Photo: Supplied.
Violinist Brendan Joyce knows what he’s talking about. As orchestra leader of Camerata, in the last 15 years he has earned national acclaim – and an impressive number of awards – for the group. Brendan embraces the old and the new, but says that making programming choices that will satisfy already committed and newly interested audiences is a challenge.
“Contrast is an effective tool,” he says. “In Bach’s time they were only playing music of their time, as it was being written. Now we play everything from Bach’s time, and everything that’s been written since then. I’m a committed believer in the ongoing trajectory of the art form, and that means addressing the new – but sometimes new music can be a bit confronting!
“We always try to do everything really well with great enthusiasm and full commitment. Even if some members of the audience don’t like the piece you’re playing, they’ll appreciate the musicians’ enthusiasm. Camerata is an unconducted orchestra; reduced leadership empowers players so that we can better inspire audiences. It’s like a family – occasional arguments and a lot of joyful times.”
Brendan has a storehouse of musical gems waiting to be included in the right program.
“I have lists,” he says, “lots of backs of envelopes floating around the house and the office and the back of the car and on my ’phone – and I’m often prey to the ‘driveway moment’, when you’re listening to the radio and you just have to pull over into a driveway to find out what an amazing piece of music is called.”
Brendan has degrees from both Australia and America and has studied both styles of music.
“My own musical upbringing was in north Queensland, where I was – so to say – the only violinist in the village.”
Camerata’s performance at RPAC will be held on August 21, featuring guest keyboardist Anthony Romaniuk with a mixed program ranging from Bach to Brubeck. For tickets, go to rpac.com.au.
