RECENT CONCERT REVIEW:

STABAT MATER concert, featuring Pergolesi's Stabat Mater and music by GF Handel.

Sara Macliver & Fiona Campbell plus Festival Baroque Ensemble, concertmaster Lucinda Moon organ soloist Stewart Smith

Perth Town Hall
3pm, Sunday May 9 2010

It is no exaggeration to say that the performance on Sunday afternoon in the Perth Town Hall on May 9 was one that could have graced any recital room in the world. Devoted almost entirely to the music of Handel and Pergolesi it was presented by a group of musicians well schooled in the art of baroque performance practice, most of whom now live in Perth, and whose stylish and immaculate playing and singing represented the finest standard of today’s recreation of 18th-century music. Festival Baroque Australia is indeed a milestone in Perth’s cultural life.
Emeritus Professor David Tunley

Sara Macliver on performing Pergolesi's Stabat Mater:

"This is always a very powerful work to sing, not just as a singer but as a mother, conveying the pain and suffering of Mary contemplating the pain and suffering of her son, Christ, on the cross. While it may seem almost morbid to perform this on Mothers Day, it is also a celebration in that this music speaks so powerfully of a mothers love, and being a mother myself brings great depth and resonance to this music."

Australia's first Baroque Music Festival

was held in Perth from 18th - 21st September 2009. It was a celebration of the music of Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and other greats of the Baroque era and showcased Baroque musicians from all over Australia, also bringing home some of those who have been making their name overseas.

Through the University of Western Australia and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Perth has a global reputation as a leading centre for teaching and nurturing Baroque musicians
and made Perth an ideal location for Australia's first Baroque music festival.

It was a festival of outstanding quality to be built on and invested in for the future years.
Rosalind Appleby
The West Australian
23 September 2009

PRAISE FOR OUR FIRST FESTIVAL

From the press …

“It's an extravagant feeling sitting in an elegant ballroom listening to ancient music played by musicians who have trained for years in historical performance technique. The inaugural Festival Baroque brought all the right ingredients together at the weekend to provide a window into music of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Government House Ballroom's sweeping arches and ornamental embellishments were the perfect complement to the soaring lines and flourishes in baroque music. On Friday, a buzzing capacity crowd heard music from Vivaldi and his contemporaries, while on Saturday vocal and chamber music filled the air.
A trio of wooden flute, viola da gamba (an early form of cello) and harpsichord performed an Italian and French repertoire with exquisite elegance. Daniel Yeadon's understated sensitivity on viola da gamba was matched by flautist Georgia Browne's fleet-fingered but unhurried elegance, although their dulcet tones were sometimes overpowered by harpsichordist Neal Peres Da Costa.
A period instrument orchestra under the buoyant direction of Paul Wright provided accompaniment for a concert of Handel's vocal music. The dramatic centrepiece was alto Fiona Campbell's performance of the cantata La Lucrezia, which she delivered with anguished whispers and raging anger. Tenor Paul McMahon had a pleasant voice but his contributions lacked impact; Cecilia volgi un sguardo seemed tame in comparison. Soprano Sara Macliver's joyful energy in Tornami a vagheggiar from Alcina and pristine vocal fireworks in Da tempeste from Giulio Cesare were a delight, demonstrating baroque vocal writing in all its glory.
Sunday was celebrated with music of spiritual proportions: the entire Goldberg Variations performed on harpsichord in the intimacy and beauty of the Eileen Joyce Studio at the University of WA.
Neal Peres da Costa described Bach's Variations as "Everest for keyboard players" and then went on spiritually and emotionally to scale the heights of the 80-minute work. It was not a technically flawless performance but the composer's virtuoso sound world was delivered with nobility and ebullience, creating at times a meditative wash of white noise. The return of the opening aria had an Eden-like serenity.
On Sunday night Sophie Gent led a small orchestra through a vigorous performance of Bach's Third and Fifth Brandenburg Concerti. The nine-piece band gave an impressive rendering of light and shade in the Third with a finale of breakneck speed. The Fifth was a showcase for soloists Gent, Georgia Browne and harpsichordist Stewart Smith.
It was a festival of outstanding quality to be built on and invested in for future years. The only disappointment is that the world-class concerts were not recorded by ABC FM to share with the rest of the nation.”
Rosalind Appleby, West Australian 29 Sept 2009

From our audience …

“Congratulations on the Festival Baroque. It was immensely satisfying to attend the concerts [we] caught; we’re only sorry we didn’t take advantage of more that was on offer.

What a wonderful array of fine musicians and a delightful selection of musical offerings you and your committee put together. The whole thing was very impressive and uplifting, and we hope this was just the first of many Baroque festivals in Perth. Thank you very much”.

“… an unforgettable occasion”

“… just heavenly …”

a fantastic weekend of music and events associated with the Festival Baroque. It was really wonderful (and I couldn't go to either of the 'big' concerts!), and an awe inspiring achievement”

“[a] fantastic festival weekend. I loved every minute of it.”

From the artists …

“It all went incredibly smoothly, and I had a wonderful time there”

“Apart from the obvious joy it provided both for performers and audience, it was a milestone event in my life and career, and one I will never forget”

“It was a pleasure to be involved with such a venture. … all those on the organizational side should be congratulated for bringing together such a fine group of instrumentalists”

“Congratulations and bravo for the festival and for asking me to participate! I only hope that it will continue into the future”

“Thanks for involving me. I really enjoyed performing with such great musicians. The symposium was also fantastic. Congratulations on a very successful inaugural festival. I looked forward to the next one with excitement”

“it was my pleasure and privilege to be a part of Festival Baroque”