[MUSIC REVIEW] THE VERDI GALA CONCERT @ Hamer Hall Review (2025)
Who were the big winners from The Verdi Gala Concert at Hamer Hall?
We – the audience – as we were left in awe of the raw emotion on display from the moment that conductor supreme Alexander Briger lifted his baton.
Orchestra Victoria was in peak form from the opening overture – urgent and powerful.
Briger, with concertmaster Sulki Yu front and centre, was faultless – mesmerisingly expressive.
This is a man who clearly loves his work, the orchestra perfectly in sync with his every movement.
Genial host Greta Bradman gave the evening extra zest.
Eloquent and engaging, she pre-empted and embraced the impact of each of the Italian master’s phenomenal works that constituted the program.
Using words such as “love”, “conflict”, “jealousy”, “hate” and “sacrifice”, she introduced each piece with a few carefully chosen sentences.
It served to heighten the anticipation and the experience. She looked and sounded as excited as we were to be moments later.
I say that because of the sheer talent that brought numbers from Il Trovatore, Simon Boccanegra, Rigoletto, The Force of Destiny, Nabucco, A Masked Ball and Don Carlo to life.
Resplendent in a series of gorgeous gowns, duel Helpmann Award winner Nicole Car, who has plied her art form on some of the world’s greatest stages, is a soprano extraordinaire.
Frankly, it is a privilege to be in the same concert hall as her. Her voice is that of the angels. Metaphorically, she soars to the stratosphere in perfect pitch – time after time. Put simply, it is thrilling to listen to.
Another feature of the night was how the feeling in the score was writ large on the performers’ faces and in their actions, individually and collectively. That was immediately evident in arias, duets and more.
In another polished and confident display, Canadian-born baritone Etienne Dupuis brings authority, masculinity, drama and vigour to his characterisation.
For tenor Paul O’Neill, he tripped the light fantastic with his control, composure, dignity and elegance.
These remarkable principal artistes lived and loved, clashed and caressed with outstanding vocal dexterity and drive.
Their mastery is the stuff of goosebumps and was quite rightly met with resounding, heartfelt applause.
And the cream on the cake was when the three stars were briefly joined on stage by Greta Bradman for a smidgen of the positively joyous La Traviata.
Opera Australia’s Verdi Gala Concert exceeded all expectations. It was a brilliant operatic spectacle. Director Shaun Rennie has carved out his own slice of magic.
It is playing again at Hamer Hall at 2pm on Saturday, 3rd May, 2025.
Review by Alex First