Soprano Sara Macliver and Cygnus Arioso strings celebrate Grove Classics 15th anniversary in Cottesloe

A stellar soprano and sensuous strings celebrated Grove Classics’ 15th Anniversary Gala in Cottesloe on Sunday afternoon. Opera doyenne Sara Macliver made her Grove Library debut, having missed out last year due to winter flu, but first dibs went to violinist Akiko Miyazawa and her Cygnus Arioso string ensemble. Miyazawa joined WA Symphony Orchestra colleague, associate principal double bass John Keene, in Bottesini’s Gran Duo Concertante, picking up the lush introduction with verve and drive. A mercurial cadenza in violin, passing to bass, gave pause for thought before Miyazawa launched into serious pyrotechnics, first solo then in duet with Keene, as resonant harmony across the ensemble sustained energetic expression by the principals. Miyazawa enthralled from top to bottom of the range, only for Keene to present a tantalising mirror image, rising to giddy harmonics. Their respective solos gave way to duets, first in harmonious counterpoint then split-screen action, with violin mellow and melodic as bass leapt through agile arpeggios. The intricate detail of their playing was an eye-opener in close perspective within the confines of the library, as a whimsical Keene solo drew wry smiles and a flattering imitation from Miyazawa, with dazzling flourishes spurring loud applause at the close. An encore of the Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia proved earthy yet elusive in timbre and genre, its technical challenges delivered with a human touch; racing to the conclusion in furious agreement. “That was the entrée,” Miyazawa quipped, welcoming Macliver on stage to open with a trilogy of operatic favourites. Bel Piacere, from Handel’s Agrippina, brought bright attack in a crystalline voice ideally suited to Baroque. Miyazawa’s violin shadowed closely as Macliver hit every note with effortless charm, bell-like in tone and diction. Staying with Handel, Lascia ch’io pianga from Rinaldo changed pace and palette to grandiose lament, with phrasing and dynamics to die for. Restraint from the ensemble only heightened the drama when Macliver returned in understated power to match the repertoire and venue, with strings in lock step to the last. Fast forward to Puccini and O mio babbino caro, from Gianni Schicchi, opened in softly lyrical strings teasing out a florid rendition of a perennial plea for love. Cresting the climax, Macliver held a pause for the ages; fading blissfully in the cadence. Miyazawa next introduced a Japanese art-song favourite: Kosaku Yamada’s poignant paean to the white flowers of the wild orange tree, Karatachi no hana, contrasting the pain of thorns with the pleasure of ripe fruit. Sweet in tone over a quartet of strings, Macliver renewed her close partnership with lead violin; deftly delicate to close. Ayee Bird, from WA composer Lachlan Skipworth’s Tides of Longing, cast Macliver as a refugee adrift mid-ocean in dialogue with a passing bird; a song of hope introduced in strains of yearning. Macliver embraced the wonder of the story in comforting colours and empathetic phrasing, gracious to the last. Closing out in Romantic splendour, Richard Strauss’s Morgen! traced an auspicious soundscape in soft chords and embellishments for Macliver to weave an enticing spell, calling down soulful blessings in conclusion. Cygnus Arioso topped off the bill with Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings; a folkloric tour de force full of lush expression and relaxed tone after so much shimmering brilliance. Dance measures enlivened the flow for the Tempo di Valse second movement, summoning moments of dreamy meditation. Fuller use of the bow broached dramatic touches while maintaining the serenade motif. Joyful pastoral themes in the Scherzo lifted tone and tempo, resiling to narrative mode with skittish melody in high strings and deeply resonant bass. Renewed serenity in the Larghetto revived the motif, challenged by viola and cello then fading; only to erupt again in the Finale: Allegro vivace. Insistent exchanges across the ensemble set up a fugue, resolving to dance with hints of mystery before a reprise of the main theme released the energy evident from the start; with fanfare figures breaking to fervent applause. Grove Classics’ season continues on Sundays in October, at 5pm in the Grove Library, Cottesloe.