Jess Hitchcock and the Penny Quartet

Post

Subscribe

Tue 04 Mar 2025

Conservatorium Theatre Southbank

Musica Viva

This evening performance showcased 12 original songs by Jess Hitchcock arranged by 11 of Australia’s finest composers and a string quartet written by Caroline Shaw. The superb music of the Penny Quartet gave a vibrant feel to the performance. As usual, Musica Viva has shared outstanding artists and music in this programme.

The performance of Jess Hitchcock was memorable but hard for me to describe so I will now quote the Opera Queensland description of her as “an Indigenous singer-songwriter stirring the Australian music and performing arts scene as a genre-defying force. Her powerful voice and knack for storytelling has her shining across pop, country, folk and opera, sharing the stage and studio with some of Australia’s favourites.”

In the evening, her voice was clear, expressive and emotional, filling the Conservatorium Theatre. The lyrics show a skill in story-telling but I couldn’t concentrate on both the lyrics and the music during the performance. For me, the music won the contest in the evening and I read the lyrics after the performance.

The Penny Quartet has a well-deserved and impressive background in their now 11 years of performing. They displayed their mature quartet sound in this music bringing enjoyment to the audience. Very simply, they play superbly and as a unit so the evening was a wonderful experience.

%wnbrisbane
#classical_music
#concerts