A Spellbinding Meditation: Reflections on the BMCC Lenten Concert
As we come to the close of the Lenten season, it is fitting to pause and give thanks for the gift of music that so richly marked our journey toward Easter. I extend my sincere congratulations and gratitude to Dr Anthony Halliday, our outstanding soloists and musicians, and the Brunswick Moreland Catholic Community Choir for the superb BMCC Lenten Concert presented at St Ambrose’s Church on 20 March.
The concert was warmly received not only by our parish community but also by the wider musical world. Writing in Classic Melbourne (Music News and Reviews), Janet Bagnall remarked that this Lenten performance stood out “with particular distinction” among the many musical offerings of the season.
Under the “assured direction of Dr Anthony Halliday,” Bagnall observed that the program traced “a powerful arc from the anguish of Christ’s Passion to the triumphant joy of the Resurrection.” Allegri’s Miserere was described as “a spellbinding meditation,” with special mention of soprano Phoebe Paine, whose radiant upper register created “a moment of quiet transcendence.”
Reflecting on Part II of Handel’s Messiah, Bagnall praised Sally‑Anne Russell’s “profoundly moving ‘He Was Despised’” and concluded with admiration for the final Hallelujah Chorus, calling it “a moment of radiant exultation.”
This thoughtful and generous review, written following the concert at St Ambrose Catholic Church, reminds us of the enduring power of the Christian story - how, when offered with such artistry, faith, and conviction, it continues to speak deeply to hearts and minds.
My sincere thanks to Anthony and to everyone involved for offering this prayerful and generous gift to our parish community. The concert was not only an artistic achievement, but a true act of worship that enriched our Lenten journey and prepared us for the joy of Easter.
You can read Janet Bagnall’s full review here: https://classicmelbourne.com.au/st-ambrose-catholic-church-brunswick-lenten-concert/
Fr Brendan
