Spirit Of Christmas 2020

With A Christmas Carol playing at the theatre next door, and the Spirit of Christmas back at its home in the Concert Hall, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at QPAC. That is a ‘normal’ Christmas before the pandemic. This year’s Spirit of Christmas concert was slightly different to other years, being shorter at 80-mins (no interval), a smaller in numbers choir, and no audience interaction, which the littlies always enjoy.

Although musical theatre stars Amy Lehpamer and Josh Piterman, headed the roster of talent, it was conductor Dane Lam who was the star of this show. A fireball of energy, his baton-work produced a nice, clean, crisp performance from the QSO and together they made some of the hackneyed pieces sound fresh again.

The concert opened with an ‘acknowledgement of country’ by Aunty Ruth Ghee, who accompanied herself on guitar in a song about how ‘the rain washes away all the bad.’ Sung in her native tongue, it was warmly emotional and spiritual. A great beginning.

Lehpamer and Piterman dueted in ‘swing’ mode on ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’, with Lehpamer being nicely reflective on ‘The Christmas Song’, and Piterman later thrilling with his roof-raising version of, ‘The Holy City’.

Renee Jones, stepping out of the QPAC Choir, sang a sweet ‘Pie Jesu’ accompanied by year-nine student Miles Le Goullon, whilst Griffith University Musical Theatre graduates Danielle Remulta and Liam J. Kirkpatrick made their professional debuts singing ‘Mary, Did You Know’ and ‘O Holy Night’.

The bells and whistles came out for a spirited orchestral reading of Leroy Anderson’s Christmas favorite ‘Sleigh Ride’, but it was Handel’s ‘La Rejouissance’ (Music for the Royal Fireworks), that provided some regal musical splendor (bravo to the brass section).

The concert ended with a Christmas arrangement by Craig Young of ‘What a Wonderful World’, with the entire cast. Sung with warmth and honesty, it was a genuine and heartfelt finale.

Peter Pinne