Award winning Colaratura Liza Beamish starred in both concerts. Liza is a versatile artist equally at home singing jazz with big bands, ballads and musicals or classical opera with full orchestras. It would indeed be hard to find a performer with more all-round experience in almost every genre.
Liza, an accomplished opera singer
* has worked with Oz Opera, Opera Australia and Opera Queensland as well as London Opera
* Has undertaken acclaimed roles including Patience, Musetta and Titania
* Guest soloist in many concerts, including nationally televised Australia Day concert.
Festive music is cheerful, joyous and celebrates an abundance of life
Internationally-acclaimed Australian operatic soprano Lisa Gasteen, renowned for her
performances of the works of Wagner was one of 850+ people praising the program and
performances at the final concert in Brisbane City Council's Music that Resonates Series for
2009 at St Johns Cathedral yesterday.
'It was a wonderful program' said Lisa ' I enjoyed every minute' she said.
Her warm congratulations supported hundreds of others flooding in for performances by singers Liza Beamish, Milica Ilic and Peter Vance as well as organist and pianist Greg Hartay Szabo, Brass Roots Live and 10 year old boy soprano Jeremy Beamish who stole all hearts with his delightful version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber hit song from the 'Snowman', Walking in the Air.
'I had goose bumps listening to Liza and Milica singing Jerusalem the Holy City and the Flower
Duet from Lakme', said Cathedral guide Ann Stevenson...' and what about Liza singing Let the
Bright Seraphim and Milica Rejoice Greatly. They were amazing' she said.
The works certainly allowed full range to both glorious coloratura voices. 'You could have heard a pin drop', said one of the ushers, 'everyone was so enraptured'.
'For me it was the duet of Liza and Milica singing Jerusalem, the Holy City and Liza and Peter
singing Amigos Pare Siempre...that really was the icing on the cake' said President of the
Metropolitan Bands Association Helen Hall 'I had chills running up and down my back it was
so superb. '…when everyone joined in the chorus of Do You Hear the People Sing I thought I
would burst' said Helen 'it was so moving' she added.
'The crowd was astonishing and so generous' said Cathedral Verger Michael Dodson after
the show. 'do people always arrive at 9:15 for an 11am concert? By 10am we were over half
full' he said. 'I thought the whole show was fabulous' Michael said.
St John's restoration of its grand Edwardian era organ proved the money had been well spent
as it was showcased magnificently by the brilliant playing of Bach's great Toccata and Fugue
in D Minor by Greg Hartay Szabo.
Greg, organist at Albert Street Uniting Church on Sunday',
was pleased present this superb work of the master composer to a whole new audience of
people.
Bach's works are undergoing a renaissance around the world following the growing
success of Canadian rock music critic Eric Siblin's award winning bookThe Cello Suites, a
must for everyone's Christmas stocking.
The Music that Resonates series was presented by Brisbane City Council in event
partnership with participating Brisbane churches and its two Cathedrals in 2009, it's 150th
anniversary year.
The Culture Concept designed and produced the Festive Music Concerts in the Music that Resonates series in St Stephens Cathedral on October 27th and St John's Cathedral on November 24th.
Everyone was very relaxed and very happy as they were leaving both concerts so if we touched a heart and left a spirit soaring then we succeeded.
Carolyn McDowall, November 25, 2009