Queensland Symphony Orchestra presents Queensland’s Finest
Concert Hall, QPAC
3rd and 4th September, 2021
Conductor Dane Lam
Soloist Jayson Gillham, piano
SEBASTIAN LINGANE Illuminating Paradise (World Premiere, commissioned by Queensland Symphony Orchestra)
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No.4 in G
R. STRAUSS Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks (Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche)
Dr Gemma Regan
An eclectic aural juxtaposition of mysticism, energy and humour
With Australian borders closed and more COVID restrictions in place, it was the perfect time to celebrate Queensland’s musicians with the QSO. The concert title was chosen to represent the sunshine and vibrancy of the state, rather than the composers as Strauss and Beethoven were not known for their love of the surf and a good barbie! A World premiere from young Brisbanite Sebastian Lingane was commissioned by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra with his composition of Illuminating Paradise encapsulating all that is Queensland; eclectic; ingenious; and passionate.
Lingane describes Illuminating Paradise as a sonic tribute to 20th-century French composers. His inspiration was the Ouroboros, a poignant cyclical symbol of esotericism of the serpent consuming its tail. There was a slow eerie start from the woodwind section with trilling flutes and creeping eerie pizzicato strings. The music is interspersed with an eruption of strings and a burst of drums with a persistent triangle chiming in the background.
The motif of rebirth and enlightenment is mimicked by the cyclical nature of the music as there is a slow slithering to a pause between each outburst. The continuum of the Ouroboros is mimicked by the woodwind with even a hint of the Psycho theme from the violins. A persistent ominous dance rhythm beings the piece to a heady crash and triumphant end. There was an uproarious reception for the young ingenious composer, who joined the QSO on stage and soaked up the well-earned applause.
There was an abrupt transition to the more familiar classical style with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.4 in G. The much revered Australian-British pianist Jayson Gilham, has performed in orchestras across the World and signed a three-album deal with ABC Classics including recording the Piano Concerto No.4 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Gilham’s long arms and hands were a blur as they flew across the keyboard with the main theme in the solo opening, which is then recapitulated by each part of the orchestra. A repeating four-note motif was described by Beethoven as “fate knocking at the door” and was pervasive throughout the three-movement in various guises. Dane Lam, Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of China’s Xi’an Symphony Orchestra, has a balletic style of conducting. Using long sweeping movements, as if caressing the orchestra with the rhythmic patterns. The long coda of the rondo drew the pianist and orchestra to an exuberant glittering end. Some of the audience were on their feet in appreciation of the maestro pianist, thanking Gilham with three sets of applauses.
Richard Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks closed the concert. Full of cheeky notations and merriment the tone poem describes the larrikin Till Eulenspiegel, causing harmless pranks on his travels until it all catches up with him, resulting in the gallows. It was based on a 16th century English tale by Wyllyam Copland, A Merry Jest of a man called Howleglass. The music epitomises the much-loved rapscallion approach of some Queenslanders, jesting and joshing through life.
Malcolm Stewart’s French horn encapsulated the cheeky nature of Till, whilst the smaller E flat clarinet of Brian Catchlove was his voice, cackling and sniggering at each naughty prank. The piece moves from a sly creep to a blast of horns with a smirk from the clarinet, as each jest is successful.
Lam waltzed around the podium with the rhythms almost as if Till himself had possessed him! Eventually, the drum roll of the snare signals poor Till’s hanging and the orchestral music twists and turns as he fights off the inevitable result of having his neck stretched. A crash bang wallop from percussion brought a sad, but still cheeky end to Till and the concert.
Queensland’s Finest was an eclectic aural juxtaposition of mysticism, energy and humour. You can hear the recording of the World premiere of Illuminating Paradise and the full concert on ABC Classic at a later date.
teppes of Central Asia to Japan with Hisaishi’s My Neighbor Totoro, titillating the anime fans. Peter Sculthorpe’s Small Town highlighted Australia, then we were led to Spain by the three trombonists taking front stage in Zorro masks and sombreros for a brilliant Mariachi-styled delivery of Sharpe’s Blades of Toledo. Another hop to the land of ice and elves concluded the concert with Sibelius’s most popular piece Finlandia.
A bonus swift encore with the Radetzky March by Johann Strauss Sr had the audience on their feet with applause in appreciation of another momentous and insightful concert from the QSO. Journeying not only Around the World but through a gamut of emotions evoked by the World’s best composers, played by one of the World’s finest orchestras.
Fortunately, the concert was recorded for ABC Classic radio and to be played on-air in the future as part of the live concert series.