A unique recital presented by the Baroque Music Community and Educational Trust of New Zealand was performed for a good-sized audience in St Paul’s Cathedral on Thursday evening. Five musicians performed a 90-minute programme of Baroque works by Bohemian composers of that era. Their instruments were authentic with gut strings and Baroque tunings, and the works performed are rarely heard in concert in New Zealand.
Artists performing were violinist Szabolcs Illes Partita from Hungary, Rakuto Kurano (violin), Sarah Kadas (viola), Tomas Hurnik (cello) and Edita Kegterova from the Czech Republic at the harpsichord. Their authenticity of timbre and stylistic delivery was outstanding. They began with a five-movement Partita a Quattro in D Minor by Frantisek Tuma (1704-74) and I was immediately reminded of how music of this period tends to be so predictable for astute listeners, with motifs, sequential repetition and strict adherence of modulation only to related keys. The second movement Presto was particularly impressive, immediately demonstrating the abilities and genre devotion of this ensemble.
Cello Concerto in D Minor by Antonin Reichenauer (c.1694-1730) performed by Tomas Hurnik included effective lyricism in the Adagio second movement. A five movement Concertus II in D Minor Op.4 by Jan Josef Brentner (1689-1742) began with a rather plaintive Largo. The various sections were not lengthy but effectively stylised and the final bright Menuet ended suddenly with a weak appoggiatura.
Harpsichord Concerto in G Major by Jiri Antonin Benda (1722-1795) starred Edita Keglerova and was an absolute highlight. Such nimble fingers for the two Allegro sections, and even the middle Largo belied the meaning of the word. The positioning and instrumental balance could have given more exposure to the harpsichord, which was often overwhelmed by the strings in tutti sections.
Sinfonia in C by Vaclav Vodicka (1720-1774) ended this unique recital by the Southern Baroque Ensemble, which was billed as vibrant and innovative and certainly impressed.
Review by Elizabeth Bouman
