Amore Italiano

A concert in a little 6th century Italian church followed by a shared meal brought Paul Dyer, Artistic Director of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra (ABO), face to face at last with tenor Marco Beasley and harpsichordist Guido Morini, the founders of Italian ensemble Accordone. If that sounds like the beginning of a romance, as Dyer described it, it was. Dyer first heard Accordone in Utrecht ten years ago, and was “spellbound”. So was the audience at this performance at the Melbourne Recital Centre when Beasley (as guest director) and Morini joined the ABO to open the orchestra’s 2011 season. The full ensemble began in characteristically spirited Brandenburg style with Morini’s composition, ‘Sinfonia’ from An Odyssey – inspired both by Homer and ‘Ithaca’, by the Greek poet Cavafy: Wish for the road to be long. … with joy/ you will enter ports seen for the first time… The piece served as something of a metaphor for the concert, which explored Accordone’s unique performance of both early music and the duo’s own new works composed in a similar style. That the latter never descended to pastiche was illustrated by the sinfonia’s easy segue to the first vocal item. This was ‘Usurper, tyrant’ by the 17th century composer Sances. Its swaying sound, almost dance-like, was a little at odds with the lover’s words about his rival. But Marco Beasley’s sure and true tenor voice added a new dimension to the Neapolitan songs, the flexibility, resonance and diversity of his talent revealed with every item. Two songs deserve particular attention – and they could not have been more different. At the end of the first part of the concert was Morini and Beasley’s extraordinary ‘Lamentation over Christ veiled’. The words and music were powerful, and they were lifted to another dimension by Beasley’s stance; he stood still with a long piece of blue material draped over his outstretched arms, as if holding a body. Many of the listeners were in tears. After interval, Accordone and the ABO gave us more fine music – with the percussionist in his element. There was plenty of anticipation about the final item, ‘The Song of the Pomfret’, with the program revealing 20 verses and a list of about 50 types of fish. Beasley had already won over the audience with his energetic story-telling – but this was a tour de force as he recounted the amorous tale of the Pomfret, the Sardine, and her jilted lover, the Haddock. The rivals summoned allies (hence the fish-list) and fierce battle ensued. Beasley stamped across the stage, engaged in a number of duels and fist-fights, stamped, shouted and threatened – and still, miraculously, kept singing, The audience was left once again wiping away tears, this time from laughter, and shouted its appreciation of the song, the concert they’d been treated to, and above all, the inspired collaboration between the ABO and Accordone. Paul Dyer’s dream had been realised – but his nightmare may be finding a concert to top this one! Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Accordone Melbourne Recital Centre February 27 – 28 City Recital Hall, Sydney February 25 – 26, March 2 – 5 Australian Brandenburg Orchestra www.brandenburg.com.au What the Other Critics Said Sydney Morning Herald: “Morini and Beasley take inquiry into the music of the past to another level. They do not just re-create it.”