May 2019, Auckland Town Hall, Bach Musica NZ: Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 2 and Perkins, The Birds (world premiere)

Rainer W. Buhmann, Review

“Conductor and Choristers, suitably adorned with colourful bird-feather-accessories, displayed a compelling commitment and enthusiasm for the work, which were equally demonstrated by the four Soloists. Jessica Wells’ assured and soulful Mezzo presented a rewarding partnership to the narrator’s lyrics. Dilys Fong’s Mezzo, Harry Grigg’s Tenor and Angus Simmons’ Baritone provided authoritative and expressive interpretations of the work’s content, apart from convincingly demonstrating their own artistry: emerging, spirited and talented young artists with obvious potential.

A word of acknowledgement and praise also to Bach Musica NZ’s Choir and Orchestra: As could be expected, they continued to showcase their class and provided an absolutely reliable foundation for the performance of the two ‘diverse works’ and for that of the contributing soloists. Predictably, Choristers and Orchestral Musicians superbly demonstrated their outstanding individual musicianship under Rita Paczian’s energetic and demanding leadership from the podium.”