Concert performance. The Australian Youth Orchestra, Richard Mills, conductor. Queensland Music Festival Chorus. July 30, Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane. Vincent Plush 01August 2005
“… An opera man to the core, [Lyndon] Terracini [Queensland Music Festival Director] hand-picked a cast that history may view as the definitive Tristan of the age. Certainly, it will go down in the annals of Australian music history…
“In other circumstances, Wagner's score may have breathed more naturally, but Mills's sensitive caution yielded some of the most gorgeous orchestral sonority heard in Brisbane in recent memory.
“The main import, Cornish heldentenor John Treleaven, is the acclaimed Tristan of our day, his steely sound well-paced throughout the punishing hours on centre-stage. Equally, Lisa Gasteen is emerging as the definitive Isolde, her huge instrument and commanding presence always focused. As if to signify her place in this firmament, during the heart-stopping Liebestod, John Rayment's subtle lighting bathed her in a net of marine blue, creating one of those coups de theatre that sear the memory.
“The secondary roles were inspired by the lead duo. Bruce Martin was a noble King Mark, Bernadette Cullen a bounteous and transporting Brangane and with his burnished, sensuous power, David Wakeham a magisterial Kurwenal. “
Barry Ryan, Jaewoo Kim and Lionel Theunissen sang Melot, a shepherd and the young sailor and the helmsman, respectively.
It is sad to report that, given the significance of the challenge of performing Tristan und Isolde, even in a concert performance, and the sterling achievement for the AYO and the singers for music-making in Australia and for marking up another of the, still, relatively rare performances of Wagner operas in this country, there appears to have no other press notice of the performance. If anyone has come across another review, please let the editor know. Terracini and the Queensland Music Festival are to be congratulated for a heart stopping climax to their festival. Let's hope that the next incarnation of the Festival is able to emulate, even surpass, this memorable occasion with more Wagner performances. Let us also hope that the AYO is inspired to include, in some near future program, another Wagner opera as well, since they rose to this challenge with glorious sonority, thrilling intensity and overwhelming passion, all qualities often less evident in professional orchestras playing this music for the Nth time. Other Australian Festivals, please note – this is an orchestra capable of performing anything to the highest standards. Congratulations! [Editor]
Note: The Australian Youth Orchestra is actively supported by some of our members - if you are interested leraning more about or, perhaps supporting, the AYO please visit their website at http://www.ayo.com.au
This Page was last updated on:
26-Sep-2005
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