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SHEER GREECE LIGHTNING
Northern District Times (Australia)
August 14, 2013 Wednesday
REVIEW by Gregory Blaxell Music of Ancient Worlds: Ryde Hunters Hill
Symphony Orchetra, Ryde Civic Centre
The concert was programmed to be in two parts, but turned out to
be in three. The concert began with Greek music, with the orchestra
augmented with wonderful singing and bouzouki playing by George Doukas.
While I had no idea what the words were expressing, the music told
the tale. It was as if I were in a Greek taverna about to have a meal
of grilled fish or lamb, washed down with retsina.
Tears actually slid down my face as the music captured love, sadness,
pride, joy; a raft of emotions.
The combination of forces and the sensitive plotting of the emotional
course was a tribute to conductor George Ellis.
He and the orchestra loved the experience.
The guest vocalist/bouzouki player also clearly loved it as he
communicated the essence of the music with every note played, every
phrase sung and every human emotion reflected in his facial expressions
and body language.
The bracket ended with Theodarakis" Zorba the Greek and compere George
Donikian promising more of Zorba and, perhaps, dancing in the aisles?
This emotional roller-coaster was followed by the orchestra playing
Haydn"s Symphony No 99 . This symphony was seventh of the 12 that
Haydn wrote for visits to London. These 12 became known as the London
Symphonies.
Number 99, which premiered in 1794 in anticipation of Haydn"s second
trip to London, was the de facto second part of the program.
Assistant conductor Rob Nijs guided the orchestra very competently
through the work, the slow movement being particularly beautiful.
Haydn, however much you admire his work and his contribution to the
symphonic-form, was such a different character, form and texture to
the music that preceded it.
By comparison, it was almost an emotional backwater, a stagnant
billabong, compared with the rapids of the Greek music. It was out
of place and out of time.
The second half of the concert introduced what was perhaps the most
interesting piece of the whole concert.
It was written by Armenian composer, Arno Babajanian"s and titled
'Heroic Ballade" for orchestra and solo piano.
The taxing piano playing was brilliantly carried off by Christopher
Nazarian. This music was romantic in style familiar in many ways to
Khachaturian and even Rachmaninoff, but infused with Armenian national
rhythm and intonations. It was a showpiece for both orchestra and
piano: dramatic music with many chordal leaps that taxed the capacity
of the piano.
Then, it was back to the Greek music of Xarhakos and Theodorakis with
George Doukas and the orchestra having fun with maestro conductor
Ellis.
The audience, appreciative and keen, were invited by George Donikian,
to dance with Zorba, remembering the film with Anthony Quinn and Alan
Bates and that phrase: 'Teach me to dance!"And they danced.
Northern District Times (Australia)
August 14, 2013 Wednesday
REVIEW by Gregory Blaxell Music of Ancient Worlds: Ryde Hunters Hill
Symphony Orchetra, Ryde Civic Centre
The concert was programmed to be in two parts, but turned out to
be in three. The concert began with Greek music, with the orchestra
augmented with wonderful singing and bouzouki playing by George Doukas.
While I had no idea what the words were expressing, the music told
the tale. It was as if I were in a Greek taverna about to have a meal
of grilled fish or lamb, washed down with retsina.
Tears actually slid down my face as the music captured love, sadness,
pride, joy; a raft of emotions.
The combination of forces and the sensitive plotting of the emotional
course was a tribute to conductor George Ellis.
He and the orchestra loved the experience.
The guest vocalist/bouzouki player also clearly loved it as he
communicated the essence of the music with every note played, every
phrase sung and every human emotion reflected in his facial expressions
and body language.
The bracket ended with Theodarakis" Zorba the Greek and compere George
Donikian promising more of Zorba and, perhaps, dancing in the aisles?
This emotional roller-coaster was followed by the orchestra playing
Haydn"s Symphony No 99 . This symphony was seventh of the 12 that
Haydn wrote for visits to London. These 12 became known as the London
Symphonies.
Number 99, which premiered in 1794 in anticipation of Haydn"s second
trip to London, was the de facto second part of the program.
Assistant conductor Rob Nijs guided the orchestra very competently
through the work, the slow movement being particularly beautiful.
Haydn, however much you admire his work and his contribution to the
symphonic-form, was such a different character, form and texture to
the music that preceded it.
By comparison, it was almost an emotional backwater, a stagnant
billabong, compared with the rapids of the Greek music. It was out
of place and out of time.
The second half of the concert introduced what was perhaps the most
interesting piece of the whole concert.
It was written by Armenian composer, Arno Babajanian"s and titled
'Heroic Ballade" for orchestra and solo piano.
The taxing piano playing was brilliantly carried off by Christopher
Nazarian. This music was romantic in style familiar in many ways to
Khachaturian and even Rachmaninoff, but infused with Armenian national
rhythm and intonations. It was a showpiece for both orchestra and
piano: dramatic music with many chordal leaps that taxed the capacity
of the piano.
Then, it was back to the Greek music of Xarhakos and Theodorakis with
George Doukas and the orchestra having fun with maestro conductor
Ellis.
The audience, appreciative and keen, were invited by George Donikian,
to dance with Zorba, remembering the film with Anthony Quinn and Alan
Bates and that phrase: 'Teach me to dance!"And they danced.