Live Review: Breathtaking St David's Cathedral Emily Dunn

A historical landmark in the heart of Hobart, St David’s Cathedral is a neo-Gothic sandstone church that occasionally opens its door for public performances. Intense ethereal acoustics made it the ideal venue for the first concert of the South instalment of Ten Days On The Island – a biennial festival that showcases fine arts and music in Tasmania. Aptly named, Breathtaking swept the 300 pew-seated audience back to the golden age of the Baroque era.

Fronted by two global Baroque virtuosi – Hana Blažíková (soprano vocalist) and Bruce Dickey (cornett), and accompanied by local chamber orchestra, Van Diemen’s Band, Breathtaking gave us eight mesmerising segments from well-known Baroque composers. 

From the first song, the audience was transported to the European courts of a bygone era – made all the more convincing by the setting. The musical dialogue between the cornett and the emotionally charged operatic vocals of Blažíková was truly unique and breathtaking.  

The seven-piece ensemble treated us to other rarely seen instruments – the harpsichord and a theorbo, the great-grandfather of the guitar. This long-necked 17th century instrument of the lute family, alongside a viola da gamba, two violins, and the harpsichord elevated the performance of the two leads. 

The sound reverberating throughout the cathedral was spellbinding. We found ourselves at the mercy of the emotions purveyed by Blažíková’s vocals and Dickey’s cornett. Supported by the medieval sounds of the theorbo and harpsichord, this performance gave the audience a taste of high society in the 17th century – truly splendid!