Musica da Camera in concert on Sunday 21 November 2010 at St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, prosthetic Cooma.

An audience of over 60 people was treated to a lovely concert by Canberra-based chamber orchestra, Musica da Camera. This wonderful group of musicians was ably directed by Rowan Harvey-Martin.

The lush rich sounds of  Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings was a perfect work  to open the concert. After a short intermission, harpist Meriel Owen performed Debussy’s Sacred and Profane Dances with the orchestra. She played this favourite of the harp repertoire beautifully.

The next piece was Radastave Op. 146 No. 2 by Jean Sibelius. Sibelius is said to evoke the landscape of his beloved Finland in this and many of his works.

The orchestra was then joined by Anthony Smith. This extremely talented pianist  performed “Eclogue for Piano and Strings” by the British Composer, Gerald Finzi (1901-1956). This work was also a treat for me  as I am unfamiliar with this composer. It was a lovely piece played beautifully by Anthony Smith and Musica da Camera.

The concert was received very positively by an enthusiastic Cooma audience, and I’m sure that they would love to hear Musica da Camera perform again in Cooma in the near future.

Musica da Camera will be performing next in Canberra on Saturday 9 April 2011 at 2:30 pm, at Holy Covenant Anglican Church, Cook.

If you would like to get on to the Musica da Camera mailing list here are their details:

• Musica da Camera, 12 Bindel Place, Aranda ACT 2614
• Email: shelley@cyberone.com.au