Master builders create a grand design
AMORE ITALIANO ****
By MICHAEL SHMITH
THE AGE p 21, 2.3.2011
ACCORDONE is a duo founded in 1984 by two Neapolitans: harpsichordist Guido Morini and tenor Marco Beasley. They describe themselves as builders, who “erect modern houses using recycled materials and traditional skills”. Well, they are master builders, who bring alive, with vivacity and brilliance, Italian music from the 16th and 17th centuries.
On Sunday, with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra as magnificently Italianate as local, Morini and Beasley devised a program consisting mainly of music by composers who, for all one knew, might be rare varieties of pasta. With the exception of Monteverdi and our old friend Anonimo, there were Tromboncino, Fogliano, Morini, Stefani and Sances – and Morini and Beasley, who specialise in assembling fragments into coherent wholes.
The technical glories of Morini’s playing and direction were only part of the story. It is Beasley, with astonishing vocal felicity and dextrous dramatic skills – never artificial, but always at the service of the music – who provided beauteous singing and made music of centuries ago into something acutely of our age. If I had to single out one item, it would be Beasley’s solo Tu dormi (You sleep), which he described as “suspended…a song neither in space nor time.” Few singers can leave notes in the air, as if ringing from the finest crystal glass.
Yet, there was much more, culminating in a fantastic encore of a tarantella, with multi-part vocal harmonies from all the musicians. Accordone must return, and soon.
Find out more about the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
Find out more about Paul Dyer, Artistic Director
Find out more about the Brandenburg's 2011 Season
Find out more about Accordone
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