The Neilson, in Sydney’s Walsh Bay precinct is a must-see, must-experience venue. ‘Time & Tide’, is a gorgeous collaboration with the Sydney Chamber Choir and a jazz trio, comprising of Kevin Hunt on piano, Jacques Emery on bass and Chloe Kim on drums. The theme of the program reflects how our emotions are swayed by the seasons. My emotions certainly react to being on Sydney Harbour on a sparkling Spring day.
A jazzy rendition of Jimmy McHugh’s, ‘On the Sunny Side of the Street’, greets the audience. It’s always exciting to see musicians on-stage before the show officially begins. The performance space allows for tables and chairs to be positioned like a jazz club configuration, allowing for up-close-and-personal participation. The rest of audience are seated in rows across a square shape seating plan, ensuring that there’s not a bad seat in the house.
The whimsical George Harrison classic, ‘Here Comes The Sun’, starts the program. It’s a stunning arrangement by Sydney Chamber Choir’s Co-Director, Naomi Crellin (who innovatively arranges several songs in this collection). Proving that choirs always elevate a song to euphoric heights. The choir is sublime with lovely solos from Richard Sanchez and Toby Wong. Totally uplifting. George would have been proud. I could have listened to this all afternoon. Next, we experience heartbreak in Sigmund Romberg’s, ‘Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise’. The tenors and basses sing directly to the sopranos and altos. In this choir it means the men singing to the women. The audience is in-awe. Benjamin Britten’s operatic qualities shine in ‘The Succession Of The Four Sweet Months’. Our emotional rollercoaster is now definitely on-track.
In keeping with the Spring/Summer theme, we have George Gershwin’s sumptuous, ‘Summertime’, from the musical ‘Porgy and Bess’. Kevin Hunt on piano, is in his element here. It’s always exhilarating watching a pianist fully in-sync with the material and loving every minute of it. Jacques Emery oozes charisma on bass. It’s obvious why Emery is sought after by so many orchestras around the country. Chloe Kim on drums, is an absolute revelation. This drummer can do anything. Chloe twirls those drumsticks with such dexterity, that she could perform in any musical setting. (I could see Ms Kim in a pop band!)
‘Autumn Leaves’, by Joseph Koma follows. It’s beautifully melancholic, with a stylish arrangement by Ryan O’Connell and Naomi Crellin. Apparently Marlene Dietrich was offered this song, but declined. One wonders why. We don’t stay melancholic for long as Bobby Troup’s (yes, of Route 66 fame), ‘Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring’, gets us upbeat again. Nick Begbie (Co-Director, Sydney Chamber Choir), tells us that this song was an early Beach Boys’ collaboration. Nick Begbie also tells jokes too. (Composers having more Oscars than Sesame Street, gets everyone laughing.) As an acapella, it soars. Back on the rollercoaster, emotions are tested again. ‘Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most’, by Tommy Wolf, is an interesting choice, but it works. Soprano Lily Harper has her glorious moment in the sun, during this rendition. The title of course, charts the trajectory of the thematic program. ‘On The Night Train’, by Joseph Twist (yes, based on the Henry Lawson poem), gives sopranos Ria Andriani and Wei Jiang, the forum to shine. The singing is world-class.
One of the closing songs is ‘It Might as Well Be Spring’, by that dynamic duo, Rodgers and Hammerstein II. Nick Begbie does an exquisite solo here. Begbie is the epitome of cool. These songs deserve an audience. They will never go out of fashion.
The aptly named Sam Allchurch conducts proceedings with panache.
To book tickets to Sessions On The Pier: Time & Tide, please visit https://www.aco.com.au/whats-on/2026/sydney-chamber-choir-time-and-tide.
