BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
Did you know Handel was just 24 when he composed his opera Agrippina?
This year, talented young musicians will follow suit in the Brisbane Baroque festival as it celebrates 30 stars under 30 years old.
The festival presents all things 17th Century – and has already garnered five Helpmann Awards under its belt for doing so. Here’s just a taste of what’s on offer in the second year of Brisbane Baroque.
Stephanie Dixon is a young oboist from Brisbane and on April 12 she’ll perform as part of the 5x5x5@5 series, which dedicates itself to emerging Queensland talent. Joined by musos from the Australian National Music Academy, Stephanie will present music by Bach, Telemann, and Zelenka.
Also part of this series, which costs just five bucks a night, will be pianist Adam McMillan (who performed at Carnegie hall by the time he was 16), David Irving’s Ensemble B, Glenn Christensen, and the Orava Quartet. The latter will present works Mozart wrote at 14 – so it’s time to be inspired.
The festival runs for an indulgent two weeks, showcasing plenty of under 30s (along with a few grown-ups). Watch out as we bring you some stories with these young musos in the weeks to come – including harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani who will talk us through common misconceptions about his instrument, and the questions all musicians should ask themselves in the early stages of their career.
As for some more festival highlights, on April 10 you’ll hear music by the ‘Red Priest’ (aka the red-headed Vivaldi) in the Gala Concert. It’ll feature the Camerata of St John’s along with Alaska-born and Venice-based mezzo soprano Vivica Genaux in her Australian debut.
More Vivaldi will happen on April 13 at St Brigid’s Church in Red Hill, with the Camerata lucky enough to be the first to perform music by the Red Priest in that venue – ever.
A youthful Handel composed a successful opera Agrippina, which follows one woman (played by mezzo soprano Ulrike Schneider) who fulfils the role of wife, sister, mother, and potentially incestuous lover of Roman emperors. Heavy stuff. That’s why the story has been taken on by 10 composers in the past, but this Handel production will include Carlo Vistoli, Ross Ramgobin, Russell Harcourt, and other talents under the direction of Laurence Dale and baton of Erin Helyard. It runs for three nights and one matinee – we recommend getting in early so you can see it again.
If you’re watching your budget after all the fun, there’ll be a series of free lunchtime gigs at the Brisbane City Hall – and it’s a popular one, with 1250 attendees last year. There will also be five free public talks, in which you will be educated on baroque architecture, “celebrities” of the day, and how to appreciate Handel today.
For more on the festival, brought to us by Executive Director Jarrod Carland along with Hobart Baroque’s Leo Schofield AM, click here. Festival runs from April 8-16.
Stay tuned as CutCommon prepares to bring you inspiring coverage with interviews from young Brisbane Baroque stars over the next few weeks.
Images supplied. Vivica Genaux image credit Ribalta Luce Studios.
