GOMA, Brisbane
February 3, 2018

Inspired by GOMA’s Gerhard Richter exhibition, Reprise, curated by Opera Queensland’s new Artistic Director Patrick Nolan, was a contemplative exploration of art song inspired by Richter’s eclectic expression of art.

The GOMA setting, with a stage tucked into an acoustically blessed corner, created an appropriate intimacy for this beautifully delivered recital, that functioned as a tribute to the German artist. The aim was to create a convincing resonance with the Richter exhibits, and the audience was invited to view the exhibition before and after the recital. As a bonus, it celebrated the underrated storytelling charm of song, that in this recital, crossed classical and jazz borders.

Reprise. Photo © Stephanie Do Rozario

Just as Richter’s painting Emma is a photographic image re-imagined in paint, Beethoven wrote different versions of An Die Hoffnung and offered alternative sonic perspectives of the same material. Reworking existing musical themes, as Richter reinvents photographic images, is an established practice in classical music.

Tenor Brenton Spiteri convincingly channeled a varied palette of German song. His interpretative flair effectively and authentically recreated the compositional language of Beethoven, Richard Strauss and Henze. His vocal colour, texture and tone changed for...