phenomenal teaching staff over the years like Lisa Gasteen, Margreta Elkins, Donald Smith, Janet Delpratt.

Twenty one arias, duets, quartets, choruses and orchestral pieces made up the two and three quarter hour evening. La Forza del destino - La Traviata - Unballo in maschera - Ernani - Rigoletto - Il travatore - Nabucco - Otello - Aida. It was a treat. Douglas Mc Nicol's 'Credo' from Verdi's Otello had me screaming Bravo this was exciting as I will see him sing Iago on stage in Otello next month. Also the the Quartet from Rigoletto has sung with such absolutely sublime perfection I found myself yelling yet again.

Australian String Quartet

The Brisbane Festival 2013

Monday 17th September Qld Conservatorium Theatre. 

Kristian Winther (violin) Stephen King (viola) 

with Guest Artists Ioana Tache (violin) and Sharon Draper (cello)

Australian String Quartet with Andrew Ford

Mendelssohn / String Quartet in E minor op 44 no 2

Andrew Ford / String Quartet no 5 (new commission)

Arvo Pärt /  Fratres
Debussy, String Quartet in G minor op 10
This is not the ASQ but a performance of the 'Arvo Part Fratres' arranged for String Quartet as we heard this week..

Another wonderful evening of great playing and another commissioned work (this time by Andrew Ford) which happily is a regular addition to ASQ concerts. My cousin also attended and now three of us are subscribing for the 2014 season.
The remarkable and absorbed Kristian Winther who is simply amazing to watch and to hear.

http://www.andrewford.net.au/

http://www.asq.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianStringQuartet

When Time Stops

The Brisbane Festival 2013

Saturday 14th September 2013 Playhouse Theatre QPAC.

A combined performance by two wonderful local groups Expressions Dance Company and The Camarata of St. John's chamber orchestra.

 A new ballet by Natalie Weir with a new composition by the great Australian composer Iian Grandage who won two Helpmann awards this year.

 This was an evening of the most professionally intricate movement and thrilling string work to spectacular music on a great set brilliantly lit. You could tell from the reviews and the cheering that everyone including myself was knocked out by the energy, the passion and the visual delight of 20 barefoot performers. 

https://www.facebook.com/expressionsdancecompany

The dancers flexed, intertwined, leapt, rowed and embraced in this inspiration of death, drowning, survival and all that happens when time of life stops. The musicians were also part of the physical performance as they wove their way throughout the dancers and became part of the choreography itself. The performance of the 12 young string players was outstanding, emotional, spiritual and wrenching.

The larger ensemble of Camarata of St John's.

https://www.facebook.com/CamerataStJohns

One of the many glowing reviews This from The Brisbane Times.

When Time Stops was fantastic production to kick off Brisbane Festival. This original dance work from Expressions Dance Company was a stunning display of grace, strength and pure raw emotions.

The dancing took you through life's emotional journeys and managed to trap you back in the moment from the inescapable joy of your first kiss to the feeling of loss and grief in life. While nothing was said, the dancing and facial expressions of each performer was enough to elicit the desired reactions sought from the audience. This was confirmed after the lights came back on and I discovered a room filled with tears and strong applause.

The choreography was spectacular. The intricate lifts and positioning were timed perfectly. The slow motion pieces were so effortlessly displayed only then to take a sudden change to a hard and fast routine. The show demanded a lot from each of its dancers and it's safe to say they did not disappoint on delivering the goods.

The music was outstanding through and through. One thing that struck me was the clever use of bringing the musicians on and off the stage through the different sequences. This added further depth to the journey of emotions and it was a lovely way to allow the audience to appreciate their craft.