Review: Sacred Sonic

**Picture**: A well-deserved Sacred Sonic curtain call (*Image Credit: Creative Futures Photography*)

Angel Strings is a talented quartet of professionally trained musicians with national and international experience (Laura Thompson, Hayden Burton, Katie Sillar and Kathryn McKee). The Angel Strings repertoire extends across classical, jazz, pop, folk, country, trad, and more… so it is not surprising that Angel Strings celebrates its 21st birthday in 2025. And what better way to celebrate such a milestone than with a program of events that each include music that is meditative, melodic, stirring, uplifting, and a joy to experience.

The 2025 Anywhere Festival includes Angel Strings concerts at two very different venues: the Fortitude Valley St Patrick’s Church, and the Mt-Coot-tha Planetarium. The St Patrick’s Church Sacred Sonic featured Soprano Eva-Marie Perissinotto, and organist Eduarda van Klinken, in a program that included classical and non-classical music.

St Patrick’s Church is a great choice of venue, as the gothic-styled church is a wonderful backdrop and provides fabulous acoustics. The lighting designer took every opportunity to offer a variety of lightscapes to accompany the music, resulting in some wonderful images as a memory of the evening—although I must admit I did find some of the lighting changes a little distracting, particularly when during the pieces.

The musical selection ensured that each of the performers had the opportunity to shine, creating a memorable one-hour event. Eva-Marie Perissinotto has a great stage presence, and demonstrates marvellous vocal control; The Merchant of Venice ‘How Sweet the Moonlight’ was one of many pieces that was celebrated with an aminated, and well-deserved, ‘bravo’ from the members of the audience. There were also moments where the proverbial pin could be heard to drop—particularly when sitting in semi-darkness during Philip Glass’ memorable Mad Rush, beautifully performed by organist Eduarda van Klinken.

It is always good to hear a program that blends old favourites with pieces that audience members might not know. I loved Angel Strings’ performance, accompanied by van Klinken, of Sigur Rós’ evocative ‘Fljótavík,’ and would certainly look out for the chance to hear the Westhoff solo violin piece once more. However, I have a feeling I am not alone in selecting ‘Nimrod’ from Elgar’s Enigma Variations as my favourite piece of the evening. A glorious piece of music, the Sacred Sonic performance was made particularly special with Perissinotto’s entrance through the nave.

Angel Strings also has two sold-out Planetarium performances in the 2025 Anywhere Festival program, proving that Brisbane audiences will certainly flock to hear live music in unique settings (Angel Strings X Planetarium). Sadly, Sacred Sonic was a ‘one-night only’ event, and the Planetarium shows are already sold out. I suggest you follow Angel Strings if you want to catch a future show—and have a look at the 2025 Anywhere Festival Brisbane program for other ideas as to how to support local artists who are performing at a range of unique and interesting venues across Brisbane.

Catherine Lawrence

**Picture**: *Sacred Sonic* at St Patrick’s Church. *Image Credit: Creative Futures Photography.*

Audience information: The 2025 Anywhere Festival Brisbane program included only one performance of Sacred Sonic, at St Patrick’s Church, 58 Morgan St, Fortitude Valley (18 July 2025). All ages (suggest 10+). Some haze. Tickets: $66, plus booking fee. 65 minutes.

The reviewer attended the 18 July 2024 7pm performance.

Geoff Lawrence