Baroque Banter

Step into the world of Pinchgut Opera’s landmark production of Handel’s Julius Caesar. Join host Genevieve Lang as she sits down with director Neil Armfield AO and conductor Erin Helyard to uncover the artistry, vision, and stories behind this history-making Australian operatic event.

Earlier on Baroque Banter we discussed French Imports, and looked at how Italian musicians found their way into France in the seventeenth century, and what the French did with their dances and their opera. Although the flow of music was very strong from Italy to France, French developments and dances also made their way to other countries. In this episode of Baroque Banter we discuss French exports in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: we look at the French overture, French dances, French performance practice and French dancing masters!

Join Artistic Director Erin Helyard for a fascinating journey into the story of Allegri's Miserere. Be transported to the world of 17th century sacred music and discover some of the secrets behind this enigmatic piece of Baroque vocal writing.

Featuring:

Voiceovers by Jill Halleron

Featured Musical Excerpts:

Allegri's Miserere excerpt from Pinchgut Opera's concert Splendour of Venice recorded at Phoenix Central Park.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSZW9O2AvWA

Falsobordone, the Miserere of Allegri, and a most bizarre musicological error - performed by tenor Jacob Lawrence and Elam Rotem on keyboard.

Courtesy of www.earlymusicsources.com - Elam Rotem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9y5N13un9s

Castrati Alessandro Moreschi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qch5ZrXL_wA

LINKS:

Graham O’Reilly’s definitive treatment of the history of the Miserere:

https://boydellandbrewer.com/9781783274871/allegris-miserere-in-the-sistine-chapel/

Recommended recordings of the pre-20C Allegri Miserere:

Pro Cantione Antiqua / Mark Brown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPdXtPP0iRM

A Sei Voci / Bernard Fabre-Garrus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuzgsWatoaI

Le Poeme Harmonique / Vincent Dumestre

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n_qkjQbdRY

Ensemble William Byrd / Graham O’Reilly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVdcpyI5NCg&list=UULF4tBQ9_FgKWo0_xhuYV2X7Q&index=37

Existing documentaries:

BBC 4 2008

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi2n7srJ_v8

Inside the Music: How Allegri’s Miserere should really sound

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6hD8YtO5HI

Whatever happened to Allegri's Miserere ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK35jU3cfiU

The Sixteen: a new version of Allegri’s Miserere

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAwzChKpDi0

Falsobordone, the Miserere of Allegri, and a most bizarre musicological error

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9y5N13un9s

Tune in for a journey through one of opera's most beloved works, Dido and Aeneas. Dive into the enchanting world of Purcell's masterpiece with Host Genevieve Lang, conductor Erin Helyard and director Lucy Clements. Whether you're an opera aficionado or a newcomer, this episode lets you discover the details of this fresh new production by Pinchgut Opera.

Join award-winning writer and actor Kate Mulvany OAM and acclaimed director Lucy Clements as they discuss the new prologue for Pinchgut's new production of Dido and Aeneas.

In the spirit of providing a backstory and context, Kate has written us a new spoken-word prologue that helps us freshly understand Purcell’s original setting. Discover what it was like to create this piece.

Host Keiren Brandt-Sawdy chats with Artistic Director and Erin Helyard about Theodora. Delve deep into Handel's oratorio and gain insight our performance at the Sydney Opera House in partnership with Opera Australia.

Host Keiren Brandt-Sawdy chats with conductor Erin Helyard and director Louisa Muller about one of the most beloved works in the Baroque repertoire.

Discover fresh insight into Pinchgut's first staging of a Handel opera, with Rinaldo.

Get ready to be swept away by the magic and adventure when you witness this towering masterpiece of music and drama on stage at City Recital Hall this November.

In this pre-performance podcast, host Genevieve Lang sits down with Conductor Erin Helyard to chat about the upcoming September performance of Pleasures of Versailles by Charpentier. They discuss the tiny operas that were enjoyed by Louis XIV at the Palace of Versailles. Step inside the courtly chambers and learn about the entertainment that was fit for a king.

Baroque Banter 11: French Imports. In this Baroque Banter Erin Helyard talks about the influence of Italian music and musicians in France in the seventeenth century. He talks about opera, dances, chaconnes, passacaglias and the multicultural mix that makes Baroque music so special. Excerpts by Erin on harpsichord.

Host Genevieve Lang is joined by Pinchgut's Artistic Director Erin Helyard and director Dean Bryant to discuss the much anticipated Australian premiere of the opera Giustino by Legrenzi.

A forgotten triumph of Venetian opera, Giustino is a fast-paced, kaleidoscopic and fanciful opera packed with arias and old-fashioned wonder that will leave you stamping your feet for more.

A classic rags-to-riches story of the shepherd Giustino who, through a series of adventures and magical interventions, ultimately becomes the Emperor of Rome. Treacherous journeys on the high seas, siblings embroiled in swashbuckling battles and star-crossed lovers set the scene in Legrenzi’s spectacular operatic setting.

After the successes of The Loves of Apollo and Dafne by Cavalli (2021) and Orontea by Cesti (2022), Pinchgut now shines a light on the brilliant composer and grandfather of the da capo aria, Giovanni Legrenzi, who was considered the Puccini of the late 17thcentury. While Legrenzi’s operatic output was small, he was praised for “exceeding the expectations of many in cultivating charm and delight”, and Giustino is one of his great successes.

With over 70 short arias, Giustino is a truly dynamic and effervescent opera, showcasing Legrenzi’s ability to spin an unending melodic thread, and convey the nuance, mood and shifts in his characters.