Qwire Concert - These Precious Hours : Purcell's Dido & Aeneas Reimagined
Sat, 28 Jun 2025
Qwire was delighted to perform These Precious Hours : Purcell's Dido & Aeneas Reimagined to a packed house at Llewellyn Hall on Saturday 28 June 2025. The concert was conducted by our Musical Director Callum Tolhurst-Close accompanied by Hugo Temby on harpsichord and piano. For the concert's 1st half, Purcell's opera Dido & Aeneas was reimagined with a Queer lens by four soloists Oscar Balle-Bowness in the role of Dido, Andrew Barrow as Aeneas, Rachel Mink as Belinda and Alasdair Stretch as the Sorcerer. 104 Qwire members assumed the role of 'The chorus' with gusto with a small ensemble singing supportive roles accompanied by the Ellery String Quartet, Lizzy Collier on Double Bass and Jack Holmes on Percussion.
For the concert's 2nd half, Qwire responded to the opera with contemporary repertoire reflecting modern themes of love and struggle. Lenore Studdert, Qwire's Assistant Musical Director conducted Earth Song, followed by Deepening Twilight, Seasons of Love, And so it goes, Happy Ending, It does get better with an encore of Bad Romance conducted by Callum. Three Qwire members shared personal reflections on the meaning of these songs to them adding even more heart and warmth to a moving experience.
Reviews by City News and Fuse Magazine captured the essence of a wonderful evening for all involved.
Please check out Len Power's CityNews review and David Blanco's review in FUSE Magazine.
"The highlight of the evening, though, was the powerful and disciplined performance of the choir ... this was a big sing for the choir and their performance was admirable throughout." Len Power, CityNews
"While the first half showcased Qwire’s growing musical sophistication, the second half reaffirmed its role as a vital part of Canberra’s LGBTQIA+ cultural landscape." David Blanco, FUSE Magazine
For the concert's 2nd half, Qwire responded to the opera with contemporary repertoire reflecting modern themes of love and struggle. Lenore Studdert, Qwire's Assistant Musical Director conducted Earth Song, followed by Deepening Twilight, Seasons of Love, And so it goes, Happy Ending, It does get better with an encore of Bad Romance conducted by Callum. Three Qwire members shared personal reflections on the meaning of these songs to them adding even more heart and warmth to a moving experience.
Reviews by City News and Fuse Magazine captured the essence of a wonderful evening for all involved.
Please check out Len Power's CityNews review and David Blanco's review in FUSE Magazine.
"The highlight of the evening, though, was the powerful and disciplined performance of the choir ... this was a big sing for the choir and their performance was admirable throughout." Len Power, CityNews
"While the first half showcased Qwire’s growing musical sophistication, the second half reaffirmed its role as a vital part of Canberra’s LGBTQIA+ cultural landscape." David Blanco, FUSE Magazine
