Deep Blue

The expanse of QPAC’s Concert Hall was magically converted into an underwater aquarium for QPAC’s company in residence, Ensemble Q, and their programme of music inspired by the sea, Deep Blue. With blue and green lights filling the usual seating area, the audience took their places in the more intimate reversed space under the venue’s huge pipe organ, overlooking a smaller, studio-like stage. It was an inspired way to showcase a selection of eclectic musical pieces. A capacious canvas for all things oceanic was established upfront with a cheeky abstract piece by George Crumb – ‘Vox Balanae (Voice of the Whale)’, which featured masked musicians playing plucked piano strings, vibrating cello and part-singing flute work to emulate whale song. The irreverent tone continued when co-artistic director, Paul Dean, took to the stage wearing his diving snorkel and mask!

Paul introduced ‘Pavane Couleur du Temps’ by Frank Martin, a piece that placed the audience firmly in a seascape setting, part tempest, part tranquility – themes that continued in Paul’s own composition, the albeit darker and nightmarish ‘The Sea Meets Infinity’ written for bass clarinet (he tackled that instrument himself) and percussion. Paul was joined on stage by Jacob Enoka on timpani and marimba, although the clarinettist delighted in thwacking a few beats himself in between notes. This brilliant performance was followed by Margaret Sutherland’s ‘Nocturne for violin and piano’, another evocative piece that placed the audience on a shoreline, washed by the waves.

There were a couple of surprise treats … First a bonus track by Sergei Rachmaninoff played superbly by Daniel de Borah. The pianist briefly introduced the themes of the love story to follow in Ernest Chausson’s ‘Poeme de l'amour et de la mer’. These cinematic songs were sung by mezzo soprano, Lotte Betts-Dean, with her crystal clear voice. The singer just happens to be the niece of Ensemble Q’s co-artistic directors, Paul Dean and Trish Dean. It was a wonderful opportunity to see this UK-based artist. I loved the emotion in these stories, but sub- or sur-titles may have helped me to understand fully the drama as it ensued.

The inclusion of ‘The Octopus’s Garden’ as a final group piece was a great way to end the programme on a high. This Wiggles-esque offering from the guy who put the ‘beat’ in ‘Beatles’ – Ringo Starr – has never sounded better in this arrangement by James Ledger. And I’m guessing that some smart music promoter out there is already scrambling to put together a collection of similarly surreal songs for our local opera stars in a quest for the Aussie Christmas number one this year! This talented ensemble includes some of the cream of Australia’s classical music scene, based right here in Queensland. The must-see line-up includes: Paul Dean on clarinet, Trish Dean on cello, Natsuko Yoshimoto on violin, Anne Horton on violin, Imants Larsens on viola, Phoebe Russell on double bass, Daniel de Borah on piano, Alison Mitchell on flute, Jacob Enoka on percussion, and of course, Mezzo Soprano, Lotte Betts-Dean. I can’t wait to see their next musical foray on 16 July – Fish, Chips & Warm Beer, a journey around Britain via the music of Vaughan Williams, and on 8 October, The Dinner Party, which celebrates the opening night of Strauss’ Salome in Dresden in 1905.

Find more Ensemble Q: ensembleqaustralia.com

Beth Keehn

Photographer: Darren Thomas