Fauré's Requiem at St Mary's Cathedral

St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney

In 1865 the architect William Wardell was commissioned to  design a new cathedral in Sydney. He was asked to create: 'Any plan, any style, anything that is beautiful and grand, to the extent of our power.'

The result is St Mary's cathedral in Sydney. You have to admire the spirit that created such a building in colonial NSW.

Last Friday I went to a concert at St Mary's, billed as Fauré's Requiem. I went with a friend who brought another friend who had never been to a classical concert. 

The concert turned out to be more of a Catholic service than a concert. Most of the concert was hymns composed quite recently sung softly by the Sydney Philharmonic Choir (or was it the church acoustic that made it so muffled?) I normally find church music uplifting but I was bored and sat there on the hard seats feeling sorry for the friend for whom this was meant to be an introduction to the classical world. What a missed opportunity. (He commented afterwards that the soloists were lovely but so short!)

The cathedral was full and I think perhaps we had stumbled into a congregation who were much better informed about what they would be hearing than we were. Luckily a program with the words was provided, Latin/French and English) and I could amuse myself by testing my school-day Latin. I was surprised how much I had retained.

Pie Jesu from Fauré's Requiem sung by Dominic Harvey, Winchester Cathedral Choir

Rather singers than cigars

Orchestras and choir at Notre Dame

Instead of listening to the 2014 Australian budget being read out by a treasurer who smokes big fat cigars,  I listened to the wonderful Berlioz Requiem Op 5, that was sung for Claudio Abbado in Notre Dame in Paris and broadcast by ABC classic FM.

It is such fantastic music produced by 220 musicians from two orchestras. Abbado was a nurturing and caring person and would have loved this tribute I am sure.

It is a pity the Australian Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey doesn't have even a little of those qualities.

Before the election he promised (cross your heart and hope to die) no cuts to health education or welfare. So what has he done? Cut health, education and especially welfare but also foreign aid, ABC, CSIRO. There are no cuts for the wealthiest, the carbon lobby, or defence. This tweet sums up the feelings of many. 

Napier Requiem

My computer died recently and I had to upgrade. When you upgrade there are always problems and my shareware for making picture galleries no longer works.  I just made a gallery for recent pictures which took ages. Before I do any more I will have to investigate new software. What a nuisance.

Never mind .... the paintings and sketches I made in Napier at the Requiem rehearsals are now online at www.artsmitten.com

Lisa Harper-Brown sings

Anna Pierard and the choir sing: Jose Aparicio conducts