The West Australian
September 19 2008
Reviewer: Neville Cohn

With its intimations of blameless but dull music, a choral program with the prosaic title Hymns of the British Isles might well have been a turn-off for more adventurous concertgoers. In the event, both program and performance by the Giovanni Consort provided untrammelled listening pleasure.

St Paul's Chapel has excellent acoustics which enhanced the fine corporate tone of the choir. Simon Lawford presided over events, ever-attentive to the subtleties of tasteful and refined singing.

Britten's Choral Dances from Gloriana were given an exquisite reading. As well, the robust, macho quality of Rustics and Fishermen could hardly have been bettered. Tenor Andrew Sutherland's declamatory contributions were beyond reproach.

Gustav Holst's Hymns from the Rig Veda were as memorable for Marshall Maguire's harp playing as for the finesse of the sopranos and altos.

Britten's Hymn to St Cecilia was a model of its kind, with quality of harmonic tissue beyond reproach, as was diction. Much of the singing of the second section of the work had an aerial. spring-heeled dimension which was entirely appropriate. Has the Consort considered putting this on CD?

Its performance on Tuesday night. certainly warranted preservation. Here, as in much of the program, Lawford brought a wealth of understanding to his direction and his brief linking commentary was an example for other
more garrulous commentators.

To see the article as displayed in the paper, please follow the link: Review - Concert worthy of preserving