Australian Brandenburg Orchestra

One of the world’s most renowned harpists will make magic with his instrument when Australian Brandenburg Orchestra - The Harpist: Xavier de Maistre plays at the Concert Hall, QPAC, May 15.

Luckily for audiences, a nine year-old de Maistre fell in love with a local harp teacher in France, which was also the beginning of a love affair with the instrument for him (the teacher is now godmother to his daughter). De Maistre is constantly lauded for his innovative techniques, including playing complex pieces of music that were originally written to be played by an entire orchestra.

Now, for his Australian tour, the virtuoso is playing with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. Their Artistic Director, Paul Dyer, has put together “a romantic and sensuous program which is impressive and virtuosic, but also sublime and filled with lots of intense swoon moments”.

Pieces include one of the greatest of harp concertos, written by French composer François-Adrien Boieldieu, and a solo bracket. Receurdos de la Alhambra by Spanish composer and guitarist Francisco Tarrega will see the harp taken to new heights, with the difficult tremolando (originally written for guitar) being a technical feat. Then there’s a Spanish Dance by Manuel de Falla, and a harp transcription of Czech composer Bedrich Smetana’s symphonic masterpiece, Vltava (The Moldau) from Ma vlast.

As if that’s not enough, the Brandenburg Orchestra will also play up a storm with symphonies by Mozart and C.P.E. Bach, and Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante defunte. It’s a huge program and one not to be missed.

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By Vicki Englund

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra is a valued partner of Must Do Brisbane.com