Behind Closed Doors: In Rehearsal for Baroque Beat
Experience an exclusive behind-the-scenes preview of the wildly spirited L'Arpeggiata together with the Brandenburg Orchestra in rehearsal for Baroque Beat.
Photos by Steven Godbee.
We are in one of Sydney's oldest buildings, a converted chapel complete with polished floorboards and stained glass windows. There are thirty people in the room, mostly Brandenburg musicians and guest artists from Paris band L'Arpeggiata. As a recent arrival to the Brandenburg staff, it is a rare privilege to sit in on what is usually a closed door event.
Empty instrument cases lie scattered in the corner. Sheets of music sit open on music stands, covered with scribbles. There is a pencil and rubber on each stand, an essential item for every musician. Welcome to a regular 'day at the office' for Australia's finest period instrument orchestra. For three hours there will be intense concentration and music making without break, as these musicians prepare for what promises to be one of the most exciting concert experiences of the year.
The Brandenburg musicians are seated in a semicircle, tuning their instruments. One by one, their eyes turn to the Austrian woman with long red hair who is seated facing them, patiently waiting, theorbo (a long necked lute) in hand. She lifts her head, and then, satisfied that she has their attention, with a flourish she, and then the orchestra launch into an explosion of intoxicating Baroque music.
Even in a program that promises wild improvisation there is still a need for precision and the Brandenburg musicians embrace the challenge, piece after piece, note after note. The Brandenburg's charismatic artistic director, Paul Dyer, is delightful on the harpsichord. Jamie Hey is in virtuosic flight on the cello. Concertmaster Lucinda Moon is divine on the violin. Jess Ciampa is creating an incredible myriad of sounds on percussion and the list goes on…
But let us not forget the international guest artists from L'Arpeggiata. Guest director and theorbo soloist, Christina Pluhar, is masterfully directing the musicians with her gaze and her passionate playing. Behind Christina is the remarkable Italian chante Lucilla Galeazzi. As she sings her songs of love, simple pleasures and the good life, one cannot help but be drawn in by her voice - controlled, refined and full of spirit. Then there is Gianluigi Trovesi, Italy's finest jazz clarinetist. When he puts the clarinet to his lips, the most divine music, ethereal and playful, floats into the room. Joining these colourful music makers is Austrian Margit Übellacker with her uniquely eastern sounding psaltery, a stringed musical instrument (like the zither) that she plays with a sharp touch. Finally there is the incredible Anna Dego, the theatrical dancer. She has spent the initial part of the rehearsal lying on the floor warming-up, and then without warning she explodes into life. In many ways she is the physical spirit of L'Arpeggiata, a wild energy, leaping, falling and spinning circles on the stage.
It is hard to put into words the sheer excitement of this Baroque Beat rehearsal experience, but one thing is for certain, if rehearsals are anything to go by, the audience is in for a truly wild evening.
The music featured is La Dia Spagnola which appears in Baroque Beat and also on L'Arpeggiata's new CD Los Impossibles (released by Naïve, V5055).
Christina will be appearing for a special signing of Los Impossibles on Sat 10 November between 1-2PM at Fish Records, Shop 40-42, Level 2, Queen Victoria Building. Brandenburg subscribers receive 10% off all full-priced CDs at all Fish Record stores.