Festive music filled the historic St Mary's in South Perth this week, as Australian Baroque joined forces with the Giovanni Consort for a special Christmas concert. The matinee performance on Wednesday, December 22, 2025, offered a sublime program of classical works and traditional carols to a delighted audience.
A Harmonious Blend of Voice and Instrument
The concert opened with the carol "As with Gladness," its bright vocal and flute lines soaring over rich string harmonies. The sound matched the sunlight glistening through the church's iconic stained-glass windows. The performance seamlessly transitioned into J.S. Bach's Mass in A Major, with the consort's voices pealing the "Kyrie" over a measured double bass from Jacqueline Dossor and sonorous flutes played by Andy Skinner and Jacob Lawler.
A quartet of singers—Lucinda Nicholls, Amber Lister, Nicholas Matthews, and Leah Auhl—then delivered the "Christe" with sparse, spellbinding harmonies. The movement concluded with a second "Kyrie" led by bass-baritones Leah Auhl and David Woods, rippling through the ensemble to end on a deeply satisfying chord.
Baroque Brilliance and Vocal Majesty
The "Gloria" lifted the pace, featuring a beautiful euphony between alto Amber Lister and the woodwind section. Giovanni Consort director Nicholas Dinopoulos then faced the audience to intone the "Domine Deus," his warm bass-baritone supported by the silvery violin of Australian Baroque's artistic director Helen Kruger and the mellow cello of Noeleen Wright.
Soprano Jennifer Cook brought a colourful and soothing blend to the "Qui Tollis," while mezzo Stephanie Thyer delivered a velvety timbre in the "Quoniam" over the full string ensemble and James Huntingford's harpsichord. The first half concluded with the overlapping melodic lines of the "Sanctus" and a prayerful "Amen."
A Celebratory Finale with Audience Participation
After the interval, the instrumentalists took centre stage for Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.5. The Allegro movement featured a rousing introduction from the strings and flute, before James Huntingford stole the scene with a virtuosic and brilliantly cascading harpsichord solo. The Affettuoso movement offered contemplative twilight tones, leading into a joyful Allegro finale where violin and flute chased each other in a celebratory dance.
The Giovanni Consort returned for Bach's Sanctus in D Major, its force rising like a mountain spring from bass to soprano. Director Nicholas Dinopoulos maintained a pendulum-style beat to masterfully hold the cross-rhythms together. The concert culminated in a timeless festive moment as the ensemble led the audience in a rousing sing-along of "The First Nowell," bringing a heartwarming close to the afternoon's musical celebrations.
