SOME might think a lieder recital is a snooty, high-brow affair, but this concert by mezzo, Christina Wilson; pianist, Alan Hicks; and violist, Robert Harris was a thoughtful program of very accessible music.

In a loose connection to Canberra’s beginnings, the first half featured diverse European and American compositions written in 1913. The second half featured Australian works, drawn from across Canberra’s centenary, some specifically for or about Canberra.

Larry Sitsky’s “Seven Zen Songs”, featuring Chinese poetry, was a highlight. The accompaniment, just on the viola, was very contextual to the words – even humorous at times – if abstract to the song melodies. Wilson performed them flawlessly.

Hicks’ accompaniment showed marvellous empathy for Wilson’s expression, vocal range and control, but he really shone when he played two preludes by Debussy. The second was reminiscent of the composer’s more famous piece “Golliwog’s Cakewalk”, with weird rhythms, frequent mood swings and strange harmonies. Hicks captured them all with ease and flare.

Concluding this very enjoyable concert was a moving performance of Peter J Casey’s “Beautiful”. The song’s many emotions were inspired by the horror of the 2003 Canberra bushfires. It was something of an epitaph to the four who lost their lives, and who are named in the lyrics.

The attentive, appreciative audience was rewarded with an encore; Bernstein’s “Dream with Me” from his musical “Peter Pan”, perhaps as a call to dream of Canberra’s next century.