Posts Tagged ‘Reviews’

Youth orchestra lives up to top billing

Monday, July 5, 2010

Review: Master Works

Lyndelle Lawrence
Public relations arts writer
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

The 65-member Colorado Springs Youth Symphony performed in a free Master Works concert at Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church on June 8 as part of a 20-day tour of Australia.

The orchestra, formed in 1980, earned credibility by winning the “Full Orchestra” category at the International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, Austria, in 2000. Credit for this goes to Gary Nicholson, one of the founders, who has remained the orchestra’s only music director and conductor.

As a fitting introduction to its performance at Avondale, the orchestra performed Aaron Copland’s “Hoe Down” from Rodeo to highlight American music. Copland called this a “cowboy ballet,” and the orchestra did no less than portray the Wild West and the galloping of horses.

Moving from ballet to program music, the orchestra performed movements one, four, and five of Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique. These were perhaps the most technically demanding pieces of the concert, but the orchestra still effectively told the stories contained in the music.

As an encore, the orchestra performed “Galop” from Dmitri Kabalevsky’s The Comedians, but with a twist—blindfolded. Credit: Ann Stafford.

Included in the repertoire were two pieces of “movie music” by John Williams, “Duel of the Fates” and “Battle of the Heroes” from Star Wars. The pieces, with driving rhythms and motifs, would have appealed to fans and those with only a passing interest in the franchise.

The concert impressed me. Although there were minor synchronisation and intonation issues and room for dynamic contrast, the high level of performance, mastery of techniques, sensitivity and mature musicality from young performers outweighed these difficulties.

As an encore, the orchestra performed “Galop” from Dmitri Kabalevsky’s The Comedians, but with a twist—blindfolded. Every member of the orchestra, Gary included, covered their eyes. The piece featured a xylophone soloist who, despite the impediment, struck the bars with precision.

A collaboration toward the end of the concert between the orchestra and Avondale College vocal ensemble Avondale Singers—the two groups performed “For the Beauty of the Earth” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic”—gave credence to the orchestra’s motto, “Through music we are one.”

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Actors find feet in search for script

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Review: Actors in Search of a Script

Kristin Thiele
Connections arts writer
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

Students studying drama at Avondale College have produced an original look at the theatrical experience in Actors in Search of a Script.

In Actors in Search of a Script, a drama troupe creates famous scenes from Shakespeare’s finest plays while a producer explains the art of theatre to the actors and audience. Credit: Ann Stafford.

Written by Dr Jane Fernandez-Goldborough, a senior lecturer in English in the Faculty of Arts, the play is about a drama troupe that is “trying on” scenes as the producer explains the art of theatre to the actors and to the audience.

As the actors create several famous scenes from Shakespeare’s finest plays, members of the audience are confronted with the reality that they are watching a play. In most productions, this would be a criticism; in this production, it is an achievement.

Each scene is crafted beautifully, drawing members of the audience in and then transitioning them to the next scene without creating a feeling of loss. The structure builds anticipation. With actors breaking the fourth wall and speaking to the audience, the audience becomes part of the play.

Actors in Search of a Script included moments of silliness—one of the scenes used theme music from the movie, Pink Panther—and gravitas—Kiel Winch’s depiction of Shylock, for example. Hamlet’s Three Witches—Stephanie Bennett, Cheree Drisch and Nikarri Parker—added continuity and perspective to scenes that may have otherwise felt disjointed. The play didn’t lack humour or seriousness as each actor brought a distinct personality to each of their roles. Renee Mau’s contribution is noteworthy, not only for her energy, but also for her effortless ability to connect the audience to her scenes.

While creativity often enhanced the mood of scenes, it sometimes came at the expense of the needs of the audience. Some scenes were too dark to see actors properly, and some actors didn’t move into lighted positions to speak their lines.

Actors in Search of a Script deserves another staging. Viewing it is bliss.

Links
Slideshow (Credit: Ann Stafford)

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Adventist music shines at showcase

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Review: Psalter concert

Lyndelle Lawrence
Connections arts writer
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

The manager of Adventist Media Network’s new music ministry Psalter is on record in Record describing this as a time for Seventh-day Adventist music to “step up.” “We are people who believe we do our best for God,” said Tim Burcham in an interview published in the church in the South Pacific’s magazine on April 17. “Musically, we should be, too.” He spoke of knowing Adventists who are writing contemporary yet reverent music with “depth and feeling.”

Leoni Gardner’s soaring voice opened the Psalter concert. Credit: Ann Stafford.

Some of those artists helped Adventist Media Network and the church’s Institute of Worship launch the ministry at a concert in Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church this past Saturday (May 22).

The concert showcased Psalter’s newly signed artists Leoni Gardner, Ali and Leighton Heise, Jarel Kilgour and Emily Rex, Quartet, Sapphire Singers, The Promise, Jackie Ward and Anna Weatherup.

Leoni Gardner performed at the beginning and end of the concert, a clear, soaring voice the perfect fit for her Celtic-flavoured, almost ethereal songs. Taking the audience on a spiritual journey, she weaved through the melodies of “Hymn of Praise” and “It’s Time.”

The contemporary sounds of Ali and Leighton brought us back to earth—I found the personal content of “Beyond,” “Joshy’s Song” and “Love Takes Time” highly relatable. Their performance helped set the tone for the concert—an evening of honest praise and worship and music of high standard.

Anna Weatherup displayed raw and controlled vocals; each delivery sincere and uninhibited. Her interpretation of “Because He Lives” encouraged the audience to sing, too.

The silky tones of Em’s agile voice and Jarel’s guitar-playing captivated the audience; their music fresh and light. Em shined on her high notes, hitting and sustaining them, as Jarel supported her with his smooth finger work and backing vocals.

Vocal ensembles included Quartet, which impressed with a blend of tight, four-part harmony and strong vocals. Sapphire Singers interspersed their soulful music with feats of vocal acrobatics. And Avondale College vocal ensemble The Promise performed two a cappella songs, including a southern hemisphere debut of Greg Jasperse’s jazz arrangement of “Amazing Grace.” The Promise will perform the hymn again in a concert at Sydney Opera House on June 10. Greg will travel from his home in Los Angeles (California, USA) to hear it.

A band comprising Tim (drums), Korey Dowling (piano), Leighton Heise (bass), Blake Robinson (cello and acoustic guitar) and Mark Robinson (electric guitar) provided most of the backing music. The result: a cohesive, current and dynamic sound.

Earlier, a surprised Tim joined the artists at the front of the stage where Leighton read a passage from the Bible and prayed for God’s blessing on Tim and on the ministry of Psalter.

The concert ended with all the artists joining master of ceremonies Peter Dixon to sing “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”

Lyndelle Lawrence sings tenor with The Promise.

Links
Slideshow (Credit: Ann Stafford)

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