Reviews
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From Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn concert with the Sydney Symphony, Mark Wigglesworth, conductor

Review

"From the very first song "Reveille," Randall Scarlata showed he had the ability to be both narrator and participant in a tale of a vanquished army and a brave drummer boy. He conveyed the alarm, fear and joy of the soldier, building on the music with its triumphal, hectic insistence.

The sense of drama was continued through to his final song "The Drummer Boy," telling of a young man on his way to the gallows. Here Scarlata etched his singing with an emotional wretchedness giving the song hopelessness and despair.

He took on different personas in other songs and in "Solace in Misfortune," standing arms akimbo he took on heroic demeanour, pleased with himself as he delivered his haughty farewell to his girlfriend.

In "The Sentry's Night Song" in which he sings a sentry's internal monologue, he brought lightness, harshness and a touch of whimsy, reflecting Mahler's own ambiguities in playing with emotions. His authoritative voice effortlessly conveyed the drama and the comic and his gestures and facial expressions were well judged and expressive."