★★★★☆ Grieves-Smith serves up an energetic mix of old and new.

City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney
May 28, 2016

Jonathan Grieves-Smith is a man adept at dualities it would appear. Not only is the British conductor about to become an Australian citizen, he’s repeatedly proved an outstanding interpreter of music from both the 18th century and our own. This concert with the combined forces of Sydney Chamber Choir and Orchestra of the Antipodes was a perfect example of his ability to span the ages with major works by Bach and Handel set in illuminating contrast against an invocation by Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks and an intriguing new commission from the versatile Iain Grandage.

Bach’s early cantata Christ Lag in Todesbanden gave Grieves-Smith another opportunity to flex his dichotomy-muscle, and he seized it with both hands, capturing the tensions between Bach’s wish to mourn the dead Messiah while simultaneously reflecting with wonderment on the Resurrection. The well-oiled orchestra shared orchestral tears and smiles, while the choir engaged in the composer’s musical game of ‘spot the chorale’ in a work that hides Luther’s ancient melody over seven verses in seven different ways. The opening verse highlighted perfectly SSC’s crisp, clean approach...