australian world orchestra delivers dynamic, monumental vision
TRANSCRIPT
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AustralianWorldOrchestra
deliversdynamic,monumental
vision
MUSICAustralianWorldOrchestraHamerHall,July26★★★★½DrawnfromthediasporaofAustraliantalentworkingintheworld’stoporchestras,theannualhomecomingoftheAWOisoneofthemosthighlyanticipatedeventsonthemusicalcalendar.
Inpreviousyears,theyhaveperformedunderthebatonofmegastarconductors–RicardoMutiin2018,SirSimonRattlein2016andZubinMethain2014.
However,nooneattendingthisyear’soutingcouldfeelshortchangedbytheorchestra’sfoundingfather,AlexanderBriger,takingthehelm.
Whilehemaynotboastquitethecelebritystatusofthereveredelderstatesmenwhohaveprecededhim,hispowersonthepodiumareeverybitasworldclass.
ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC REVIEW
ByMaximBoon
July28,2019—4.18pm
AlexanderBrigeratthehelmoftheAustralianWorldOrchestra.
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Brigerisawonderfullyfull-bodiedconductor,scoopinguptheorchestralforcesathiscommandinabearhugofexpressivephysicality.Thisdynamismwasreflectedbackacrosstheconcertplatform,everymuscle,tendon,sinewandsynapsisoftheassembledmusiciansspurredintoactionbytheirsharedpurpose. Suchnimbleresponsesprovedidealforaprogramrichinnarrativecomplexity.
Followingalightandairyoverture–NigelWestlake’sFlyingDreams–theSlavicmelodramaofJanacek’sTarasBulbaconjuredaCossackadventurerepletewithepicexcitement.
Briger(muchlikehisuncle,thelateSirCharlesMackerras)isaJanacekexpertandrevealedakeenunderstandingofhowtodrawtogetherthismusic’sidiosyncrasies:itscombinationofliteralsoundpaintingandromanticallusion,itsyenforextremesonoritiesbalancedwithrhapsodicbeauty.
ThesamedetailedstorytellingwasappliedtotheFinnishvistasofSibelius’secondsymphony.
Fromthemelancholyfoothillsoftheopening’smajor-minoruncertainty,tothesummitofthefinalmovement’syearninggrandeur,thiswasaperformanceofmonumentalvision.