Classic Melbourne
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Calendar
    • Terms and conditions
    • Apply to post your events
    • Post Your Event
  • Newsletter Signup
  • About
  • Contact
Classic Melbourne
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Calendar
    • Terms and conditions
    • Apply to post your events
    • Post Your Event
  • Newsletter Signup
  • About
  • Contact

12th PSMF: Sunday Delights

by Margaret Arnold 9th January, 2019
by Margaret Arnold 9th January, 2019

Melbourne Recital Centre Great Romantics Winner
Miles Johnston, classical guitar

At St John’s, Flinders, on Sunday morning, a sizable audience was treated to an exceptionally fine guitar performance from Miles Johnston. This charming Sunday morning concert is a great example of the way Peninsula Summer Music Festival has forged partnerships with other entities, to the benefit of all. Miles won the Melbourne Recital Centre Great Romantics competition in 2018, and with both the Festival and the Recital Centre being committed to recognising and nurturing young artists, he was given this performance opportunity.

This was not just additional experience for a young performer, but a recital of excellence.

JS Bach’s first violin sonata in a wonderful arrangement for guitar was breathtaking. From the improvisatory opening we were in expert hands, as chords were spread in the slow first movement, to the fugal entries of the second movement, where the entries of each successive voice were so clearly articulated; the gentle and lyrical third movement, and the fast semiquavers of the final movement cascading in the upper strings while the bass effectively underpinned the harmonies. I feel confident that JS Bach would have approved!

Giulio Regondi, a Swiss-born nineteenth century guitarist and composer, was new to me, and his Introduction and Caprice was the work with which Johnston won the Great Romantics competition. The sensitively played Introduction with tastefully romantic ornamentation gave way to the strongly rhythmic Caprice, Johnston orchestrating the melody and accompaniment by way of his variety of tone colours, and with skilful rubato he appeared at one with his instrument. The virtuosic and dramatic finish left us in no doubt about his technical and musical skill.

It was good to hear an Australian work – Richard Charlton’s challenging Threnody for Chernobyl, and a fascinating Introduction and Vivace by Russian composer Nikita Koshkin. A gently romantic Brazilian piece provided the encore which was demanded by the enthusiastic crowd!

Throughout the entirely memorized concert Miles Johnston introduced his items informatively with confidence and poise.

We will hear a lot more from this fine young classical guitarist.

Schubert Songs
Australian Haydn Ensemble and David Greco

A short lunch break permitted a leisurely walk to the Flinders Market, before returning for the final time this weekend to St John’s Church. By 2pm the church was full to overflowing, with extra chairs and people squeezing into their pews to fit in an extra body. There was a buzz of excitement. And with good reason!

The quintet of string players was arranged in a semi-circle with the double bass in the centre, cello then violin 1 to her right, and viola and violin 2 to her left.  The program of Schubert songs, arranged for string accompaniment, was interspersed with four string quintets taken from Felicien David’s Les Quatres Saisons, a collection of 24 miniature string quintets. These works all had something to offer musically, without detracting from the Schubert songs. And they were performed with precision of ensemble, impeccable intonation, musicality, and sense of style.

David Greco entered and took his place in the centre, in front of the double bass, surrounded by the other instrumentalists. Smartly dressed in dark trousers, white shirt and a burgundy vest, he had bare feet. Was that because he’d ‘brought two left shoes to the Peninsula’? He left that possibility unresolved, but otherwise provided excellent introductions to the mostly rather dark songs. Over the course of the concert, he also described the way that using instruments of the period with gut strings, and late classical bows allows for more contrast, as the bow can dig deep into the gut strings. Together with flexibility of rhythm, and use of portamento in the playing and singing, Greco described this as ‘an arsenal of expressivity’. This was certainly apparent with his range of tone colours and shaping of phrases, and singing into the consonants, just as the bows press into the gut strings.

I had thought that I would find the absence of piano too difficult, but in fact I have found a new way to hear these Schubert songs. Hearing other instruments sharing the accompanying lines brings them out for attention in a different way, and I found I was actually hearing more of the music.

We had a good selection from Greco and the Ensemble – Die Götter Griechenlands, Der Jüngling und der Tod, three songs from Winterreise, Der Tod und das Mädchen, and Der Erlkönig.

Greco’s smooth well-centred and supported vocal tone was thoroughly in control of all he sang, and he and the Ensemble worked together superbly. Musicianship of the highest quality and outstanding communication between players, singer and audience made for a memorable concert.

Greco recited The Erlking in English, giving it the full theatrical treatment. As soon as he finished, they launched into the music. It was a breathtaking performance, and the audience erupted in wild applause and shouts. Of course there had to be an encore. But what could possibly follow such a piece? There was only one possibility. An Die Musik proved to be a perfect ending to an excellent concert.

