Baroque Tarantella

Collaborations are nothing new on the 21st century classical stage, but occasionally a concert comes along that is simply inspired. Such was Baroque Tarantella, in which the Sydney-based Australian Brandenburg Orchestra hosted Italy’s Ensemble L’Arpeggiata in “around 30 deliciously entertaining songs and dances from renaissance and baroque Italy”, a description so accurate that a reviewer need hardly go beyond the program notes. However, there were many elements in this joyous music-making that deserve particular attention, suggested from the outset by the composition of the Italian ensemble. L’Arpeggiata added psaltery and clarinet to the ABO’s line-up of period instruments, with Christina Pluhar directing the combined group from her theorbo. Pluhar also arranged a number of items on the program, including Aria di Florence by Piccini, in the first group. It followed Buonmaente’s Intrata, which began with a drum roll and established the combined group’s authentic yet distinctive baroque sound. Aria di Florence then introduced another of the Italian musicians, singer Lucilla Galeazzi, making a quiet dignified entrance and singing a lament for lost love. Galeazzi’s voice, at first a little lost in the resonance of so many instruments, was to gain strength throughout the night, and was equally suited to the gentle Tu bella and the improvisation Turluru, a marvellous duet with clarinettist Gianluigi Trovesi. The song My little scallywag also served to introduce “theatrical dancer” Anna Dego who captured the seductiveness mixed with scorn that is the essence of gypsy style. An exception to the mood was Wylche’s Battaglia, almost a theatrical piece in itself, with Dego in a white dress and red blindfold apparently consoled by her “mother” Galeazzi after a terrible war. But the overall mood of the concert was of the dance: swaying rhythms or more urgent castanets and always, a delight in shared music making. The evening ended with Trovesi’s composition Animali in Marcia, a vibrant humorous piece, complete with animal noises thanks to the baroque instruments. It was the ultimate tribute to the ABO and their Italian guests that they managed to get the audience to sing with them! More next year, please. Baroque Tarantella Sydney City Recital Hall Angel Place Fri 10, Sat 11, Wed 15, Fri 17,Sat 18 Sep all at 7pm Matinee Sat 18 Sep at 2pm Melbourne Melbourne Recital Centre Sun 12 Sep at 5pm Mon 13 Sep at 7.30pm (Season closed) Brisbane As part of the Brisbane Festival Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre Tues 7, Wed 8 Sep at 8pm (Season closed)