Young talent relishes her role

MUSIC DANIELLE DE NIESE 4/5 Australian Chamber Orchestra Melbourne Town Hall, June 17 and 18

By InvestSMART · 19 Jun 2012

By InvestSMART ·
19 Jun 2012

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MUSIC DANIELLE DE NIESE 4/5 Australian Chamber Orchestra Melbourne Town Hall, June 17 and 18

HOME-GROWN soprano Danielle de Niese's high local profile dates from her younger years' victory in Young Talent Time. These days, she makes a very attractive proposition in presentation and (more importantly) technical accomplishment, quality of timbre and clear relish in the practice of her craft. On Sunday, with the Australian Chamber Orchestra under Richard Tognetti, she gave the Melbourne premiere of Carl Vine's setting of the closing pages to Patrick White's The Tree of Man, generated a rich colour for Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate, and demonstrated an interpretative breadth in Schubert's Death and the Maiden , serving as a prelude to Tognetti's arrangement of the composer's eponymous string quartet.

Vine's setting is a congenial and calm scena that is a gift for this singer's voice, one that she embraced with clear conviction, a rare clarity of textual articulation and a generous amplitude that graced a score that requires little virtuosity. Matters changed for the Mozart motet, which is packed with ornament and rapid-moving high spirits. Here, de Niese's vocal quality surprised for its carrying power and a richness to her middle and lower registers, particularly in the slow Tu virginum aria. The book-end semiquaver flights came across without the usual spikiness and robotic precision, de Niese giving clear character to Mozart's athletic, all-too-familiar concluding Alleluia.

Apart from an engrossing reading of the Schubert quartet, the ACO performed Richard Meale's Cantilena Pacifica, notable only for a languid solo from Tognetti, and the brief La finta giardiniera Mozart Symphony in D.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

Who is Danielle de Niese and what is her background as a soprano?

Danielle de Niese is a home-grown soprano who first gained a high local profile after winning Young Talent Time. She is known for attractive presentation, strong technical accomplishment, a pleasing timbre and a clear relish for her craft.

What works did Danielle de Niese perform with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Melbourne?

With the Australian Chamber Orchestra under Richard Tognetti, de Niese gave the Melbourne premiere of Carl Vine’s setting of the closing pages of Patrick White’s The Tree of Man, sang Mozart’s motet Exsultate, jubilate, and offered an interpretative reading in Schubert’s Death and the Maiden which served as a prelude to Tognetti’s arrangement of the string quartet.

What made Carl Vine’s setting of The Tree of Man notable in the Melbourne premiere?

Vine’s setting was described as a congenial, calm scena that suits de Niese’s voice: it allowed clear textual articulation, generous amplitude and conviction. The score demands little virtuosic fireworks, and the performance emphasized musicality and clarity.

How did Danielle de Niese interpret Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate in the concert?

De Niese’s Mozart surprised for its carrying power and rich middle and lower registers, especially in the slow Tu virginum aria. Her rapid semiquaver passages and the concluding Alleluia came across with character rather than the usual spikiness or robotic precision.

What role did Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra play in the performance?

Richard Tognetti led the Australian Chamber Orchestra for the programme, arranging Schubert’s Death and the Maiden as a prelude to his arrangement of the quartet. The ACO also performed Richard Meale’s Cantilena Pacifica and a brief Mozart symphonic item, with Tognetti contributing a notably languid solo in the Meale.

How was the Schubert Death and the Maiden presented in this concert?

The Schubert quartet received an engrossing reading that demonstrated interpretative breadth. It acted as a substantial musical prelude to Tognetti’s subsequent arrangement of the composer’s eponymous string quartet.

Were there other pieces on the programme and how were they received?

Yes. Apart from the Vine, Mozart and Schubert items, the program included Richard Meale’s Cantilena Pacifica—noted mainly for a languid solo from Tognetti—and a brief performance of Mozart’s La finta giardiniera Symphony in D.

When and where did this Australian Chamber Orchestra concert featuring Danielle de Niese take place?

The concert took place at Melbourne Town Hall, with performances noted for June 17 and 18, featuring Danielle de Niese as soloist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra under Richard Tognetti.