Mnozil Brass at the Melbourne International Festival of Brass
29-Sep-2007Friday 28 September 2007
The BMW Edge, Federation Square
Melbourne, Australia
To even pretend to consider the usual type of concert review would be an insult to Mnozil Brass. This group is literally beyond belief.
Mnozil Brass at the BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne
Thankfully, the brass followers came out in force for this concert with the magnificent BMW Edge filled to capacity. The BMW Edge sits in the same establishment as Federation Square on the banks of the Yarra River. The night was clear and mild with the lights of the Crown Casino glistening as the backdrop.
The group did need the music the one item they didn't know so well....
From the first moment this whacky, incredibly skilled and talented group walked onto the stage, our attention to everything they presented to us never strayed.
Humour, ensemble, intonation, choreography, variety of music, variety of playing styles and vocals were all at a quality I could never have believed possible - and sustained fully for 2 hours. The huge wall of sound created by just 7 players was extremely powerful yet pure.
David Childs, one of the guest artists for the week at the Melbourne International Festival of Brass, claimed this particular concert to be the best he has ever been to. "I closed my eyes and just listened - I would have thought it was a group working intensely with music on stands in a recording studio type situation - the quality of sound was that good. But then I opened my eyes and watched them moving around putting on an animated fast moving stage show entirely without music...simply amazing."
Four encores and a standing ovation later, Mnozil left the stage for a well earned drink or two.
Standing room only standing ovation
Mnozil Brass play again in the Finale concert at the BMW Edge tomorrow afternoon at 2.30pm.
Congratulations to MIFB Directors John & Geoff Collinson and Michael Bertoncello for having the vision and fortitude to include Mnozil Brass in the Festival.
The group head north for a concert in Brisbane in the City Hall on Tuesday night. Tickets are still available for this show from http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=MNOZILBR07&searchId=38302987-728d-4db5-8d2b-691b89052cfa
If there is any possible way of getting to see this group make sure that you do - go out of your way if you have to. I guarantee that you will be totally blown away. Like David Childs, this was the best concert I have ever been to.
Amanda Casagrande
