Spirit of Christmas

Highlight of this year’s Spirit of Christmas was undoubtedly Simon Kenway and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Under his baton this amazingly versatile group of players capped off a brilliant year by giving this concert passion and personality. Starting with the late great Tommy Tycho’s classy arrangement of a “Christmas Overture” and following with “Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas” with the combined 250 voice choir, this annual event of Christmas songs and carols was off to a rousing start.

Leroy Anderson’s perennial favourite “Sleigh Bells” featured some astonishing brass work, whilst Saint Saens “Symphony No. 3 for Organ” displayed the orchestra in full-flight complete with Christopher Wrench bringing his renowned skills to the Concert Hall’s magnificent grand organ.

Guest stars Michael Cormick and Opera Australia’s latest inductee in their Young Artist Program, Anna Dowlsey, coupled nicely on an Irving Berlin medley of “Happy Holidays” and “White Christmas”, and with Cormick in crooner mode for “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, and Dowsley being delightfully Julie Andrews-ish with “My Favourite Things”, they added a holiday warmth to the proceedings.

Griffith University Musical Theatre alumni Sophie Perkins and Oliver Samson brought some contemporary clout to the program with Christina Perri’s “Something about December” (Perkins), and Josh Groban’s “Believe” (Samson), whilst the traditional “The Holy City” was in the more-than-capable hands of former Queensland Conservatorium trained tenor Jaewoo Kim.

Jenny Woodward, who like QPAC is celebrating 30 years of weather-forecasting at the ABC this year, was an amiable host, and the Birralee Voices had fun with Van Donlon’s musical setting of Lesley Sabogal’s poem, “Christmas Where the Gum Trees Grow”. Only sour note in the entire concert was the ‘Christmas Message” delivered by African-Australian Sharon Orapeleng. It was far too political for an event like this.

Peter Pinne