By James Parker
St Mary’s Cathedral exploded with dulcet tones recently as part of the Perth International Arts Festival. Attendees came to listen to a concert by UK performers, The Sixteen, who are internationally recognised as one of the world’s greatest ensembles.
St Mary’s Cathedral was the first venue, and the only church setting, for The Sixteen’s 2015 Australia and South Korea tour.
The ensemble’s program highlighted the music of Renaissance virtuosos Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Gregorio Allegri through their respective masterpieces Missa Regina Coeli and the setting of Psalm 50, Miserere. Also featured within the ensemble’s repertoire were two new pieces by contemporary Scottish composer James MacMillan entitled Miserere and O Radiant Dawn.
The Sixteen is composed of both choir and a period-instrument orchestra. It holds a special reputation internationally for performing early English polyphony, masterpieces of the Renaissance, bringing fresh insights into baroque and early classical music and for its performances of a diversity of 20th and 21st-century music, all of which is drawn from the passions of the ensemble’s conductor and founder, Harry Christophers CBE.
Members of the Perth cultural community were delighted, not only with the concert but also with the venue, describing the evening as “truly delightful”.
Members of the ensemble also offered praise about the unique qualities of the cathedral setting, a number commenting on the excellence of the acoustics provided by the cathedral and, in particular, the high standard of preparation space for performers in the cathedral’s undercroft.
“It is rare for us to feel as comfortable in a church building as we do here at St Mary’s,” commented one performer. “This place has a strong, homely feel to it.”
Speaking of the event, cathedral music director Jacinta Jakovcevic said, “St Mary’s Cathedral is increasingly being seen as Perth’s principle venue for certain genres of music which particularly suit the building, generally dating from the Renaissance and the baroque periods.”
Looking to the future, Jakovcevic mentioned that “aside from the exceptional liturgies that are being prepared for the Easter Triduum, the next major musical event to take place in St Mary’s Cathedral will be the first of the 2015 Concert Series”.
This will include some Australian repertoire by composer George Palmer. It will also feature British composer Cecilia McDowall’s Regina Caeli for organ and choir. The event, which will be a candlelight concert, takes place on Sunday, 24 May, the Feast of Pentecost which this year coincides with feast of Australia’s patron saint, Our Lady Help of Christians.