Celebrated chamber orchestra Omega Ensemble, led by guest cellist Umberto Clerici, held the Melbourne Recital Centre in a lush state of hypnosis last night.
In a programme of works celebrating the emotional and dynamic range of the cello, Clerici held court in a captivating performance that simultaneously placed the lauded soloist – and Chief Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra – within the role of guiding maestro and fellow team player.
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Much of the evening saw Clerici command the sonic force of the ensemble, seated in the middle of the stage as the other players platformed the startling speed and precision of his dexterous finger work. Yet there were numerous instances in which Clerici himself sat within the bustling semi-circle of the players, variously giving silent directives by animated facial expression, or simply beaming as though a proud parent.
Clerici’s influence as guest artistic director for the ensemble’s La Musica Notturna performance series served this dual role strongly, as both an exquisite visiting soloist and an engaged guiding hand. His synchronicity with the other players was appropriately seamless and vivacious, incubating within the stage an excited flurry of verve and colour.
While a highlight of the evening remains Clerici’s performance beside cellist Paul Stender – a blistering rendition of Vivaldi’s Cello Concerto in B Minor between the two which resembled the Baroque equivalent of a rap battle – the transfixing world premiere of Peter Gregson’s new piece “Everything we hear comes first from silence” was an experience unlike much else heard in Australia today.
A glamorous and peculiarly effective pairing of solo clarinet and cello, the concerto was a triumphant synergy of two seemingly disparate musical voices. The balance of this central dialogue between the two soloists and the interweaving slew of strings surrounding them was so ascendant as to create an atmosphere wherein one were scarcely aware of time passing or air shifting.
It was as though all in attendance were seated in a parcel of shifting light, and a pleasure beyond words for every pair of ears in the room.
Omega Ensemble will be performing in Australia across 2025. Keep up to date with their upcoming events here
