Southern Cross Soloists continue their tradition of excellence, contributing to Queensland’s unique music scene.

Concert Hall, QPAC

March 30, 2014

For a venerable old Queensland favourite approaching their 19th year, the Southern Cross Soloists sure don’t seem overly geriatric. Their premiere performance for the year, Kiss me, Katherina, was a delightful and charming interpretation of the works of William Shakespeare and showed no signs of age whatsoever. Above all the concert was a lot of fun, full of antics and mickey-taking in the best Australian style. The Soloistsí take absolutely nothing seriously except their music.

The program was pretty eclectic – the title is a witty amalgamation of the works by Cole Porter and William Shakespeare. The concert started baroque, traversed semi-obscure French romance and ended with Porter’s hilarious music for the theatre. The performance was held together by Shakespeare and his songs of love, lust and hatred of men. Thomas Arne’s Baroque laments Where the Bee Sucks and On a Day Alack the Day were early highlights. Regular soprano Margret Schindler’s interpretation of Purcell’s music from The Fairy Queen was as theatrical as it was musically brilliant. She continues to be a real star, particularly when given Baroque chamber music...