Performances
Consort of Melbourne - MRC
Relaxed Performance
Tuesday 11 August 2026, 10.30am & 12pm
Melbourne Recital Centre
Promoting a casual approach to sound and movement, the Melbourne Recital Centre's series of Relaxed Performances provides the same exceptional artists, in an environment specifically suited for audiences with sensory sensitivities, using altered lighting, more in-depth musical explanations and accompanying access resources.
This year with day-time performances running for 45 minutes, this series is also perfect for young families. Children will be free to wriggle if they need or leave the Primrose Potter Salon and move to a designated quiet area in the Ground Floor Foyer.
Program TBC
Which session time is right for me or my group?
10.30am: Tailored for individuals and community groups
12pm: Tailored for school groups
The Relaxed Performance series is supported by the Gailey Lazarus Charitable Foundation and the Learning and Access Consortium.
Consort of Melbourne - MRC
Relaxed Performance
Tuesday 11 August 2026, 10.30am & 12pm
Melbourne Recital Centre
Promoting a casual approach to sound and movement, the Melbourne Recital Centre's series of Relaxed Performances provides the same exceptional artists, in an environment specifically suited for audiences with sensory sensitivities, using altered lighting, more in-depth musical explanations and accompanying access resources.
This year with day-time performances running for 45 minutes, this series is also perfect for young families. Children will be free to wriggle if they need or leave the Primrose Potter Salon and move to a designated quiet area in the Ground Floor Foyer.
Program TBC
Which session time is right for me or my group?
10.30am: Tailored for individuals and community groups
12pm: Tailored for school groups
The Relaxed Performance series is supported by the Gailey Lazarus Charitable Foundation and the Learning and Access Consortium.
Solomon - Handel - Heidelberg Choral Society
Solomon
an oratorio by
G.F. Handel
Sunday 16 August 2026 | 2:30pm
Performing Arts Centre,
Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School
experience the Wisdom of Solomon
and
the arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Bach & Charpentier – Music for Christmas
No piece of music encompasses the spirit of a French Christmas as perfectly as Charpentier’s Messe de minuit, his Midnight Mass. As Christmas was the only time of year when traditional French carols were permitted to be sung in church, Charpentier made full use of them, building his entire mass around these joyous, dancing melodies.
We then return to our roots and round out the year with two of Bach’s most loved and joyous Advent cantatas, bringing the sense of hope and expectation that only this composer can give.
ARTISTS
Bach Akademie Australia Choir & Orchestra
Madeleine Easton, Artistic Director
PROGRAM
Marc-Anthony Charpentier
Messe de minuit pour Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas)
Johann Sebastian Bach Two Advent Cantatas
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 (Come now, Saviour of the heathen)
Wachet! betet! betet! wachet! BWV 70 (Watch! Pray! Pray! Watch!)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2026
7:30 PM
ST FINBAR'S CATHOLIC CHURCH46 LEVY STREETGLENBROOK, NSW, 2773AUSTRALIA (MAP)
Bach & Charpentier – Music for Christmas
No piece of music encompasses the spirit of a French Christmas as perfectly as Charpentier’s Messe de minuit, his Midnight Mass. As Christmas was the only time of year when traditional French carols were permitted to be sung in church, Charpentier made full use of them, building his entire mass around these joyous, dancing melodies.
We then return to our roots and round out the year with two of Bach’s most loved and joyous Advent cantatas, bringing the sense of hope and expectation that only this composer can give.
ARTISTS
Bach Akademie Australia Choir & Orchestra
Madeleine Easton, Artistic Director
PROGRAM
Marc-Anthony Charpentier
Messe de minuit pour Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas)
Johann Sebastian Bach Two Advent Cantatas
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 (Come now, Saviour of the heathen)
Wachet! betet! betet! wachet! BWV 70 (Watch! Pray! Pray! Watch!)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026
2:30 PM
OUR LADY OF DOLOURS CATHOLIC CHURCH94 ARCHER STREETCHATSWOOD, NSW, 2067AUSTRALIA (MAP)
Bach & Charpentier – Music for Christmas
No piece of music encompasses the spirit of a French Christmas as perfectly as Charpentier’s Messe de minuit, his Midnight Mass. As Christmas was the only time of year when traditional French carols were permitted to be sung in church, Charpentier made full use of them, building his entire mass around these joyous, dancing melodies.
We then return to our roots and round out the year with two of Bach’s most loved and joyous Advent cantatas, bringing the sense of hope and expectation that only this composer can give.
ARTISTS
Bach Akademie Australia Choir & Orchestra
Madeleine Easton, Artistic Director
PROGRAM
Marc-Anthony Charpentier
Messe de minuit pour Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas)
Johann Sebastian Bach Two Advent Cantatas
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 (Come now, Saviour of the heathen)
Wachet! betet! betet! wachet! BWV 70 (Watch! Pray! Pray! Watch!)
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2026
5:00 PM
ST JAMES' CHURCH173 KING STREETSYDNEY, NSW, 2000AUSTRALIA (MAP)
The Renaissance Tours Festival of Chamber Music - Bach Akademie Australia
On Renaissance Tours’ 30th anniversary, enjoy a special celebration of the music of J.S. Bach and his contemporaries, curated by the Artistic Director of the Bach Akademie Australia, Madeleine Easton.
Hosted by former ABC Classic presenter Damien Beaumont, enjoy five distinct concerts over three glorious days and nights in the elegant surroundings of a grand country hotel in the charming NSW Southern Highlands.
