Praise for the St. George's Cathedral Choir and Consort

“The Consort is a sharp, beautifully harmonic group of talented local musicians, and not surprisingly, received the loudest applause at the end of the concert. ”

it came as no surprise that The St George's Cathedral Consort was real star of this concert. This was as evident in the supple handling of the ascending and descending scales with which Handel paints the words 'Resolv'd on conquest, or a glorious fall' in Act Two's final chorus 'Hear us, O Lord' as it was in the crisp ferocity and nuanced dynamic shading in the following chorus 'Fall'n is the foe'. 

“The St George’s Cathedral Consort Choir - which under the expert guidance of its director Joseph Nolan can now truly be called world-class - delivered famous choruses such as The heavens are telling the glory of God with an almost unearthly power and precision.”

The ensemble’s trademark dramatic contrast ranged from hushed mourning to a spitting accusatory “Death where is thy sting?”

“Choruses ... were characterised by absolute clarity of diction, fluid, highly articulated runs, radiant textural and chordal balance and spine-tingling climaxes. ”

“Compact, varied and compelling from start to finish, this sold-out candlelit concert by the St George’s Cathedral Choir and Consort came close to being perfect...”

“But their [The Consort] and Nolan’s interpretation of Gesualdo’s often difficult music is as fine as any as I have heard, live or recorded.”

“Their diction, precision and control were brilliant and I hope the general Perth music going audience get to see more of this group in the near future.
Silence and stillness is a key part of Pӓrt’s Passio, and ironically it is here that the performers excel. There were many moments were you felt the performers and audience were holding their breath – it was a brilliant study of constraint and concentration from all. This was a treat for music lovers and festival goers.”

“The Australian premiere was delivered with flawless detail by the Consort...”

“...choral singing was a model of vocal discipline, sure intonation and mood evocation.”

“The choir launched into the opening chorus from a stage at the west end of St George’s Cathedral where acoustics are crisper. Their faultless singing pulsed with energy in the polyphonic passages and with weighty reverence in the chorales.”

“...the St George’s Cathedral Consort Choir was in excellent form, singing with crisp articulation, faultless intonation and impeccable unity.”

Praise for the Giovanni Consort

But as the sound — a single line at first — crept in, a powerful feeling of embarking on a mysterious journey ensured that one’s senses were on high alert. The developing and varied vocal landscape — plainsong, polyphony, forest sounds of the night, a touch of didgeridoo, moments of powerful choral harmony, all overlaid with Latin liturgy — was experience enough; but the awareness that the “creatures” responsible for these sounds were wandering amongst a defenceless, supine audience took the magic to a higher level of mystery.

- Leon Levy, Seesaw Magazine best of 2019

Stirring voices that defy the capacity of the uninitiated to believe such a sound can emanate from so few people. The power, the beauty and the seamless integration of such a range of different voices is totally overwhelming.

- Mark Naglazas, Seesaw magazine

The Giovanni Consort’s voices – in this instance, 2 x SATB, are youthful, fresh and pellucid; the resulting sonority ... was silky, transparent and detailed.

- William Yeoman, The West Australian