BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
This weekend’s Sydney Youth Orchestra performance will be a very special one indeed.
It boasts a program filled only with the works of Strauss. It’s a celebration of the life of Richard Gill AO. It’s the first time soloist Caroline Meng has performed with a youth orchestra; the first time she’s performed in Australia at all.
It all comes together in Verbrugghen Hall, and we wanted to hear more about it from Caroline herself.
The French mezzo-soprano made her professional debut in 2009 with the Royal Versailles Opera, and she’s since performed with companies right across Europe. Here’s what she’ll be getting out of her debut Sydney show.
Caroline, you’ll be performing in Celebrating Strauss. It will also be a celebration of Richard Gill’s life. What did Gill and his value for music education mean to you?
Being French and living and growing up in Paris I never met Richard. However, I have heard from my friends here in Australia just how important a musical figure he was in Australia, especially concerning education. There is nothing more important. So performing in this concert makes me feel so very proud and honoured.
Richard Gill had a strong relationship with SYO himself, having conducted the orchestra from 40 years ago. This performance will be conducted by Alexander Briger AO. What sort of impact do you feel a conductor should make on an orchestra composed of emerging and young musicians?
The conductor is essential for young musicians. It is their job to inspire them, to show them what the music means, to interpret it, to guide them, to teach them and, of course, to [show] them how wonderful performing in an orchestra is!
If the conductor cannot do all that, the young musicians will lose interest quickly. In a way, it’s no different to school and the difference an incredible teacher can make on a student for the rest of their lives.
You’ve built such a strong international career. What was your own relationship with youth orchestras when you were still emerging, too?
I never performed in a youth orchestra as my training was piano. In fact, this is the first time I have ever performed with a youth orchestra. So this concert is just as exciting for me as it is for the young musicians!
I simply cannot wait, as it’s always been a dream of mine. Young artists are so involved and enthusiastic, and they give us great energy.
There’ll be three Strauss works on this program. Intense! What is his music like to perform for voice?
His music is complicated with extreme technical demands on the voice, particularly the the long breathing, where the singer has to have complete control and perfect balance between the low and high registers. This takes a lot of practice over years, of course. The other aspect is that the orchestra is enormous with tricky harmonies, and balance is always extremely difficult.
You’ll also be taking to the stage with fellow soloists Cheryl Barker AO and Emma Pearson. What’s been your relationship with these performers when preparing for the event?
I meet them for the first time only two weeks before the concert. That is quite typical in the professional world. We always come together for a rehearsal with the conductor and a piano before going in front of the orchestra. That’s where you form a musical relationship; discussing the meaning behind the text, where to breathe, tempi, dynamics, etc. But I might admit that I am really looking forward to meeting them both, as they are incredible singers.
Why are you most looking forward to this performance with the SYO?
As above, this is the first time I will sing with a youth orchestra, and one doesn’t always get the opportunity to sing this incredible music. So I’m just so excited about combining both those aspects. Remember, too, this is the first time I have ever sung in Australia! So there are so many things to be looking forward to.
My parents are flying out to Australia as well for this concert! It’s their first ever visit to Australia. So they will come to this concert, and then we will stay until the new year and go for a holiday!
See Caroline perform with SYO under the baton of Alexander Briger AO in Celebrating Strauss: Richard Gill AO, A Celebration of Life at 7pm December 8 in Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
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