Catalan good guy brings baroque bad boys to Tassie with spectacular results.

Federation Concert Hall, Hobart

March 29, 2014

For a man whose PR blurb speaks of Handel’s ‘bad boys’ and whose publicity shot shows him wielding a leather bound fist, Xavier Sabata’s appearance on the Federation Concert Hall platform came as quite a contrast. Beaming from ear to ear and sporting a beautifully tailored suit, he exuded immediate warmth and a ‘glad to be here’ bonhomie that must have won over some in the audience before he’d even opened his mouth.

The Catalan countertenor – a William Christie protégé – has been making quite a name for himself of late with an acclaimed Handel disc and a host of operatic critical plaudits. Knowing a singer from recordings and hearing him or her in the flesh, though, is always one of those moments. Will it be a big voice? Can he carry off live what the engineers might have tightened up in the studio? In the case of Xavier (pronounced ‘shavié’ by the way) Sabata, it’s an unequivocal “yes”.

One of the lower voices on the countertenor scene (a contralto, in the Senesino mould), Sabata’s tone is exceptionally rich and warm. It’s...