The striking setting of Sydney University’s Refectory suitably housed this special tribute to composer John Dowland. The aesthetic suited the styles of the music, and the acoustic was a true gift for this birthday bash.
Special guests attended this party. Virtuosi Tommie Anderson (lute) and Daniel Yeadon (treble viol) augmented the solid ensemble. Soprano Belinda Montgomery beautifully brought Dowland’s emotional and joyous intensities to life, and freshly to our time, above a range of accompaniment textures.
Any celebration as well as many moments of lute or viol consort playing benefit from the excitement of dance. This well-structured program eased Dowland’s depths with finely shaped galliards and an almande. Gestures were nicely shared across the ensemble.
Highlights were the well known Lachrimae Antiquae and vocal rendering, Flow my Teares from over three hundred years ago. The solo lute work in the Queene Elizabeth galliard dazzled. It left us wanting more solo lute textures.
Jennifer Eriksson’s project to perform Marin Marais’ entire oeuvre was exquisitely advanced with the accomplished arrangement and expressive playing of Tombeau pour Marais le Cadet from 1725.
This birthday bash proved that in music, age is but a number. It continued to confirm that the delivery of treasures from centuries past into our 21st century collection is in safe hands with The Seaven Teares and the Marais Project.
The concert, MARAIS PROJECT- THE 450TH BIRTHDAY BASH: DOWLAND IN THE 21ST CENTURY, played the Refectory, University of Sydney at 3pm on November 10, 2013.
by Paul Nolan; published in “The Sydney Arts Guide”
