By Grace Feltoe
With the great unrest happening in the Ukraine, the long-standing and reputable Fremantle Chamber Orchestra (FCO), conducted by Rachael Aquilina, are presenting an inspired concert in response to these difficult times at the Redemptorist Monastery on 22May.
Aptly called ‘To Peace’, FCO will perform great works that will allow listeners a time for contemplation, as the music encapsulates the emotions of war.
FCO’s director, Hans Hug, has carefully chosen a program to lead listeners through an array of emotions, ultimately finishing on peace and hope.
This program will commence with the masterful and contemplative music of Vivaldi, with his great Sinfonia, Al Santo Sepolcro (“to the Holy Sepulcher”) to set the tone for the entire concert.
Leading on to the four movements of Haydn’s Seven Last Words, this piece will take listeners through a tumultuous array of emotions, with the outcry of pain, grief, and lament.
Hans has chosen the less familiar work Romance by Svendsen to bring a sense of renewal and positivity to the second half of the program. Finally, the afternoon will finish on a high with the beautiful melodies of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade: Élégie and Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise to complete the afternoon with a sense of hope and peace.
The concert will prove to be of a wonderful calibre, as the orchestra is always comprised of Perth’s best emerging and well-standing professional musicians.
FCO pride themselves on supporting talented and emerging artists and Rachael Aquilina, conductor, concert master and soloist for ‘To Peace’, is no exception.
Having been with FCO since 2006, the orchestra has watched her develop and grow into a brilliant musician in her own right.
She has a great list of accomplishments under her belt, including performing with WASO, PSO, PCO and WA Philharmonic, touring Europe several times, and sharing the stage with Bruce Springsteen, Hans Zimmer, Hugh Jackman and Michael Bublé, plus more.
Hans is very proud to have her take on the roles of conductor, concert master and soloist for this program.
Possessing a wonderful gift of positive energy and accomplished musicianship, she will surely help bring this concert to life.
Hans is not only grateful to have Rachael for this performance, but for the on-going support of the Redemptorist Monastery where the concert will be held.
There is a long-standing association between FCO and the Monastery, and FCO loves performing within the Monastery’s church for many reasons.
The contemplative aspect of music is surely an avenue to God, which Hans is glad to help lift people’s minds to through the program and, within the rich acoustic of the church, this repertoire will truly soar.
The concert will be held on Sunday, 22May at 3pm at the Redemptorist Monastery, 190 Vincent St, North Perth.
Alternatively, if you can’t make the Sunday, you can attend the same program at the Fremantle Town Hall on Saturday, 21 May at 3pm.
Tickets are available at the door or call Natalie on 0438 933 250. Tickets: Adults $40, Concession $35, under 18 years $20.