Melbourne trio produce a polished pearl of a performance offset by an architectural gem.

Hobart Town Hall

April 1, 2014

Returning to Hobart after their sold-out debut last year, Baroque trio Latitude 37 delivered a rich and stunning recital as part of Tasmania’s annual Hobart Baroque festival (the only event in Australia entirely dedicated to the glorious music of the Baroque period).

Taking their name from the latitudinal position that links Melbourne, Australia, with New Zealand, the three members of Latitude 37 are graduates of the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Hobart’s magnificent Town Hall, with its glittering chandeliers, pastel walls and exquisite ceiling decoration, was the perfect setting to transport the full house of expectant listeners back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

The concert was launched with a dazzling performance of Dieterich Buxtehude’s Trio Sonata in D Minor, Op 1 No 6, the swirling melodies sweeping an enthralled audience into what promised to be a spectacular evening. Their communication and love of music was immediately apparent, with musicians Julia Fredersdorff (violin), Laura Vaughan (viola da gamba) and Donald Nicolson (harpsichord and organ) working together to produce a mellifluous tone that resonated throughout Hobart’s architectural gem. Vaughan tackled the fast...