Early Music ensemble, Sequenza, will perform at St George’s Battery Point on the evening of Friday
October 28.
Sequenza’s Italian programme features wonderful music from the Italian Renaissance and Baroque,
virtuosically realised by Brett Rutherford (Viola da Gamba, TSO), David Malone (Guitar / Lute,
teacher at the Conservatorium), Matthew Goddard (Percussion, TSO) and Helen Thomson
(Soprano). “Sequenza is both old and new, in a few ways,” says Thomson. “Three of us have been
playing together for some years, but we have a new lineup with David’s coming on board, and we’re
interested both in Early and contemporary music, which means we have a very exciting, big musical
playspace.”
“It’s always a great pleasure – and an incredible rush – to perform with this lineup,” Thomson
continues. “It’s a real privilege to have access to such a wealth of knowledge and experience, such
outstanding players, not to mention sensitive chamber musicians, and to have that opportunity
locally. Tasmania is pretty extraordinary like that – it’s great to be part of such a vibrant scene.”
This programme celebrates Sequenza’s core business: performing Early Music, on original
instruments, to a leading edge standard of musical excellence. The programme is passionate, playful,
solemn and cheeky by turns; the music languishes in delicious melancholy, dances for joy, and
indulges unashamedly in the lush nuances of the period. The usual themes of love and death make an
appearance, as do the obligatory nymphs and shepherds, and even a brace of pastoral references: two
of the instrumental pieces are about herding cows, though you would never suspect so to hear them!
“Our aim,” says Thomson, “even with our small forces, is always to present programmes that are
varied but intimate, inviting the audience to step out of ordinary life for an hour or so, and explore a
different place and time with us.”
The concert will take place at St George’s Church, 30 Cromwell St Battery Point, Sunday October
23, 7pm. Tickets are available ($25 / $20) via Eventbrite or at the door.
Helen Thomson
