Angelus

This presentation of four short chamber music pieces encapsulates what the Brisbane Music Festival (BMF) is all about: collaboration, cross-pollination, and contemporary beginnings. And so the one-hour musical presentation included one World premiere and one Australian premiere, with sounds ranging from the experimental and abstract to the harmonically sublime. This sonic adventure was all achieved by four outstanding musicians – some at the start and others well into their international stage careers, but thankfully all currently based locally. If there was a theme to hold these pieces together, it was ‘cinematic’.

‘Février’ by Australian, UK-based composer, Lisa Illean, was like an autumnal day at the beach, with crashing waves courtesy of the piano (Alex Raineri), high-flying birds from the cello (Katherine Philp) and bright seashells and sandy wind from the clarinet (Dario Scalabrini). ‘Fine feathers far below the blue floor’ by Judith Ring, was an Australian premiere by this Irish composer/artist. Dissonant and jarring, this aural Cubist painterly piece incorporated clarinet, electronics, piano string plucking, and fine viola work (Nicole Greentree). ‘Reconstructed Definitions’ by Rafael Karlen was a World premiere, commissioned by the BMF – a moody, filmic, transportive work by this Brisbane-trained and based, award-winning musician/composer. A glowing gift of sound that highlights why local music festivals are so important in nurturing our nearby talent. ‘Angelus’ by Canberra-born composer, Mary Finsterer, premiered in Melbourne in 2015, and it was a gripping and harmonic treat to end the hour. It was no surprise to discover that Mary’s family includes actors and photographers – her work is a soundtrack (based on the painting by Jean-François Millet) with sun-lit jump cuts created by seemingly overlapping time signatures that draw you in to the scene. Once again, just three instruments, masterfully played: Dario Scalabrini on clarinet, Katherine Philp on cello, and Alex Raineri on piano. Another inspirational programme from the BMF team.

Brisbane Music Festival runs all week to 10 December.

Beth Keehn

Find out more: https://brismusicfestival.com

Images: Angelus and Katherine Philp. Brisbane Music Festival & Jai Farrell