The Australian Chamber Orchestra, with Alina Ibragimova (Lead Violin).
Thu, 4 Sept 2008, 06:31 pmGreg Ross1 post in thread
The Australian Chamber Orchestra, with Alina Ibragimova (Lead Violin).
Thu, 4 Sept 2008, 06:31 pmA Little of Last Night’s Music (Wednesday 3rd September at the Perth Concert Hall)
Now I know the concert of which I write was not strictly theatre – it was music, however it was so lovely, that I thought I’d share my recollections.
It was the second to last performance of the “Vivacious” concert, the final being at the Opera House in Sydney on Sunday night. I was particularly interested to hear the ACO’s rendition of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, as I love Nigel Kennedy’s mad, passionate attack – who will forget him kicking the f#$%4e (his word!) soccer ball off the stage at Kings Park, scaring the hell outta the ducks!
The orchestra came out (on stage!!) dressed in casually elegant black, accompanied by a waif with blonde hair cascading down an almost diaphanous, stunning sequined silver dress. I confess that occasionally, the male in me searched for the G-string line … there was none to be seen! Music? Oh yes, of course.
The first half of the concert comprised a series of Bach Fugues, excerpts from Kurtag’s “Signs, Games and Messages" and three pieces from Berg’s Lyric Suite. I must confess I struggled, although fully aware of the musicians mastery. What was interesting, was the recognition of certain phrases that have surfaced in modern pop / rock music – apparently there is nothing new under the Sun! I think it serves good purpose to take an audience on a learning curve, certainly I felt I’d been educated a little, although much of it was not to my taste. But in the end, the programming was perfect, for after interval , the roadies brought out the Harpsichord and the band hit the decks running, (only the Harpsichordist, Linda Kent was seated). If I had one small complaint, it would be that I had trouble hearing the harpsichord, although I wonder if that may be my fault – middle aged industrial deafness – years of working with machinery.
Light, light, light as breeze (to quote Leonard Cohen), their interpretation was markedly different to Kennedy’s hammered message – not better, not worse, just different and wonderful. One was caressed, both aurally and visually, truly music for the soul. ACO should NEVER be missed, they are a national treasure.
However the night belonged to the bewitching, immensely talented Russian. Alina Ibragimova is young, in her early twenties, utterly mesmerising as a musician,. Born in Russia, she’s a former pupil of the Yehudi Menuhin school (amongst others) and performs on a 1738 Pietro Guarneri violin.
Her website is: www.alinaibragimova.com
Her touch is exquisite, at once gentle, but also strong – she broke strings on her bow, but kept playing until a new movement. There was something ethereal in watching this very feminine, gorgeous woman, with not a wisp of hair out of place, caressing beautiful, beautiful music out of her instrument, with bow strings flaying around her. Even other ACO members were smiling as they too watched her.
And the audience had two opportunities to find out just how composed and gifted this musician is, the air conditioning twice blew her music pages astray, she couldn’t stop, we collectively held our breath. Not a pause, not a sign, until she fleetingly smiled (winked???) at Helena Rathbone (Principal 2nd Violin, who deftly lent across and adjusted the pages, although she too could not stop for quirt a while on the second occasion. Funnily enough, the last time I saw the music blow away, was a good friend of mine, who also happens to be from the same region, (she’s Ukrainian), Anna (Sleptsova) was playing piano at a Mozart concert in Kings Park, when the wind blew her music into the duck pond! There’s those bloody ducks again!
I’ve not individually mentioned the other players in the ACO, they were fabulous, it’s just that Alina was undoubtedly the star, but then that of course is the measure of true professionals, when the support they offer, lifts another to such heights. If you happen to be in Sydney on Sunday night, go see it. Otherwise, remember this young musical goddess, I rather suspect we will hear of and from her, for many years to come.
All Good Things
Greg Ross
A Little of Last Night’s Music (Wednesday 3rd September at the Perth Concert Hall)
Now I know the concert of which I write was not strictly theatre – it was music, however it was so lovely, that I thought I’d share my recollections.
It was the second to last performance of the “Vivacious” concert, the final being at the Opera House in Sydney on Sunday night. I was particularly interested to hear the ACO’s rendition of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, as I love Nigel Kennedy’s mad, passionate attack – who will forget him kicking the f#$%4e (his word!) soccer ball off the stage at Kings Park, scaring the hell outta the ducks!
The orchestra came out (on stage!!) dressed in casually elegant black, accompanied by a waif with blonde hair cascading down an almost diaphanous, stunning sequined silver dress. I confess that occasionally, the male in me searched for the G-string line … there was none to be seen! Music? Oh yes, of course.
The first half of the concert comprised a series of Bach Fugues, excerpts from Kurtag’s “Signs, Games and Messages" and three pieces from Berg’s Lyric Suite. I must confess I struggled, although fully aware of the musicians mastery. What was interesting, was the recognition of certain phrases that have surfaced in modern pop / rock music – apparently there is nothing new under the Sun! I think it serves good purpose to take an audience on a learning curve, certainly I felt I’d been educated a little, although much of it was not to my taste. But in the end, the programming was perfect, for after interval , the roadies brought out the Harpsichord and the band hit the decks running, (only the Harpsichordist, Linda Kent was seated). If I had one small complaint, it would be that I had trouble hearing the harpsichord, although I wonder if that may be my fault – middle aged industrial deafness – years of working with machinery.
Light, light, light as breeze (to quote Leonard Cohen), their interpretation was markedly different to Kennedy’s hammered message – not better, not worse, just different and wonderful. One was caressed, both aurally and visually, truly music for the soul. ACO should NEVER be missed, they are a national treasure.
However the night belonged to the bewitching, immensely talented Russian. Alina Ibragimova is young, in her early twenties, utterly mesmerising as a musician,. Born in Russia, she’s a former pupil of the Yehudi Menuhin school (amongst others) and performs on a 1738 Pietro Guarneri violin.
Her website is: www.alinaibragimova.com
Her touch is exquisite, at once gentle, but also strong – she broke strings on her bow, but kept playing until a new movement. There was something ethereal in watching this very feminine, gorgeous woman, with not a wisp of hair out of place, caressing beautiful, beautiful music out of her instrument, with bow strings flaying around her. Even other ACO members were smiling as they too watched her.
And the audience had two opportunities to find out just how composed and gifted this musician is, the air conditioning twice blew her music pages astray, she couldn’t stop, we collectively held our breath. Not a pause, not a sign, until she fleetingly smiled (winked???) at Helena Rathbone (Principal 2nd Violin, who deftly lent across and adjusted the pages, although she too could not stop for quirt a while on the second occasion. Funnily enough, the last time I saw the music blow away, was a good friend of mine, who also happens to be from the same region, (she’s Ukrainian), Anna (Sleptsova) was playing piano at a Mozart concert in Kings Park, when the wind blew her music into the duck pond! There’s those bloody ducks again!
I’ve not individually mentioned the other players in the ACO, they were fabulous, it’s just that Alina was undoubtedly the star, but then that of course is the measure of true professionals, when the support they offer, lifts another to such heights. If you happen to be in Sydney on Sunday night, go see it. Otherwise, remember this young musical goddess, I rather suspect we will hear of and from her, for many years to come.
All Good Things
Greg Ross