Australian Brandenburg Orchestra announces 2020 program

Press Release: Classical:

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra has announced its 2020 program inspired by dynamic colour and creative genius. The program will span Baroque-era Europe and the Ottoman Empire, encompass contemporary world events and include collaborations with cutting-edge international guest artists.

The season opens with the return of one of the most renowned performers in classical music, French harpist Xavier de Maistre. Following his acclaimed Brandenburg debut in 2018, Xavier de Maistre will perform Vivaldi’s Venice, a musical tour of the City of Bridges including characteristic Venetian works and beloved concertos by Vivaldi.

In the second series, Mozart’s Clarinet, the composer’s bright and beautiful basset clarinet and oboe concertos will be performed by two of the finest period wind players of today. Mozart wrote the first major concerto for the Basset Clarinet, with the Concerto in A Major the composer’s final instrumental work completed less than two months before his early death. Leading Australian period clarinettist Craig Hill will present this beguiling work, including the yearning Adagio (well-known for its use in film scores such as Out of Africa) in a program also featuring Emma Black, who returns to perform Mozart’s Concerto for Oboe in C major.

German Baroque violinist Jonas Zschenderlein will make his Australian debut to perform an all Bach program alongside the leading Brandenburg string soloists. Bach’s Violin will showcase three brilliant Baroque violinists including Jonas Zschenderlain and Shaun Lee-Chen who will each bring their own personal flair and perspective to Bach’s cherished violin works. The concert will include excerpts from Bach’s works for unaccompanied strings and culminating with the timeless Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major.

The rich musical tradition of Notre-Dame will be told in a theatrical concert experience combining music for orchestra and choir with spoken word and song. Conceived and curated by Artistic Director Paul Dyer, who was inspired by the French public’s immediate instinct of optimism and determination to rebuild and restore, the program commemorates the important musical traditions born in this building over eight-hundred years, and features music by French composers Campra, Lully, Rameau, Rebel and more. Written by award-winning playwright Alana Valentine, the narrative concert celebrates Notre-Dame as a centre for musical innovation and choral transcendence.

The mesmerising Whirling Dervishes, steeped in mystique, will return from Turkey to dazzle in Ottoman Baroque and will travel with the Brandenburg to Melbourne for the very first time. Inspired by the sacred and plaintive sounds of both Christian and Sufi chant, Ottoman Baroque will be an imaginative musical meditation. Plainsong will be woven with folksong and Baroque works into a rich musical tapestry of European, Mediterranean and Eastern traditions.

To finish the season, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra presents Noël! Noël! inviting audiences to gather family and friends to spend a joyful evening sharing rare carols, medieval hymns and a cheeky musical surprise.

Artistic Director Paul Dyer AO describes: “My 2020 program zooms in on the illustrious musical giants who sprang from this artistically rich area of the world. The season is an in-depth exploration of the creative geniuses J.S. Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Rameau, and the Ottomans to the East. Some of the world’s most stunning guest artists will bring the brilliant colours of Baroque alive in each program. The 2020 Season is packed with colour. I hope you enjoy this bright season of music with the Brandenburg and enjoy the big, bold and brilliant colours of Baroque!” 

SERIES 01: VIVALDI’S VENICE
SYDNEY, CITY RECITAL HALL
Wednesday 26 February 7:00PM
Friday 28 February 7:00PM
Saturday 29 February 2:00PM (Matinee)
Saturday 29 February 7:00PM
Wednesday 11 March 7:00PM
Friday 13 March 7:00PM

BRISBANE, QPAC
Tuesday 3 March 7:30PM

MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE
Thursday 5 March 7:00PM
Saturday 7 March 7:00PM
Sunday 8 March 5:00PM

SERIES 02: MOZART’S CLARINET
MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE
Thursday 30 April 7:00PM
Saturday 2 May 7:00PM
Sunday 3 May 5:00PM

SYDNEY, CITY RECITAL HALL
Wednesday 6 May 7:00PM
Friday 8 May 7:00PM
Saturday 9 May 2:00PM (Matinee)
Saturday 9 May 7:00PM
Wednesday 13 May 7:00PM
Friday 15 May 7:00PM

SERIES 03: BACH’S VIOLIN
MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE
Thursday, 16 July 7:00PM
Saturday, 18 July 7:00PM
Sunday, 19 July 5:00PM

SYDNEY, CITY RECITAL HALL
Wednesday, 22 July 7:00PM
Friday, 24 July 7:00PM
Saturday, 25 July 2:00PM (Matinee)
Saturday, 25 July 7:00PM
Wednesday, 29 July 7:00PM
Friday, 31 July 7:00PM

BRISBANE, QPAC
Tuesday, 28 July 7:30PM

SERIES 04: NOTRE-DAME