A quirky, but ultimately uplifting evening of unexpected festive delights.

Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre
December 6, 2014

For the uninitiated, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s Noël! Noël! concert series is a strange journey encompassing both the sublime and the ridiculous. Immediately noticeable on stage was a laptop beside a music stand, and a synthesizer alongside a harpsichord. Such a visual dichotomy set the tone for the evening, which could almost be described as performance art rather than simply a conventional concert.

Director Paul Dyer brims with enthusiasm and energy, and seemed to enjoy conducting his musicians almost as much as he enjoyed anticipating the surprise of the audience at every unexpected turn of the evening. The program opened with delicious choral music by 17th-century Andalusian composer Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla, faultlessly and beautifully performed. The following Come Down, O love Divine by Vaughan Williams and arranged by saxophonist Christian Forshaw was a highlight, featuring a gorgeous solo from soprano Anna Sandström (who, unfortunately, was not given credit in the program aside from being listed as a chorister), and saxophonist Christina Leonard. Thus far, just beautiful music, and nothing too out of the ordinary for a traditional Christmas concert at...