Musica da Camera
© Peter Hislop, Canberra
What We Do!
How better for us to show you what we do than to show you past concert programs and critiques. This is our Musica da Camera scrapbook, .... enjoy as you scroll down.
Did you know? Music da Camera is on SPOTIFY and BANDCAMP.
Our Nov 2017 concert recording has been released as a CD, and is available on SPOTIFY.
4th, 5th Nov 2017 Concert Program 4
Music from Mannheim
Conductor, Christian Renggli
Viola Soloist, Justin Julian
1. Johann Stamitz, Sinfonia in G
2. Johann Stamitz, Sinfonia in E-flat major
3. Carl Philipp Stamitz, Concerto for Viola
4. Franz Xaver Richter, Sinfonie in G major
5. Franz Ignaz Beck, Overturas I
6. Carl Philipp Stamitz, Orchestral quartet Op.4, No. 1 in C major
History in Pictures & Programs - 2024
Musica da Camera usually presents three programs of string music per year. Generally, each program is presented twice, with a concert in Canberra and a concert in a nearby regional community. We also prepare some programs for special events.
Son et Lumière
2:30 pm, Saturday 6th April, 2024.
Musica da Camera,
directed by Chris Latham
Soloist: Christina Wilson (Mezzo-Soprano).
A feast of colour and melody. Music for voice and strings given a visual dimension by works of art.
Music by composers including Bach, Walton, Kelly, Kattenburg, Weiner, Klein, Weinberg, Drefus. Paintings by Domes, Klint, Monet, Kupka, Mondrian, Klee, Chagall, et al.
Venue: The Chapel, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, 15 Blackall St, Barton ACT 2600.
Tickets: $30. Under 15 free.
"Inspiring music and art intertwined"
So wrote Rob Kennedy about our 6 April concert (in citynews.com.au) given at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture.
"Chris Latham, who directed and led, with mezzo-soprano Christina Wilson and Musica da Camera, presented a program of songs and string music. Latham had handpicked artworks shown on a screen to match the music, each one mirroring the emotion of the music.
They began with Bach’s Adagio from his C Major Solo Violin Sonata, BWV1005 arranged for strings. The warm full sounds of the string orchestra made the Bach rich and emotionally poignant. .....
Then with Wilson on stage, FS Kelly’s six Songs of Love and Loss. .... Wilson’s velvety voice shone through.
A piece by Dutch composer Dick Kattenburg titled Romanian Melody, which was arranged for strings with images by Franz Marc, followed. This solemn yet highly rhythmic work bustled along at a good clip. Full of sweeping melodies and lovely deep strings, it added much colour to the concert.
From his Divertimento No. 2 for Strings, the Finale, Op. 24 by Hungarian composer Léo Werner, had a mighty rhythmic motion....
After the interval, Bach’s Prelude BWV 855A. With angular artworks by Piet Mondrian that fitted the music perfectly, it flowed from key to key in an oh so perfect Bach way. Building to a lush climax, it then gradually fell away.
A Lullaby by Gideon Klein brought Wilson back to the stage. With violin and strings and imagery by the wild child, Egon Schiele, made for a fascinating combination. Wilson’s singing was sensuous, touching and deeply profound.
[...]
To finish this colour filled concert of music and artworks, from Symphony Buddha, 1934 by Japanese composer Kishi Kōichi arranged for violin and strings, was performed by Fumiyo Yamamoto on violin. With images by Hilma af Klint, this soft music had an uplifting quality that expressed what Latham said in his opening address about the programming, this wasn’t going to be a sad concert.. ...."
"A beguiling and contrasting program of suites and serenades"
Musica da Camera 29 June concert was reviewed by Len Power, writing in CBR City News.
"Under the baton of musical director, Brad Tham, Musica Da Camera presented a beguiling and contrasting program of suites and serenades, including works by John Dowland, Dag Wirén, Ralph Vaughan Williams and John Rutter......
The Pavane from John Dowland’s 17th century instrumental work, Lachrimae Antique (Old Tears) was a good opening item for the concert with its grand, measured melodies. The orchestra gave it a fine performance.
Moving to 1937, the next item was Serenade for Strings by the Swedish composer, Dag Wirén. Its four movements were quite different from each other. The busy and dramatic first movement contrasted with the plucking of strings under an enticing melody in the second ... All four movements with their contrasting styles were precisely and pleasantly played by the orchestra.
Vaughan Williams’ Suite for Solo Violin and String Orchestra (Concerto Accademico) was composed in 1924-25. .... The conductor, Brad Tham, played the solo violin part.
From its dramatic opening movement through a beautifully sensitive second movement and a rousing final movement .... Tham and the orchestra gave it an excellent performance of particular clarity. It proved to be the highlight of the concert.
The final work, Suite for Strings, composed by John Rutter in 1973.... The rich and nostalgic melodies were well-played by the orchestra, and it was a great finale for this very accessible and enjoyable concert."
You can read the whole review <here>
