A reel world performance from the NCO
“Heroes and Villains”, Snow Concert Hall, 8 September 2024.
Cinema on the concert stage pulls huge crowds across the world, so did this one. This concert transported the audience through the magical world of cinema, as it revived a selection of movie favourites with a program of iconic film music.
Under music director Louis Sharpe, the National Capital Orchestra (NCO), in its first performance at Snow Concert Hall, played a selection of uplifting and uproarious music from the movies.
Spectacular stuff from the NCO… The near capacity audience loved it all, as did this reviewer.
Reviewed by Rob Kennedy for Canberra CityNews
Big Beethoven work gets a big audience reaction
“Missa Solemnis”, Llewellyn Hall, 6 July 2024
From the opening kyrie, the performers sang and played confidently, giving an engaging and energetic performance that continued at a high standard throughout this lengthy work.
The gloria that followed was especially dynamic and the many voices blended with the orchestra to produce a moving and often quite thrilling sound. They excelled themselves with Et vitam venturi, the famously difficult end of the credo.
After interval, the playing and singing of the sanctus was sensitively done and, in the benedictus, first violinist Thayer Preece Parker played the high solo part so movingly, it was one of the highlights of the performance.
Although they sang very well throughout the work, the Agnus Dei gave the soloists their main opportunity to shine. Their voices rang out superbly, blending well with each other. The performance of this final section of the work was particularly moving with its plea for peace very clear.
This was a performance that everyone involved should be proud of. They were given well-deserved, lengthy applause at the conclusion of this outstanding concert.
Reviewed by Len Power for Canberra CityNews
Battling the acoustics, the orchestra shines through
“Firebird”, The Q, 24 March 2024.
Its first concert for the 2024 Visions series, Firebird was conducted by musical director Louis Sharpe and presented a jam-packed program of Prokofiev and Stravinsky alongside the works of two esteemed local composers… the orchestra was able to deliver a commendable and overall enjoyable performance.
Photo by Frank Ingwersen.
Reviewed by Dante Costa for Canberra CityNews
National Capital Orchestra strong and on the mark
“American Melodies”, Albert Hall, 12 November 2023.
The NCO was strong and on the mark in… all the pieces performed. The low strings were exceptionally fine. 2024 looks to be a huge year for the NCO. With music-making like this and their smart programming, they will be bringing in greater audiences.
Reviewed by Rob Kennedy for Canberra CityNews
Orchestra triumphs in ambitious concert
“Hope, Struggle, Victory”, Albert Hall, 24 September 2023.
This ambitious concert was presided over by music director Louis Sharpe, who was affable and communicative with his audience, stressing the community aspect of its work, although in reality presenting music of great complexity. The afternoon began with a Canberra premiere of Melbourne composer Nat Bartsch’s composition “Hope”… allowing for exciting work from the horns and brass, of which we were to see far more.
The centrepiece of the day was Shostakovich’s cello Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, composed after Stalin’s death. The soloist was the brilliant young ANU cello (and mathematics and physics) student, James Monro, who has been winning prizes and accolades all around town this year… The final allegro con moto, where the full orchestra returned, featured some brilliant horn work before Monro brought the work to a dazzling conclusion, to wild acclaim.
If you thought the Shostakovich was difficult enough for a community orchestra, Tchaikovsky Symphony Number 4 in F Minor was, if anything, even more difficult… the thoroughly enjoyable concert ended on a triumphal, hopeful note.
Reviewed by Helen Musa for Canberra CityNews
Orchestra anniversary big, penetrating and thrilling
“Anniversaries”, Albert Hall, 25 June 2023.
Under music director Louis Sharpe, they began with “Through Healers’ Eyes” by the Ukrainian-Australian composer, Catherine Likhuta. Dramatic bell tolling, pounding timpani, deep, dark brass and an elusive, almost threatening tune swelled this opening work.
The huge orchestra, with many percussion instruments, piano and booming brass above the other players on stage, all created a fanfare of music that belied the gentle title of this piece. Epic stuff.
The “Paganini Variations”, by Sergei Rachmaninoff with soloist Kristian Chong on piano is an exhilarating work. Chong is a captivating pianist with thrilling technical and emotional brilliance.
Through this demanding long work, the NCO created a powerful sound… For a community orchestra, they punch above their weight. Sharpe had them sounding at their best
Reviewed by Rob Kennedy for Canberra CityNews
Four seasons with a Canberra feeling
Haydn’s “The Seasons”, with the Canberra Choral Society. Llewellyn Hall, 1 April 2023.
The orchestra portrayed the lively imagery of nature in bloom with gentle ornamentation in the woodwinds and sprightly sounds in the strings… Overall, it was a thrilling performance and great to see local musicians celebrating the nation’s capital by modernising music and giving it a Canberran twist.
Reviewed by Dante Costa for Canberra CityNews
Orchestra’s bright concert of cheerful music
Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 / Elena Kats-Chernin’s “Night and Now” Concerto for flute and orchestra, The Q, 13 November 2022.
The National Capital Orchestra created a joyful experience when they performed Symphony No. 2 by Brahms to a large audience… As it built towards the end of the final few bars, sweeping all before it away, the pounding timpani, and the whole orchestra created an incredible volume as the brass drove them all to a compelling finish.
Teresa Rabe’s solo performance contained many tricky techniques, plus floating lines and playful passages, which created a sensational musical journey… The NCO was totally on song and sounded strong throughout.
