City Recital Hall, Sydney
October 31, 2018

Viola da gambist Lixsania Fernandez was the headliner on the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s final tour before the ever-popular Noël! Noël concerts in December. Far from seeking the musical spotlight, however, the Cuban musician was a subtle performer with a beautifully fine-grained sound, particularly evident in her solo moments.

It was with such a solo moment that Fernandez opened the concert – kicking off a pasticcio of variations on the famous Folia dance form that brought together music by Corelli, Scarlatti, Marais and Vivaldi – before the texture built as Brandenburg musicians emerged from behind screens to join what ultimately became a rhythmic, almost rock ‘n’ roll, take on the repeating bass line. If there were a few moments when finesse was lost, or when solo lines from Fernandez were overpowered by the other instruments, the energy was such that the concert got off to a rollicking start.

Matt Bruce, Paul Dyer and Lixsania Fernandez in the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s Lixsania and the Labyrinth. Photo © Steven Godbee

The energy only increased with the second number on the program. Sharing the headline with Fernandez...