helen medlyn & penny dodd

Capital Times, Wednesday 25 February 2004

Fine afternoon in Seville

An afternoon in Seville with the Wellington Sinfonia, conducted by Michael Vinten
Government House gardens, Sunday 22 Feb 2004
Reviewed by: Garth Wilshere

After a week of some of Wellington's worst storms ever, nature smiled on this special concert event allowing it to proceed on the lawn in front of Government House, on a fine if slightly overcast day.

For the second year the organisation was superb with dancers from Footnote Dance Company setting the Spanish theme as we arrived and found our spot in the natural amphitheatre - hosted by Governor General Dame Sylvia Cartwright.

It was pleasing to see such a wide spectrum of ages in the enthusiastic audience who lapped up the music and entertainment on offer.

Kevin Clark's Latin group, Los Gringos with vocalist Fran Barton, provided atmospheric pre-concert music in great style.

The NGC Wellington Sinfonia, under conductor Michael Vinten, was in excellent form in a well-balanced selection of Spanish-inspired music - full of colour and passion.

Preludes from Bizet's opera Carmen opened the afternoon. The seductive Helen Medlyn, in a spectacular flame orange gown, marvellously characterised Carmen in gloriously rich voice in the Habanera and Seguidilla.

In between, the orchestra - in excerpts from De Falla's El Amor Brujo - was thrilling.

Classical guitarist Matthew Marshall performed the melodic Adajio from Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjuez with real style.

A droll touch struck a chord with the audience. In a nod to nature a clever arrangement from the orchestra of The Rain In Spain from My Fair Lady ended the first half.

A rousing overture to the Barber of Seville opened the second half.

Concert master violinist Matthew Ross made a strong impression in the virtuosic Introduction et Ronda Capresso by Saint-Saens, with subtle support - as they had done in the Rodrigo - from the Sinfonia.

A very elegant Jenny Wollerman was in gorgeous voice in two Mozart Marriage of Figaro arias - Deh Vieni and the moving Dove Sono.

Ravels Pavane pour in Enfant Defunte (pavane for a dead princess) was well-played by the orchestra, but the orchestral show-stopper was a marvellously balanced Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagnole.

A granados encore rounded off a great afternoon of sunny summer music.

The amplification was well-handled and balanced.

Concert host Kate Mead kept everything bubbling along.

A hugely successful follow-up to last year's great Afternoon in Tuscany.

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