 Emma Kirkby |
Kirkby’s pure voice a sure hit
REVIEW: Emma Krikby and Musica Petropolitana
Rosslyn Hill
Unitarian Chapel
by Jane Wild
ORGANISERS– the Pilgrim’s to Willoughby Residents’ Association – pulled off a coup in mining their contacts to bring world-class soprano Emma Kirkby and the excellent Musica Petropolitana to a small Hampstead venue.
A master of baroque and renaissance music, Kirkby has made more than 100 recordings during a career spanning more than three decades.
She was voted artist of the year by Classic FM listeners in 1999, and in 2000 received an OBE.
And Russian quartet Musica Petropolitana are no less outstanding musicians; being widely regarded as pioneering an interest in early music in their home country.
So the excitement was tangible as crowds filled the chapel.
A series of short pieces was to make up the first half, which could have perhaps been more varied.
The expectant atmosphere may have led to the rather tentative start, the cello solo, Ricercar in G minor by Gabrielli.
Things settled and Kirkby took centre stage with Frescobaldi’s Se l’Aura Spira.
Her renowned pure voice made the music sound as if it was written for her.
But it was the next song, Exulta Filia Sion, by C Monteverdi where Kirkby had the first chance to show her prowess, as her voice flowered in the jubilant rising passages.
There was also ample opportunity to admire Musica Petropolitana, with sonatas by JG Goldberg, Bach and Castello.
It is often said that playing in a quartet is like being in a marriage and watching the four members of Musica Petropolitana you can see why: playing every phrase and note as one can only come after growing together.
Rounding off with two beautiful Bach arias, Bereite Dir, Jesu, and Mein Gott, Ich Liebe Dich, it was a concert to remember.
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