The Armed Man – A Mass For Peace, was a powerful and emotionally stirring work boldly chosen to open the 2025 Albury Chamber Music Festival. Composed as a modern mass in 1999 by Karl Jenkins, it is well known for its reflections on the war-torn 20th century. Dedicated to war victims, it is powerful work offering gentle hope. While many performances add projections of confronting war images, the intense score says it all, although some find it can be repetitive at times with overpowering relentlessness – as war is.
With a highly experienced orchestral ensemble, combined choristers from Lux Alba Chamber Choir, choirs of The Scots School and Trinity Anglican College, soloists Sally-Anne Russell, Timothy Reynolds and Christopher Allan, conductor Mario Dobernig was guaranteed full success by adding simple yet powerful movement and imagery “acting out” the drama: a soldier’s entrance with a gun, a woman waving a red blood-stained flag, sadly dragging it on the ground in despair, removing a sword from a child; choristers became soldiers marching quietly “on the spot” evoking heart-touching sadness. Excellent trumpets, cymbal rolls built the intensity, with timpani striking the finality of “And so they die!” A very fine choral sound brought hope and beauty, reflection and healing in the most famous Benedictus, possibly the most heart-touching music written in our time. Our spirits were raised with the optimistic folk dancing of the children’s choir as they filled the aisles handing coloured ribbons to each of us. What a fine ending! What a powerful Festival opener!
A late night Concert by Candlelight featured “The Royal Plucker”, Lady Shaula (a fine strong voiced and captivating artist), and her Celtic Harp. We were captivated by the visuals and vocals, the timeless essence of simple modal Celtic flavours, but did strain forwards to hear her commentary, charming personal stories and fluid banter between songs. With a voice of crystal clarity, purity and operatic beauty, folk ballads “Shule Aroon”, “Barb’ry Allen”, “Over the sea to Skye” and “Greensleeves” soothed the audience. It did seem incongruous, however, when the final songs were accompanied only by a bass beat box and hand hit congas, which changed the mood somewhat.
A Festival favourite each year is the 9am Saturday organ recital, which brings the superb restored Letourneau organ to be shown in its full glory. David McFarlane is a master, praising the instrument in St Matthew’s: “it speaks with a French accent”. He first demonstrated the unique and very French sound possible with the mechanics and variations of registration stops on this instrument, all clearly seen on excellent TV monitors in the main body of the Church. His playing was spectacular. The opening Suite du Deuxième Ton by Louis-Nicolas Clérambault superbly showed us the coloured timbral delights in French music. Bach’s colossal dramatic architecture in his Passacaglia in C minor was full of chromatic exploration, and Vierne’s Symphonie No. 3 Op. 28 closed this magnificent recital with a powerful improvisatory storm.
We returned to St Matthew’s Church later in the day for another outstanding recital given by an international prize-winning pianist with a super warm personality and relaxed performance approach: Joshua Han. This young shining star from Sydney put a complete spell on the audience with his ultimate Chopin recital: two refined Etudes, a shimmering Andante spianato with colourful “guitar” accompaniment, and a brilliant rhythmic Grande polonaise. Nocturne in E-flat contrasted this virtuosity with dreamy shadows of the night, preceding Han’s big finale with Sonata in B minor. Melody reigned supreme, left hand inner melodies were sensitively projected, and Han’s favourite third movement took us all “to heaven”. Warmth, smiles, and appreciation came with Han’s encore- Bohemian Rhapsody – re-built with artistic virtuosity and entertainment in a way that if Bach and Rachmaninoff were listening from heaven they would have been impressed by too!
After a Saturday night’s drinks in the garden at the Albury Club, plus a feast with friends, music, frivolity, games and occasional mayhem, Sunday’s Festival goers were roused by the wonderful sound of pealing bells calling us to the popular Festival Service directed by the amazing, colourful Prince of Albury: Father Peter Macleod-Miller. It had everything: organist David McFarlane bringing Bach to us, Joshua Han bringing joy with a re-designed Rondo alla turca, and Hephner THE Alpaca being here, there and everywhere as a “four-legged human connector”. Three World Premiers delighted us: a gentle Breath of Love by Ciara Ferguson, Lily Flynn’s “I Lift Up My Eyes”, and a striking and rousing rhythmic Festival Te Deum by Peter Leech. Festival trumpeter John Foster with Phillipa Safey added a most reflective “Song for Vince”, and choirs, traditional hymns and Remembrance Day thoughts led to the closing Organ Voluntary – a perfect Bach Toccata in D minor.
Directors Sally-Anne Russell and Mario Dobernig cleverly programmed the “serious” concerts with ample breaks for friendships to rekindle with much mirth over drinks in the beautiful gardens at Festival venues. A 3pm gentle hour of jazz in the Church, with classy, cool jazz arrangements using many good old Aussie songs, led by creative arranger and jazz pianist Mark Ferguson, was a fine way to unwind, wave goodbye and hit the road home. Next year’s tickets are selling already if you wish to get your Dance Card prepared early! Well done Albury Festival!
Image supplied.
________________________________________________
Julie McErlain reviewed the Albury Chamber Music Festival with a focus on concerts held at St Matthew’s Church on November 7-9, 2025.
