France well worth a chance

BACH + THE FRENCHMEN Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Matthew Halls, conductor and harpsichord Emma McGrath, violin Douglas Mackie, flute Federation Concert Hall August 17

IN his first appearance with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Baroque specialist Matthew Halls put the orchestra through its paces with a program that was almost entirely new to this orchestra.

In fact, only one of the works on the program had previously been performed by the TSO — JS Bach’s Brandenburg

Concerto No.5 — and even this piece had not been played by the orchestra in the past 50 years.

This work formed the centrepiece of the concert and was meticulously realised, featuring stunning playing from the three soloists.

Halls, in particular, gave a dazzling performance on harpsichord, especially in the first movement’s extended cadenza with its rapid runs and embellishments.

Under Halls’ direction, the orchestra successfully captured the contrasting

styles in Rameau’s Pigmalion suite, Rebel’s Les elemens suite and JS Bach’s Orchestral Suite No.4, with the latter two featuring standout playing from the winds. The world premiere of Richard Mills’ Chorale Meditation on Heut triumphieret

Gottes Sohn by JS Bach complemented the Baroque works beautifully.

Beginning in a solemn, reflective vein, the work evolves into a joyous celebration of Christ’s Ascension, with passages evocative of an organ proving most appropriate and effective.