Bach Akademie concert – exquisite musicality, so perfect

Bach Akademie Australia | Bach The Benefactor

Sunday 14th April 2024,  Our Lady of Dolours Church, Chatswood

Madeleine Easton – Artistic Director and conductor
Susannah Lawergren – soprano
Hannah Fraser – alto
Richard Butler – tenor
Andrew O’Connor – bass

PROGRAM

J.S. Bach Cantata ‘Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot’ BWV 39
J.S. Bach Harpsichord Concerto in E arranged for Violin in D (after BWV 1053) arr. K. Debrezeni
J.S. Bach Cantata ‘Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben’ BWV 147

Even before the quartet of illustrious vocal soloists came on stage for Bach’s Cantata Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot, to see Mikaela Oberg and Alicia Crossley, recorders, and oboists Adam Masters and Kailen Cresp lined up ready to play was a thrill. They are the dream team baroque wind section in Australia.

Soloists and the four part choir, Susannah Lawergren, Hannah Fraser, Richard Butler and Andrew O’Connor sang the opening chorus with energy, excitement and beauty and it was so perfect I could have gone home right then totally satisfied.

In the following arias Lawergren, Fraser and O’Connor sang with exquisite musicality and with great attention to the text pointing out Bach’s genius as a ‘word-setter’. At one point Hannah Fraser deliberately put emphasis on the falling melodic line to heighten the music. Magic stuff! And the bell-like soprano singing by Lawergren in her aria was heavenly as was the playing of Mikaela Oberg and Alicia Crossley.

The work that the audience all knew, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, starts with a thrilling chorus that was performed exuberantly leading to the movement, Gebenedeiter Mund!, sung with such sweetness and meaning by Richard Butler. Then in the aria Hilf, Jesu, hilf, daß ich auch dich bekenne, Butler gave a masterclass in how dynamics enhance Bach’s music.

In the alto aria Schäme dich, O Seele, nicht, Fraser and oboist Masters blended their lines flawlessly and with such elegance. And in a concert where everything she sang was beautiful, Hannah Fraser was spectacular in the recitative Der höchsten Allmacht Wunderhand where Adam Masters and Kailen Cresp enchanted with their oboe duet playing.

In both cantatas bass Andrew O’Connor’s singing was, as ever, so deeply musical and his singing is seemingly effortless. His delivery was beguiling particular in Ich will von Jesu Wundern singen with the dazzling trumpeter Simon Wolnizer.

The two chorales in this work that share the same music have created legendary status for this cantata. The final chorale, translated as Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, is music that gives comfort with its simple approach to melody, harmony and the warmth of the chosen instrumentation. The performance made everyone happy.

There are various transcriptions of Bach’s keyboard concerto BWV1053 and why not, it is a great work. For me the original is best but Madeleine Easton put forward a great case for the violin version. Her solo playing was wonderful, full of vitality and finesse though the performance had some ensemble issues.

BACH AKADEMIE AUSTRALIA is not only a highly polished ensemble directed with care and authority by Easton they also are setting standards for informed performance practice.

Check out the next concerts here >>

ORCHESTRA

Madeleine Easton – Artistic Director and conductor

Rafael Font – violin 1 (Leader), Isaiah Bondfield – violin 2, John Ma – viola, Anita Gluyas – cello

Jaan Pallandi – double bass, Liam Green – harpsichord, Nathan Cox – organ

Mikaela Oberg – flute/recorder 1, Alicia Crossley – recorder 2, Adam Masters – oboe 1; Kailen Cresp – oboe 2, Ben Hoadley – fagotto, Simon Wolnizer – trumpet