0
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
Margaret Arnold

previous post
12th PSMF: Songmakers Australia
next post
PSMF: Sara Macliver and the Australian Haydn Ensemble

Events Calendar

Loading view.
  • August 2022

Calendar of Events

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

S Sun

2 events, 1

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Songmakers Australia: Schwanengesang

August 1 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Songmakers Australia: Schwanengesang

Program Franz Schubert Schwanengesang D 957 Songmakers Australia Schubert’s last song cycle was published after his untimely death at the age of…

Free
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Seraphim Trio – Gallic Charm

August 1 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Seraphim Trio – Gallic Charm

A performance of cherished works and Gallic beauty. About the artists Seraphim Trio is as much a lifelong friendship as a…

$40 – $50

0 events, 2

1 event, 3

11:30 am - 12:40 pm

Mostly Mozart – Musical Mavericks

August 3 @ 11:30 am - 12:40 pm

Mostly Mozart – Musical Mavericks

Riveting passion balanced with delicate lyricism. About the artists Scottish born James Crabb is widely regarded as one of the world’s…

$42 – $49

0 events, 4

0 events, 5

1 event, 6

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Ray Chen

August 6 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Ray Chen

World-renowned violinist Ray Chen makes his long-awaited return to Australia with some of the most demanding, impressive, and emotionally riveting works…

$65.55 – $159

2 events, 7

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Flinders Quartet Concert 2

August 7 @ 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Flinders Quartet Concert 2

Join Flinders Quartet for the sumptuous romanticism and grandeur of Brahms, and the ingenuity and wit of Haydn. Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba -…

$29 – $38
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Corpus Medicorum Concert #3

August 7 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Corpus Medicorum Concert #3

Corpus Medicorum Rebirth 2022 Concert Series. Artists Charlotte Miles cellist Keith Crellin OAM conductor Program Edward Elgar Cello Concerto, Op.85 Antonín Dvořák Symphony No.7…

$10 – $60

1 event, 8

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Stewart Kelly – Schubert’s Swansong

August 8 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Stewart Kelly – Schubert’s Swansong

A journey to the corners of human experience with Schubert’s Schwanengesang. About the artists Stewart Kelly is one of Australia’s most sought-after…

$40 – $50

0 events, 9

0 events, 10

1 event, 11

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Melbourne Guitar Quartet – Flow My Tears

August 11 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Melbourne Guitar Quartet – Flow My Tears

Innovative arrangements, technical flair and superb playing. About the artists Melbourne Guitar Quartet have carved out a reputation for curating utterly…

$40 – $50

0 events, 12

0 events, 13

3 events, 14

3:00 pm - 4:15 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

August 14 @ 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

Now firmly established as one of Australia’s most prestigious singing events, the RMP Aria is Australia’s pre-eminent competition for oratorio soloists.…

$25 – $56
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

August 14 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s third concert of the year takes us through works by Benjamin Britten, Don Bank, and…

Free
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

August 14 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

Now firmly established as one of Australia’s most prestigious singing events, the RMP Aria is Australia’s pre-eminent competition for oratorio soloists.…

$25 – $56

0 events, 15

0 events, 16

0 events, 17

0 events, 18

0 events, 19

1 event, 20

2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Real and Right and True – Lotte Betts-Dean and Calvin Bowman

August 20 @ 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Real and Right and True – Lotte Betts-Dean and Calvin Bowman

"Real and Right and True" - a celebration of the art song tradition of Australia and the United Kingdom. Lotte Betts-Dean,…

$10 – $35

0 events, 21

0 events, 22

0 events, 23

0 events, 24

0 events, 25

0 events, 26

0 events, 27

0 events, 28

0 events, 29

0 events, 30

0 events, 31

0 events, 1

0 events, 2

0 events, 3

1 event, 4

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Wanderlust

September 4 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Wanderlust

The Friends of the Auburn Tower Inc presents Wanderlust, featuring Elyane Laussade, piano, and Luke Severn, bass baritone, in a musical…

$20 – $35
August 1
August 1 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Songmakers Australia: Schwanengesang

August 1 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Seraphim Trio – Gallic Charm

  • There are no events on this day.
August 3
August 3 @ 11:30 am - 12:40 pm

Mostly Mozart – Musical Mavericks

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
August 6
August 6 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Ray Chen

August 7
August 7 @ 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Flinders Quartet Concert 2

August 7 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Corpus Medicorum Concert #3

August 8
August 8 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Stewart Kelly – Schubert’s Swansong

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
August 11
August 11 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Melbourne Guitar Quartet – Flow My Tears

August 14
August 14 @ 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

August 14 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

August 14 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

August 20
August 20 @ 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Real and Right and True – Lotte Betts-Dean and Calvin Bowman

September 4
September 4 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Wanderlust

  • There are no events on this day.
August 14
August 14 @ 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

August 14 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

August 14 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

Rutter’s Requiem and the 16th RMP Aria Final

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
August 20
August 20 @ 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Real and Right and True – Lotte Betts-Dean and Calvin Bowman

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
September 4
September 4 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Wanderlust

View Calendar

Classic Melbourne’s reviews policy

audio
Our point of differenceby Editor Suzanne Yanko

Your browser does not support the audio element.

Follow us on Facebook

Classic Melbourne

Melbourne Arts Centre

Melbourne Arts Centre

Melbourne Recital Centre

Melbourne Recital Centre

Introducing Classic Melbourne

audio
Speech at launch by Conductor Andrew Wailes

Your browser does not support the audio element.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

@2019 - All Right Reserved.

Read alsox

Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra

31st October, 2011

Jordi Savall with Xavier Díaz-Latorre

1st April, 2019

ABO: Sato and the Romantics

24th September, 2016