Some Press Reviews

---

 The evening ended in ‘Bravos!’ for choir, soloists, strings, organist and brass, and Maestro Wailes was busy bringing all forward to accept the kudos: an enthusiastic audience were thrilled with the performance. I noted that the very experienced pianist, William Schmidt, had been accompanist for rehearsals; a vital role I know from experience. It was hard work and talent that brought this big programme together and a special thank you to the volunteer choristers who showed such devotion to their craft. Maestro Wailes and Company can be very satisfied with their work, this evening, and I can imagine Bruckner and Dvořák, looking down from wherever they are and smiling broadly. 

David Hood, ClassikON, 2026

 Andrew Wailes directed his 100 or so choristers with a steady hand and the splendid preparation of all concerned shone through. Whether it was full volume of the entire group, or individual sections, the commitment and accuracy couldn’t have been bettered. It takes a committed choral conductor to bring all the strands together and the very experienced Wailes did just this; he started his musical training as a chorister, so choral music is in his blood, so to speak. 

David Hood, ClassikON, 2026

 For all the wonders that had gone before, it was the final movement, “In te, Domini, speravi” (In you, Lord, have I hoped) that the most thrilling ones came for this listener...  voices free and radiant, were quite literally spine-tingling, and the final long phrases that climbed higher and higher for the sopranos, reaching an almost impossible top C were phenomenal...  a handful of selected choir sopranos did not falter. It was a glorious ending to a musical masterpiece that was given its due in this performance, as the enthusiastic response of the audience confirmed. 

Heather Leviston, Classic Melbourne, 2026 

 Rhythmically like the pealing of bells, the Gloria begins on a jubilant note. Dvorak’s word-painting then transitioned to slower sections, bringing some impressive singing by the soloists... The following dramatic exclamations by organ and choir were most effective, the hushed passages for choir beautifully blended. This mass is full of quickly changing variations and contrasting effects, which were confidently negotiated by the choir under Wailes’ strong direction, characterised by exacting attention                         to detail...

Heather Leviston, Classic Melbourne, 2026 

Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living is approachably melodic with moments of high drama, notably in the aggressive “Vanitas Vanitatum” where the chorus seemed to spit out the opening phrases. The gathering momentum of pulsing lower strings that began this movement was most effective after a fortissimo “Kyrie” section that ended with timpani beats and a final beautifully blended sustained pianissimo. In this and the following movements, the choir sang with enthusiasm and precision.

The men were clearly heard...  and the sopranos’ youthful sheen in the upper register was a huge asset. A warm tone from the altos contributed effectively to the separation of parts as well as adding warmth to the general choir sound. Solo passages were sung confidently by small groups of choir members.

Herather Leviston, Classic Melbourne, 2025 

 Another striking quality of this body of singers is how well they pay attention to their conductor. When to look at the score is something of an art – and the young finalists did not always seem to realise that reference to the score needs to be thought about carefully. Some conductors have their choristers mark in the places where they are permitted to look at the score; others insist on the music being memorised. In this performance, whatever instructions had been given to the choir worked admirably. A pleasingly full sound with attention to dynamic detail were particularly effective in sections of the Credo. 

Heather Leviston, Classic Melbourne, 2024 

" In the middle of Haydn’s The Creation the Archangel Raphael announces that ‘God saw ev’rything He had made, and, behold it was good,’ a sentiment that is amplified grandly by the entire choir and orchestra. 

And certainly, everything in the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic and MUCS' epic performance of The Creation, an Oratorio by Franz Joseph Haydn, was good....  ...Andrew Wailes did a terrific job harnessing huge forces to bring maximum impact to the performance...  The chorus was terrific and well disciplined. There were memorable moments of softness, full power and a crescendo of praise to the Almighty that almost swept us to the back of St Paul’s Cathedral, where the performance took place.  The Creation is a perfect expression of Enlightenment ideals, a work of musical storytelling, that was brought to life by a perfect performance.  "

Daniel Brace, ClassikON, 2025

 " The inclusion of a substantial choral work – here performed by the RMP Choir alongside the Melbourne University Choral Society and Box Hill Chorale, the RMP Chamber Orchestra and high calibre professional soloists – contextualised the competition element brilliantly. Mozart’s Coronation Mass (1779) ended on such an uplifting and definite note that it came as something of a jolt to realise that it was not the end of an evening of joyful music making; we still had the adjudication to come...  Clearly, this performance of Mozart’s work was another winner. ... Another striking quality of this body of singers is how well they pay attention to their conductor. When to look at the score is something of an art – and the young finalists did not always seem to realise that reference to the score needs to be thought about carefully. Some conductors have their choristers mark in the places where they are permitted to look at the score; others insist on the music being memorised. In this performance, whatever instructions had been given to the RMP Festival Choir worked admirably. A pleasingly full sound with attention to dynamic detail were particularly effective  "

