The Silver Winds Ensemble delivered a captivating performance at the Mosman Art Gallery on Sunday 18 May, Bach to Brandman and Beyond.
Flautists Mark Underwood and James Fortune, accompanied by the radiant composer-pianist Margaret Brandman, offered a musical experience that shimmered with diversity, finesse, and flair.
Set in the acoustically rich Grand Hall of the Mosman Art Gallery, the program masterfully bridged centuries of musical expression. From the structured elegance of J.S Bach and Georg Philipp Telemann to the vivid lyricism of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and the modern pulse of Margaret Brandman’s original works, the audience was swept into a kaleidoscopic soundscape. The air sparkled with Mark Underwood and James Fortune’s flutes’ crystalline tones, buoyed by Margaret Brandman’s eloquent playing but it was never overpowering, always empowering.
The crown jewel of the concert was the world premiere of Brandman’s Silver Winds Suite, a luminous dialogue between Mark Underwood’s refined articulation and Margaret Brandman’s nuanced accompaniment. It was a celebration of musical partnership, intimate yet grand.
My favourite moment was James Fortune’s performance of Francis Poulenc’s Sonata for Flute and Piano, filled with emotional depth and a level of artistry that were deeply moving. Margaret Brandman’s support on the piano added colour and some kind of French atmosphere without ever demanding the spotlight.
The unique interpretation of the cherished Australian folk song Waltzing Matilda, reimagined by both Margaret Brandman and Mark Underwood, delighted with charm and ingenuity.
The afternoon also featured selections from Margaret Brandman’s Cosmic Wheel of the Zodiac cycle and the Latin rhythms of her latest album La Vida Apasionada suite, which indeed concluded the concert with an explosion of passion and life.
The Silver Winds Ensemble didn’t just perform music; they painted it in vibrant, unforgettable strokes.
-Reviewed by Xavier Bichon
Click HERE to visit Margaret Brandman’s website for her upcoming concerts.
Watch pianist Margaret Brandman and flautist Mark Underwood performing Waltzing Matilda: