Mona-Foma is back again in Hobart and is receiving warm support. It is not often that St Mary's Cathedral is packed for a concert and the audience gives a standing ovation to the performers. However, Nick Tsiavos and his talented group were received enthusiastically, as they presented their particular take on new music, Byzantine chant, free jazz and new minimalism. Deborah Kayser's incredible voice rose and fell in pure simplicity against a background of liminal bass tones and imaginative, sensitive percussion. In this performance the ancient did indeed become modern and the playing was passionate and beautiful.
Following the Liminal performance another packed audience listened to Rod Thomson playing a number of organ pieces by Messiaen. These meditations and musical visions also reflected Greek, Hindu, Indonesian, Japanese and jazz influences and were played in masterly fashion by the organist. The cathedral resonated with the joy and splendour of the music celebrating power and majesty and the muted tones of the meditations on suffering. This concert too was enthusiastically received and makes me wonder whether Brian Ritchie playing his shakuhachi flute can possibly be any more inspiring next week.
Following the Liminal performance another packed audience listened to Rod Thomson playing a number of organ pieces by Messiaen. These meditations and musical visions also reflected Greek, Hindu, Indonesian, Japanese and jazz influences and were played in masterly fashion by the organist. The cathedral resonated with the joy and splendour of the music celebrating power and majesty and the muted tones of the meditations on suffering. This concert too was enthusiastically received and makes me wonder whether Brian Ritchie playing his shakuhachi flute can possibly be any more inspiring next week.
