Review: Synthony No.4 at RAC Arena

Synthony No.4 at RAC Arena
Saturday, October 12, 2024

RAC Arena became the best dance club in Perth on Saturday night, with all ages rocking out to dance and electronic music performed by the Perth Symphony Orchestra.

Synthony No.4 opened with Vivaldi’s Summer to showcase the Orchestra’s traditional skills before pumping the party up with a wicked line-up of club hits that had everyone dancing.

Synthony balanced crowd favourites Right Here Right Now and Don’t Hold Back with unexpected hits like Robert Miles’ trance anthem Children and Rudimental’s Feel the Love. Other inspired song choices included Don’t You Worry Child (by Swedish House Mafia), You Got The Love (by The Source & Candi Staton) and Calvin Harris’ hit Giant. However, the crowd favourite was the unbeatable Matty O crooning on the saxophone to Flo Rida’s Good Feeling. Matty O can sound the sax while jumping around and still look cool.

The incredible conductor Sarah Grace Williams looked like she was having a ball, bopping away with her baton and interacting with the stunning soloists. The Perth show featured four excellent vocal soloists—Clay Darius, Emily Williams, Masha Mnjoyan and Nate Dousand—each leading three or four songs throughout the show.

One major improvement from Synthony No.2 was the relocation of DJ Mobin Master to the left of stage, improving access for the camera crew to the instruments. Close-ups of the instruments on the big screens enhanced the musical experience, allowing the audience to appreciate the technical abilities of these incredible musicians. The instrumental close-ups were also well coordinated, as the camera crew appeared to know in advance which instruments to solo for each song. It was a joy to watch xylophones, timpani, maracas, finger-plucking violins, and tiny puffs of flutes recreate the electronic noises and notes of Prodigy’s Firestarter. 

A round of applause to the sound and lighting team, as this is a technically difficult show to deliver, with a five-person AV desk monitoring instrumental input, vocals, smoke and laser lights and gyrating graphics. All elements were perfectly delivered and contributed to the overall impact, such as with the stormy sea graphics during Silence by Delerium. Even the costuming was spot on, with the orchestra in their classical blacks, Williams conducting in a smart white blazer and sparkly white sneakers, and the soloists shining in all white fashionista ensembles.

A special mention should also be given to the DJs who warmed up the crowd, DJ Mobin Master and DJ Tenzin, with special guest Example from the UK. DJ Tenzin demonstrated his table skills, mixing unexpected hits like Copacabanaand Say My Name with electronic beats. It is a quality DJ that can turn Barry Manilow into a club dance track.

The only disappointment was how many empty seats were remaining. Whether cost of living crunch or mistargeted marketing, too much of Perth missed out on the best concert in town.

MELISSA MANN

Photos by Duncan Barnes