AUSTRALIAN BRANDENBURG ORCHESTRA BACH'S UNIVERSE

 https://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/australian-brandenburg-orchestra-bachs-universe/


AUSTRALIAN BRANDENBURG ORCHESTRA : BACH’S UNIVERSE

30 AUGUST 2021 
Pic Keith Saunders

Directed by Stef Smith, BACH’S UNIVERSE is an exclusive new digital-only Baroque music film by Paul Dyer and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. They are joined by special guest German Baroque violinist Jonas Zschenderlein in a magnificent concert of glorious music and playing 

It was filmed at the deserted City Recital Hall in July, with the Orchestra socially distanced and playing superbly. 

What I particularly noticed was the precision and structure of the music throughout ,even when fiery and passionate.

Jonas Zschenderlein is amazing in his Australian debut in a showstopping virtuoso performance. He was scheduled to tour with the Orchestra but all was cancelled because of Covid. 

The concert opened with Bach’s  Prelude No. 10 in E minor, BWV 855 from The Well–Tempered Clavier, Book1, featuring Paul Dyer on harpsichord with repeated cascades of notes. It appears sparse and tightly controlled yet also has a swirling circular structure and is sumptuously layered. Nonchalantly elegant in the first section, the finale is a  tumbling. breathless explosion. 

Bach’s Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068 followed. What I was conscious of here was the deep, underlying, repeated, pulsating embroidered sinuous rhythm. Zschenderlein lead the discussion between Orchestra and violin. 

Bach’s Presto from Sonata No. 1 in G minor for solo violin, BWV 1001 was next with Zschenderlein up in the balcony. This work was a dazzling, bravura showcase for him – blisteringly fast and skittery. But there was still the repeated, controlled structure as the violin flitted, darted and dashed inside it, breathlessly. 

Bach’s Violin Concerto in E minor, BWV 1042 was divided into three parts. The first, Allegro, had an emphatic opening with three combative chords. Violin and harpsichord had their solo moments but they were blended with ensemble work from the entire Orchestra. This movement was relentless and driven yet simultaneously sprightly and bouncy. In the percolating Adagio, Zschenderlein on the violin was rather gentle, lyrical and intensely passionate with the Orchestra providing accompaniment.This was contrasted by the Allegro Assai with its infectious underlying square rhythm played by the ensemble of the Orchestra whist Zschenderlein skittered and darted.

There was a reprise with the Air from Orchestral Suite with its pulsating heartbeat but this time it had a dreamy, floaty atmosphere with pizzicato on the cellos/double bass that sounded like raindrops.  

As a finale we heard the Prelude from Sonata in E minor for violin & continuo, BWV 1023. Zschenderlein up in the balcony performed a delicate yearning violin solo that is a magnificent showcase for him that brings the concert to a blisteringly fast conclusion.

We anxiously await Zschenderlein’s return and hopefully the opportunity to hear him live in performance. 

Running time 40 minutes

The performance screened on Saturday 28 August 2021. The performance is now available on demand.

PROGRAM

Bach Prelude No. 10 in E minor, BWV 855 from The Well–Tempered Clavier, Book1

Bach Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068

Bach Presto from Sonata No. 1 in G minor for solo violin, BWV 1001

Bach Violin Concerto in E minor, BWV 1042

Bach Prelude from Sonata in E minor for violin & continuo, BWV 1023

https://www.brandenburg.com.au/concerts/2021/bachs-universe/

Featured photo : The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. Pic Keith Saunders

Review by Lynne Lancaster

 

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