Virtuosic skill from Southern Cross Soloists at QPAC

Southern Cross Soloists | White Nights

Sunday Oct 2, 2022 | QPAC

Southern Cross Soloists (SXS) took audiences on an emotional journey through Russian and Australian chamber music on Sunday afternoon in the QPAC Concert Hall.

White Nights featured music from Russia’s great classical composers alongside contemporary Australian music. SXS were joined by special guests including pianists Konstantin Shamray and Roger Cui, cellist Jonathan Bekes, violinist Courtenay Cleary, and French Horn player Timothy Allen-Ankins.

The program opened with the World Premiere of Matthew Dewey’s Kunanyi Skies. This piece was commissioned as part of the SXS Didgeridoo Commissioning Project, which will see 30 works commissioned in the 10 years leading up to the Brisbane Olympics. Kunanyi Skies was inspired by the landscape of Mount Wellington in Tasmania. Featuring SXS Artist in Residence Chris Williams, the work evoked clouds and cliffs and ridges and skies through the rich palette of the didgeridoo.

Next, we heard Borodin’s lush and haunting Notturno. Featuring violinists Alan Smith and Courtenay Cleary and violist James Wannan, this piece showcased the emotionality of the ensemble. This work was warm and passionate, and declared the composer’s love for his wife.

 Then, SXS performed Shostakovich’s piano concerto, featuring pianist Konstantin Shamray. It was written shortly after Stalin’s death, and so feels free and light-hearted, brimming with new possibilities. The second movement was sorrowful and reflective, and then the third movement burst into energy. Konstantin’s fingers flurried up and down the keyboard and he displayed his virtuosic skill.

Cellist Jonathan Bekes took centre stage for Tchaikovsky’s Pezzo Capriccioso. This dazzling piece had many high-speed and dexterous passages, demanding much skill from the cello soloist. It was also unpredictable, with sudden key changes signifying emotional turmoil and loss. Jonathan gave a riveting performance.

The highlight of the afternoon was Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite. The SXS ensemble and their special guests came together for this epic Russian ballet score. Across the five movements, they performed with drama and fiery emotion. Violist James Wannan broke a string but didn’t skip a beat. He played the rest of the piece on just three strings, which was quite an impressive feat!

To close, SXS performed a traditional Romani Folksong, The Way to Bukhura. The ancient city of Bukhura was an oasis in the desert and a prominent stop along the Silk Road trade route. This piece was like a Silk Road itself, as its melody was passed from instrument to instrument, changing in colour and language along the way. Each of the soloists had their moment to shine, handling difficult solos with energy and high spirits.

White Nights was a thoroughly engaging concert that explored all the extremes of Russian emotions. From music of sorrow and anguish to love and romanticism, this concert was a powerful experience. It was the perfect escape on a rainy weekend.

Photo credit – Darren Thomas