A joyful, heady and bubbly occasion.
(Review by Keith Millar)
Living up to its title of being a Champagne
Christmas Concert this was certainly a joyful, heady and bubbly occasion.
With no fewer than eight items on the
programme the full house audience at the Mariannhill Monastery Church last
Sunday was royally entertained at this the final Baroque 2000 concert of the
year.
Star of the concert was the superb tenor
Sandile Mabaso. The KZN born singer who has toured and performed overseas
extensively is blessed with a powerful, effortless and honey toned voice. He
was on top of his game as he contributed on three occasions during the concert.
He started off with Comfort Ye, My People and Ev’ry
Valley Shall be Exalted from Handle’s Messiah
and then sang Henry Purcell’s aria, Three
Happy Lovers from The Fairy Queen
and JS Bach’s aria, Deposuit Potentes
from Magnificat.
The Baroque 2000 ensemble which comprised
eight musicians on this occasion and was ably led, as usual, by their
charismatic concertmaster Ralitza Macheva, performed a delightful mix of
festive items.
They played two pieces composed by Antonio
Vivaldi (1878 – 1741). The Allegro and Ciaconna from his attractive Paris
Concerto RV 114 and his bold and powerful La
Fallia (literally meaning madness). A rhythmic, percussive piece which
builds to a dramatic crescendo.
In music, “Folia” means a very quick-paced
and tumultuous dance, in which the dancers carried men dressed as women upon
their shoulders. They were literally driven mad by the noise and the stirring
rhythm.
Two items from lesser known Baroque
composers also added to the festive feeling of the concert. They were Marco
Uccellini’s (1610 – 1680) Aria: sopra Bergamasca and Claudio Merullo’s (1533 –
1604) Ciannona.
The compositions are dances which employ a
repeating four-note ground bass technique over which the violins perform a
mischievous, virtuoso duel.
Both were great fun and very well received
by the audience.
The main item on the programme was
Arcangelo Corelli’s (1653 – 1713) famous and much loved Concerto Grosso in G
Minor “Fatto per la Notte di Natale” Op.6 No. 8 (Christmas Concerto). A
glorious piece to ring down the curtain on this concert, and Baroque 2000’s
year of wonderful music making.
The good news is that they have already
secured funding for 2019 from the Die Rupert Musiekstigting and will stage
their first concert in March.
For more information about Baroque 2000
contact Michel Schneuwly (Organiser) on 031 312 5539 or 083 303 5241. Their
e-mail address is sursouth@iafrica.com
– Keith Millar
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