Brisbane Chamber Choir presents Vivaldi Vespers

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Sun 02 Mar 2025

A Landmark Performance of Rare Sacred Masterpieces

Queensland Conservatorium Theatre, Brisbane

Reviewed on 2 March 2025

Antonio Vivaldi's Vespers—an intricate fusion of four sacred works composed over the span of a decade—rarely graces the concert stage, yet it is an exceptional gem that deserves far more attention. In the hands of the Brisbane Chamber Choir and Players, under the expert direction of Graeme Morton, this work found its voice in a truly remarkable performance, one that an audience member aptly described as "once in a decade." The concert not only illuminated the brilliance of Vivaldi's composition but also showcased the choir's extraordinary ability to balance virtuosity and expression.

Morton’s direction was masterful, maintaining a delicate balance between the choir, soloists, and orchestra while also drawing out the emotional depth of the music. The 90-minute Vespers is a dynamic and demanding piece, rife with technical challenges, yet Morton kept the performance engaging and vibrant, never allowing the energy to flag. The precision with which the choir navigated Vivaldi’s intricate melismas - especially given the demands of his baroque style—was nothing short of stunning.

The solo performances added an additional layer of beauty and refinement to the work. The renowned soprano Sara Macliver, who joined the choir not only as a soloist but also as a chorister, shone with her glorious mellow voice, effortlessly carrying over the orchestral textures. Particularly moving was her duet with fellow soprano Madeline Gibbs, whose own voice contributed warmth and clarity to their harmonious interplay. When Macliver returned for an encore, she revealed the full, unforced beauty of her vocal technique, causing many in the audience to give her a much-deserved standing ovation.

Countertenor Michael Burden made a memorable contribution to the Stabat Mater, his voice weaving an ethereal thread. His control and commitment to the work were deeply impressive, adding a haunting quality to this already powerful composition.

Tenor Shannon Leonard’s solos were delivered with an assured, well-defined voice, notable for its warmth and resonance. His technical control was exceptional, and his tone filled the theatre with clarity and richness, lending weight to the overall emotional arc of the performance.

The instrumental forces were equally impressive. The string section’s virtuosic passagework sparkled with crisp articulation, while the organ continuo on two instruments, played by Phillip Gearing and Andrej Kouznetsov, offered a strong and expressive foundation that perfectly complemented the strings. The inclusion of the oboe, played by Eve Newsome and Vivienne Brooke, was a particular highlight. Their nuanced, expressive playing in Magnificat added depth and colour to the performance, enriching the overall sound with a sophistication and warmth that was truly remarkable.

The performance as a whole was both intellectually satisfying and profoundly moving. The choir and orchestra's sensitivity to the shifting moods within the work—from fiery intensity to delicate lyrical beauty - was deeply compelling. The balance between the instrumental and vocal forces allowed the intricate textures of Vivaldi’s writing to shine through, creating a performance that felt both precise and profoundly expressive.

For those fortunate enough to experience it, this performance of Vespers was nothing short of a revelation, capturing the essence of Vivaldi’s sacred music in a way that will surely be remembered for years to come. Graeme Morton and his outstanding ensemble not only brought this under-performed masterpiece to life, but they also elevated it to the level of a truly once-in-a-decade experience.

As Ed Le Brocq told us in his delightful anecdote-strewn introductory talk, had it not been for the happy accident of Vivaldi’s manuscript being discovered some 170 years after its composition we might never have heard this glorious music, and realised the mutual inter-dependence of Vivaldi, Handel and Bach.

Vivaldi’s Vespers was, in this performance, a revelation—one that will no doubt linger in the memory of all who were in the Queensland Conservatorium Theatre on 2 March 2025.

For those who wish to visit or re-visit this performance, it will feature on 4MBS Classic FM -– date and time to be announced.

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