Concert: Mnozil Brass

For those of us that have followed Mnozil Brass over an extended period of time, the group’s boundless energy, and seemingly unending stream of musical and comedic inspiration is a thing of wonder. Yet it might also be somewhat unreasonable to expect that inspiration never to waver. Whilst there were moments in this all-new show Cirque, which were episodes of unquestionable brilliance occasionally tinged with the group’s very own brand of surrealism, there were also elements that conjured up a feeling of déjà vu from previous shows, most notably from Magic Moments.  

Central to everything that the group does is the comic presence of Leonhard Paul, who provides not only the backbone of Mnozil’s music and arrangements, but whose gangly, long-haired appearance is underpinned by a comedic brilliance along with a mastery of mime and facial expression that rivals the great Marcel Marceau. Little surprise, then, that his casting as the clown proved to be a highlight of the show. On top of that, he’s not a bad trombone player either!

As always with Mnozil, the music spanned a magnificent plethora of stylistic influences ranging from Stravinsky’s The Firebird in a skilful arrangement by Thomas Gansch, to Shostakovich’s opera, The Nose and Liszt’s Der Liebestraum, Bernard Herman’s fabulous film score for Citizen Kane and music by Sting, Pink Martini and Jimmy Giuffre. With the group’s well-known vocal skills also put to fine use in Mr. Sandman, this was a set that summed up the meaning of musical diversity, the whole of which was delivered with an artistry that was, at times, breath-taking in its sound and virtuosity.            

Amidst all of the comedic fun and tomfoolery, however, there was a moment of true musical beauty that few will forget. Sitting on the edge of the stage, with legs dangling over the edge like a group of school boys discussing football, Mnozil’s playing of Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen from Gustav’s Mahler’s Ruckert Lieder was an all-too fleeting few minutes of sublime musical divinity, which in itself defined the genius of this unique and gifted group of musicians.

CHRISTOPHER THOMAS – CHIEF CONTRIBUTOR

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