The Melbourne Rainbow Band’s Rainbow Collection at Chapel off Chapel turned out to be a very special event. Apart from the fact that the event was held on the eve of a full moon, the concert was also the finale for Erich Fackert as music director.

Fackert has been with the band since 2003 and during his tenure has introduced a broad repertoire that has included challenging classical works along with medleys from musical theatre and pop.

The Rainbow Collection was a fitting tribute to his artistry. The two and a half hour concert with 38 musicians and a number of guest performers (including the band’s current president, Ken Manning on Cow Bell), took on Shostakovich (Festive Overture), Mozart (Flute Concerto – Andante in C Major K.V.315) and Bizet (Duet from the Pearl Fisher).

But while these were arranged and performed with great confidence, the highlight of the afternoon was the band’s popular repertoire: medleys of Henry Mancini (arranged by John Moss) and Ray Charles (by Michael Brown) were particularly effective.

Guest vocalist Julie Leder, whose day job is with the Victorian Police Band, performed sterling renditions of Hold on, I’m Coming and Moondance while bass baritone, Gerard Evans brought a lovely sensitivity to Ol’ Man River.

Erich Fackert showed he’s is a man of many talents, laying down the baton to wrap his superb Tenor voice around Rossini’s La Danza and the Bizet Pearl Fisher duet with Gerard Evans. And once again Pramote Kothanakul delivered exceptional musicianship in the Mozart Flute Concerto.

The Melbourne Rainbow Band’s Rainbow Collection, hosted with great aplomb by Laurie Lane, proved a fine mix of community and music leaving the patrons hungry for the next instalment and pending recording.

Rainbow Collection
Melbourne Rainbow Band
Conductor Erich Fackert
Soloists Julie Leder, Gerard Evans (bass baritone), Pramote Kathanakul (flute)

by DAREN POPE