Reviews: Innocence & Experience
State of the Art
Innocence & Experience (Review)
Aryan Mohseni | 29 June 2022
Old coalesces with the new.
The program for this concert traversed temporal extremities – from music of the ars nova and ars subtilior which took hold of the Low Countries in the early Renaissance, to contemporary Australian choral music. It gave an opportunity for audiences to reflect on some essential similarities between these art forms, despite their apparent separation in time.
classikON
Sydney Chamber Choir’s crisp rhythmic brilliance
Jacqui Smith | 26 June 2022
What a treat to be able to hear a concert in an amazing new performance space, on a sunny, winter’s afternoon on the revamped Pier 2/3 in Walsh Bay. The new space, created on an old pier, was a great way to get in the mood for a concert featuring music of old and new. Sydney Chamber Choir have been entertaining us since 1975 and today’s concert was a celebration of their expertise in Franco Flemish High Renaissance music, under the original conductor Nicholas Routley, partnered with new Australian commissions, with not only a world premiere, but many pieces having a rare second performance. And great to have several living composers in the audience today. Conductor Sam Allchurch reflected on the growth of this fine choir through the ranks of previous conductors, Routley, Paul Stanhope and Richard Gill with a ‘degustation’ of hits from the ensemble’s 47-year history. The title of the concert, from a William Blake poem, is significant, Allchurch thinks both Innocence and Experience are valuable.
Sydney Arts Guide
Sydney Chamber Choir: Innocence and Experience @ The Nielson
Paul Nolan | 28 June 2022
One of the most attractive aspects of the face of innocence is directness. It communicates with gentle freshness an analysis of the world, realising the challenges and emotions associated with the status quo.
Doing this repeatedly builds history, strength and experience. In the case of Sydney Chamber Choir, a fresh enthusiasm for the treasures lurking in Franco-Flemish church music from the 1500s and the premiering of new local works over the past forty-seven years have created moments for us rich in both strong innocence and a beautiful build of experience.
Limelight
Innocence & Experience (Sydney Chamber Choir)
Shamistha de Soysa | 26 June, 2022
The Sydney Chamber Choir conducted by its Artistic Director Sam Allchurch, is joined by several instrumentalists for Songs of Innocence & Experience.The 24-strong ensemble selects from five decades of its specialist repertoire, the music of the Renaissance and of contemporary Australia.
