French Baroque shines in HIP Company homage to Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre at Freo Old Customs House | USAEMALL.com

Baroque’s French origins shone through HIP Company’s homage to Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre at Fremantle’s Old Customs House over the weekend.

A prodigious musician and composer at the court of King Louis XIV, Jacquet de la Guerre’s breach of the 17th century glass ceiling chimed neatly with Perth’s own female-led historically informed performance group and the choreography of French-trained ballerina Claire Voss.

HIP soprano Bonnie de la Hunty’s crystal tones opened with a pastoral ballad, “Nightingales from the dawn of day”, from the opera Céphale and Procris.

Purity of sound and sentiment were a refuge from Sunday’s storms as James Huntingford’s harpsichord drifted in to caress the melody with warm harmonies in an Allemande, the first of four Baroque dance measures.

A Courante introduced a pas de deux by Voss and Russian emigre Ivan Tarakanov, gracefully stalking the stage then bowing and embracing in homage and affection. Timeless appeal of human movement and gesture in an intimate space cast a spell beyond the ministrations of the music.

A Gigue from violinist Eliza McCracken refocused on the earthy energy of folkloric music, joined by Robin Hillier’s Baroque flute rolling out a hollow, mellow tone to complement harpsichord, with violin and Krista Low’s cello-toned viola da gamba dancing attendance.

Flute and violin duetted in the concluding Menuet, with Low adding dolorous bass notes to complement.

Baroque dalliance with Greek myth featured next in L’Isle de Delos (The Island of Delos), a classically-themed cantata with metaphysical highlights.

A stately Symphony set the scene as Voss returned solo, summoning De la Hunty for a Recitative praising beauty and its divine sponsor, Apollo; a blissful soundscape reflected in dance.

Voss then sat at De la Hunty’s feet for an Aria recalling the muses, aka “daughters of memory”, as the lyric populated the legend.

Muscular rumbling in viola da gamba led out a Musette; an ensemble romp to introduce Terpsicore, the spirit of dance and chorus.

Tarakanov’s bucolic capers and broad gestures channelled the muse, announcing the advent of spring as De la Hunty carolled the Aria then gave voice to a Symphony in praise of Flora, goddess of flowers.

Flute and voice found powerful resonance over harmonious strings and harpsichord. “Sprinkle your empire with new colours” in the lyric summed up the effects of light, action and sound, as trills and grace notes added relief to a deceptively simple palette; serenely balanced from soprano to bass.

Soprano Recitative proclaimed sadness banished, in no small part by the blend of ethereal voice and softly exercised bassline and chords. A Symphony and Air then summoned the dancers in joyful exchanges, by turns solo and duet, as voice and ensemble traced a pastoral romance.

More Recitative ruminations gave way to a Chaconne, a hymn to nature in voice and ensemble, morphing to minor mode for a Nightingale Symphony with blue hues in light and music as flute and violin channelled bird song, echoed by De la Hunty in soaring phrases.

As the charm wound up, soprano extolled “untroubled Play” and “Wisdom”; an idyll acted out in sprightly steps and twirls by Voss, pursued by Tarakanov in lusty romantic leaps and bounds.

A brief Passacaille (Passacaglia), from Céphale and Procris, gave singer and dancers pause while flute tolled out over well-tempered strings; the tightly-honed quartet buoyant at every turn.

Finally, “Quel Triomphe, Quel Victoire” (What Triumph, What Victory), a celebration of love from the legend of Semele and Apollo, rang out brilliantly in voice and dramatically in dance for a vigorous conclusion.

HIP Company returns for Christmas at St Mary’s, South Perth, at 7.30pm on Thursday, December 19.

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