Connections

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Date Reviewed: 19/10/2019

Review written by Christine Sears

In the warm surrounds of Elder Hall, the Adelaide Wind Orchestra and the Graduate Singers joined together to present “Connections”, an exciting and well chosen program which featured Australian and world premieres. Conducted with skill and precision by Bryan Griffiths and Karl Geiger, both ensembles were in fine form. 

Most of the works presented were contemporary but with roots in the past. One of the most striking of these was Stephen Montague’s Intrada 1631, which featured field drums which moved through the audience. Also memorable was Eric Whitacre’s October, the composer’s reflection on what is in the northern hemisphere an autumn month, and Eleanor Daley’s For The Fallen. This moving work, scored for choir and trumpet, drew on Laurence Binyon’s poem of the same name (Known for the lines “They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old…”) and evocatively referenced the music of The Last Post.

The highlight of the evening was the world premiere of Martin Cheney’s Auguries of Innocence, which was inspired by three stanzas by William Blake. The Adelaide Wind Orchestra and Graduate Singers must be applauded for featuring a new work by a South Australian composer, especially one so fine as this.

The finale of the concert was John Rutter’s Gloria. Though perhaps more definition from the singers was needed at some points, the work was a fitting end to a moving program. Of particular note was the solo performance by soprano Amelia Holds, whose haunting voice rang out to the back of the hall.

Looking at the audience around me, they were clearly enraptured throughout the performance. When pieces such as that by Cheney and Whitacre ended in silvery decrescendos into silence you could hear a pin drop.