Southern Sinfonia 2008 Season Reviews

Performances give large audience plenty to relish

The Carmina Burana Concert in the Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday 9 August 2008 was reviewed by Elizabeth Bouman for the Otago Daily Times (11 August 2008). Here is a brief extract:

"Dunedin Town Hall was packed on Saturday night with the largest audience in 15 years for a Southern Sinfonia subscription concert. Performing with the orchestra, conducted by Werner Andreas Albert, were City of Dunedin Choir, St Paul's choristers, Southern Children's Youth Choir and three guest soloists."

"The evening began with a Shostakovich work Pirogov - the commissioned arrangement by Wellington composer John Spathas... the Sinfonia succeeded in portraying tension and excitement for these climactic passages."

"Respighi's orchestration of Cinq Etudes-Tableaux Orch, by Rachmaninov... was a convincing colourful portrayal of five contrasting 'scenes'."

"Carl Orff's robust cantata Carmina Burana filled the second half of the programme with big sound and pace. This 1937 work has ancient lyrical text, outrageously pagan and sensual in content, with many declamatory passages demanding spirited delivery from all. On Saturday over 200 performers triumphed with vigour and energy... the work never flagged."

Full appreciation for guest flautist

The Mozart Magic Concert in the Glenroy Auditorium on Saturday 26 July 2008 was reviewed by Elizabeth Bouman for the Otago Daily Times (28 July 2008):

"A capacity audience filled the Glenroy auditorium yesterday afternoon for a "sell-out" performance by the Southern Sinfonia, with Australian conductor Brett Kerlly and Auckloand-based Italian guest flautist Luca Manghi."

"...Manghi's solo work was indeed the highlight of the afternoon... his intensely pure tone and passionate articulate delivery."

"Conducting the Sinfonia for the first time, Kelly procured fine nuances with generally clean entries throughout."

Lane's virtuosity earns thunderous applause

The Piers Lane Plays Lizt Concert in the Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday 14 June 2008 was reviewed by Marian Poole for the Otago Daily Times (16 June 2008):

"Pianist Piers Lane with conductor Vladimir Verbitsky and the Southern Sinfonia repeated the success of their 2004 performance of the Lizt Piano Concerto in E on Saturday evening."

"The work is one of those rarities, a challenge to even virtuosic technique demanding Olympian stamina and speed as well as musicality as opposed to mere showmanship. Both were exalted here."

"... Thunderous applause and many curtain calls paid an honest tribute to a great work, excellently presented by great artists."

"... Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorksky... Tenor saxophone, tuba and euphonium, played superbly by Nicolas Cornish, John Masterton and William Henderson respectively, derserve special mention."

Violinist captures works with wit and charm

The Chuanyun Li Concert in the Glenroy Auditorium on Sunday 25 May 2008 was reviewed by Marian Poole for the Otago Daily Times:

"Chuanyun Li, the great violinist from China, breathed new life into Mozart's Concerto No 5 for Violin and Orchestra before a sell-out audience at the Southern Sinfonia concert at the Glenroy yesterday.

He captured the work's wit and charm, and added his own dynamic sense of luxuriant freedom.

... An extraordinarily enthusiastic audience knew it was in the presence of brilliance ..."

(Extract from the review of the Chuanyun Li concert by Marian Poole in the Otago Daily Times, Monday 26 May 2008.)

Prime performance from Southern Sinfonia, pianist

The Michael Houstoun Concert in the Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday 19 April 2008 was reviewed by Elizabeth Bouman for the Otago Daily Times:

"A city the size of Dunedin is truly blessed with a symphony orchestra of the calibre of the Southern Sinfonia.

Conducted by Nicholas Braithwaite, it performed three works in a well-filled town hall on Saturday evening, and I heard nothing but praise from patrons in the foyer after.

The strings were in excellent form for the opening work ... a magnificent performance from concert pianist Michael Houstoun. A radiant orchestral palate captured the mood, and Houstoun's piano interpretation of this programmatic concerto was absolutely brilliant ...

Southern Sinfonia appears to be in prime condition this year, and as one discerning audience member said, there was never a moment when one might grimace, or feel anxious - and I totally agreed."

(Extract from the review of the Michael Houstoun concert by Elizabeth Bouman in the Otago Daily Times, Monday 21 April 2008.)

Carnival Spirit at Last Night of the Proms

Owing to the unprecedented number of sales for the Last Night of the Proms the Southern Sinfonia presented two performances of the Proms concert on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd February 2008 in the Town Hall.

"Hundreds of concert-goers in red white and blue packed Dunedin Town Hall last evening for Last Night of the Proms, presented by a tri-coloured Southern Sinfonia (concert master Sydney Manowitz), with City of Dunedin Choir (musical director David Burchell) and guest performers. Bookings are heavy for the repeat concert tonight, with two Southern sons, now of international fame, home to participate. Bass baritone Jonathan Lemalu and conductor Tecwyn Evans really put their individual stamp on the night, with youthful humour and informality, revelling in the home-town audience and carnival atmosphere."

(Extract from the review of the Proms concert by Elizabeth Bouman in the Otago Daily Times, Saturday 23 February 2008.)