Ingeniously presented, poignant, rarely heard works

Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s contribution to the Dunedin Arts Festival is a series of short 6pm recitals of themed classical repertoire. Echoes Through Time attracted a full house on Monday with many disappointed patrons turned away.

The programme comprised rarely heard (at least in Dunedin) mostly 20th-century works, but opened with Adagio and Rondo K617 by Mozart, featuring Carolyn Mills on harp and instrumentalists Bridget Douglas (flute), Nick Cornish (oboe), Grant Baker (viola) and Heleen Du Plessis (cello). The harp substituted for an originally scored glass harmonica, and highlighted Mills’ solo skills. A stately Sicilienne preceded a catchy, chirpy themed Rondo.

Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp (1914) was the first of six ensemble sonatas planned by Debussy, but only three were completed before his death. The Pastorale and Finale were particularly beautiful with muted viola, low-register flute passages and incredible harp clarity.

Aria for Flute and Piano (Tom McGrath piano), a short piece by Georges Auric, and Arthur Honegger’s Danse de la chevre for solo flute depicting a day in the life of a goat, were both short early 20th-century French works.

Vox Balaenae 1971 (Voice of the Whale) was composed by George Crumb (1929-2022) after hearing a recording of whale song. Under blue lighting, performers (cello, flute and piano) wore dark sun-glass masks. Body language, especially that of the pianist added interpretation. Douglas (NZSO but originally from Dunedin) was occasionally required to sing while playing into her flute, the cellist negotiated copious soft glissandi and the pianist plucked, strummed and used a blunt chisel inside the piano. Six variations represented different prehistoric eras and a Nocturne gradually ended the avant-garde piece with a superb technically controlled fade-out.

It was seriously "such fun" — ingeniously presented, and actually emotionally poignant for the listener who could visualise whales and the ocean.

The final in the DSO at Six series is this evening.

Review by Elizabeth Bouman