Lully joins the circus to make a divertissement fit for a king

City Recital Hall, Angel Place
July 22, 2015

It’s been a few centuries since the world of classical music lost touch with the idea of entertainment for entertainment’s sake. Back in the 17th century, Louis XIV (aka The Sun King) would happily arrange a day or six of terpsichorean delights – he even frocked up and joined in, allegedly having 80 ballet roles in his repertoire. At his pleasure palace of Versailles there were fireworks, walking sculptures, talking trees and even a life-size papier maché whale, all going off to the music of Jean Baptiste Lully. Those were the days, eh?

If that kind of Baroque knees-up floats your boat – and why shouldn’t it? – the latest outing from the ambitious Australian Brandenburg Orchestra is a must see. ABO Artistic Director Paul Dyer has collaborated with Yaron Lifschitz, AD of Brisbane-based circus company, Circa, to offer a delicious confection that appeals to the ears and eyes at the same time. Describing it as a pasticcio (a work made up of music cherry-picked from several composers), it might more ‘Gallically’ be described as a divertissement, a spectacle that...