Heather Leviston, Classic Melbourne, 2024

 " 

 "With a highly disciplined adult choir of 240 vocalists, 69 members of the Australian National Boys Choir and 76 orchestral musicians, plus soloists and a truly indefatigable and vivacious conductor and host, the success of this grand event was inevitable... These massive works shared similarities: exciting visual appeal, respectful and theatrical settings of several Latin based text and languages of past civilizations, the mystery and power of ritual, and music with colourful, dramatic and incisive energetic crescendos and syncopated rhythmic outbursts.  Most admirable in this hugely successful performance was the energy, flow, visual magnificence, lighting, teamwork and impressive articulation and clarity of language for massive choral work and texts of antiquity in a grand venue.

The closing “O Fortuna” Chorus completed another memorable spectacular – with requests for more bringing an encore of the same. Bravo!  "

Julie McErlain, Classic Melbourne, 2024

"Conductor Andrew Wailes engineered some splendid passages in Sunday  evening's reading of The Dream of Gerontius, eliciting a powerful and evenly distributed dynamic range from the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir, Melbourne University Choral Society, and the Australian Catholic  University Choir; a large body of singers with praiseworthy responsiveness and precision… the female voices gave exemplary service."

Clive O’Connell, The Age

 "The highlight of the program was Prokofiev’s great cantata, Alexander Nevsky. After hearing this wonderful performance I have to wonder why  it is not heard more often. However, its massive concept and complexity could only be tackled by a few choirs in this country – and they would  need the support of a great orchestra. On this occasion both factors  were present plus, in Wailes, a conductor who could hold it all  together. The choir impressed with the rounded sound needed for Russian music, and singing that was harmonious and full… . I could not  imagine a better performance – even in Russia!"

Suzanne Yanko, Arts Hub Review 

 “…the conductor and director of the  choirs, Andrew Wailes chooses the full ensemble with great care….  The Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Melbourne University Choral Society are joined by the Australian Children’s Choir. All bear witness to Wailes’ mastery of choral direction, yet elements like diction, pitch, harmony and balance are beautifully unforced whatever the carol –  and inspire confidence in the audience…”  

Heather Leviston Classic Melbourne 

 "The choral forces made a splendid sound in the great outbursts that occur (...) the large body produced some exhilarating moments. Singing  in Russian, the singers complemented the VCA players in bringing to  vivid life this remarkable, rarely heard masterwork."

Clive O'Connell, The Age

  "The Choral Society had moments of mystical beauty... (they) touched the poignancy button... Conductor Andrew Wailes coaxed some creditable  dynamic ranges and phrasing... under Wailes' musical persuasion, the choir had crisp diction and dynamics"

Xenia Hanusiak, The Herald-Sun 

 “The combined choirs of the Royal  Melbourne Philharmonic Society and the Melbourne University Choral  Society, under the leadership of Andrew Wailes, outlined the passion of this work with aplomb. The dedicated preparation was obvious on all  levels: first-class diction, intonation and vocal power were all abundant.”   

Clive O'Connell,  The Age

"The choir responded with alacrity to conductor Andrew Wailes, moving smoothly through their responsibilities in the work's fast-moving narrative flow, the solid alto corps an impressive presence at exposed points... ...the benefits of having a solid  force of young tenors also shone through, the MUCS young men producing a clear    and unstrained contribution."

 Clive O'Connell,  The Age 

 “The Kyrie set the solemn tone of the  mass, with Maestro Wailes  paying great attention to detail. He  conducted with conviction, clear beat and good eye contact with the musicians who responded accordingly. Wailes brought out the best of the orchestra and chorus, with a good understanding of the nuances, dynamics and tempi. The choral singing and performance demeanour were superb.”  

 Ron Jontof-Hutter,  J-Wire  2018 

 "Always thrilling, always exciting, the traditional concert of festive carols and readings presented by Royal Melbourne Philharmonic is a spectacular and ambitious event, this year being a mammoth program scheduled four times within two days. Few conductors would tackle such a marathon Christmas spectacle with three choirs under their direction – RMP, Box Hill Chorale and Melbourne University Chorale Society totalling over 200 voices – in an almost continuous flow of music for a 90 minute program of varied texts and styles. "

Julie McErlain, Classic Melbourne, 2021