Explore the instrumental and vocal music of Bach, presented in a variety of contexts that illuminate his enduring legacy, and his influence over numerous contemporaries and other composers, including Telemann, and Antonio Vivaldi, whose celebrated The Four Seasonswill be performed in its entirety at the festival.
The festival features internationally recognised instrumentalists and singers of the Bach Akademie Australia performing alongside distinguished guest artists, presenting a wide-ranging program of sacred, secular, solo and ensemble works.
Tickets
Bach's Christmas Oratorio - Australian Chamber Orchestra with Pinchgut Opera
Celebrate the festive season with Bach’s revelatory choral masterpiece.
Pinchgut Opera joins the Australian Chamber Orchestra this December for their presentation of Bach's Christmas Oratorio.
Led by Richard Tognetti, these special performances will feature an ensemble of Pinchgut singers, including Miriam Allan, Ashlyn Tymms, Kyle Stegall, Timothy Reynolds and Morgan Pearse, prepared by Erin Helyard, who will also perform on harpsichord.
This exciting collaboration sees Pinchgut and the ACO unite for one of Bach's most uplifting and joyful masterpieces, featuring radiant choruses and magnificent orchestral writing, Christmas Oratorio is a glorious celebration of the festive season.
With only three performances, book early to experience one of the highlights of the Christmas season.
Tickets & Information
https://www.pinchgutopera.com.au/shows/bachs-christmas-oratorio
Bach's Christmas Oratorio - Australian Chamber Orchestra with Pinchgut Opera
Celebrate the festive season with Bach’s revelatory choral masterpiece.
Pinchgut Opera joins the Australian Chamber Orchestra this December for their presentation of Bach's Christmas Oratorio.
Led by Richard Tognetti, these special performances will feature an ensemble of Pinchgut singers, including Miriam Allan, Ashlyn Tymms, Kyle Stegall, Timothy Reynolds and Morgan Pearse, prepared by Erin Helyard, who will also perform on harpsichord.
This exciting collaboration sees Pinchgut and the ACO unite for one of Bach's most uplifting and joyful masterpieces, featuring radiant choruses and magnificent orchestral writing, Christmas Oratorio is a glorious celebration of the festive season.
With only three performances, book early to experience one of the highlights of the Christmas season.
Tickets & Information
https://www.pinchgutopera.com.au/shows/bachs-christmas-oratorio
Bach's Christmas Oratorio - Australian Chamber Orchestra with Pinchgut Opera
Celebrate the festive season with Bach’s revelatory choral masterpiece.
Pinchgut Opera joins the Australian Chamber Orchestra this December for their presentation of Bach's Christmas Oratorio.
Led by Richard Tognetti, these special performances will feature an ensemble of Pinchgut singers, including Miriam Allan, Ashlyn Tymms, Kyle Stegall, Timothy Reynolds and Morgan Pearse, prepared by Erin Helyard, who will also perform on harpsichord.
This exciting collaboration sees Pinchgut and the ACO unite for one of Bach's most uplifting and joyful masterpieces, featuring radiant choruses and magnificent orchestral writing, Christmas Oratorio is a glorious celebration of the festive season.
With only three performances, book early to experience one of the highlights of the Christmas season.
Tickets & Information
https://www.pinchgutopera.com.au/shows/bachs-christmas-oratorio
D'Amore Cantatas of J.S. Bach - Melbourne Baroque Orchestra
SUBSCRIPTION PROGRAM 3: D'AMORE CANTATAS OF J.S.BACH
Saturday August 1, Williamstown; Sunday August 2, Carlton
MBO is joined by Timothy Reynolds tenor and Nicholas Dinopoulos bass-baritone, and showcases Shane Lestideau viola d'amore, Kailen Cresp oboe d'amore and Greg Dikmans flute in three exquisite Bach Cantatas: BWV 55, 157 and 158.
Sunday August 2, 3pm
Church of All Nations, Carlton
https://www.melbournebaroqueorchestra.com/event/damore-cantatas-of-j-s-bach
D'Amore Cantatas of J.S. Bach - Melbourne Baroque Orchestra
SUBSCRIPTION PROGRAM 3: D'AMORE CANTATAS OF J.S.BACH
Saturday August 1, Williamstown; Sunday August 2, Carlton
MBO is joined by Timothy Reynolds tenor and Nicholas Dinopoulos bass-baritone, and showcases Shane Lestideau viola d'amore, Kailen Cresp oboe d'amore and Greg Dikmans flute in three exquisite Bach Cantatas: BWV 55, 157 and 158.
Saturday August 1, 7.30pm
Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Williamstown
https://www.melbournebaroqueorchestra.com/event/damore-cantatas-of-j-s-bach
The Song Company Coronation Choir
Coronation Choir returns in 2026 with Vivaldi's Gloria
Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 June
Walsh Bay Arts Precinct
Coronation Choir returns in 2026 with one of the most uplifting works in
the choral repertoire: Vivaldi’s Gloria.
Over two days at The Song Company’s waterfront home at Walsh Bay, singers of all backgrounds are invited to come together, rehearse, and share in the experience of making music as a choir.
Led by Roland Peelman - whose decades at the helm of The Song Company helped define choral singing in Australia - this is a rare chance to step inside the ensemble and sing alongside its artists.
You’ll rehearse and perform together, building towards a shared performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria and Lotti's Crucifixus a 8 at the end of the weekend.
Whether you’re a seasoned chorister or simply love to sing, Coronation Choir offers a welcoming and energising environment to immerse yourself in great music, meet fellow singers, and experience the thrill of choral singing at its best.
No auditions. Just bring your voice.
Purchase Tickets to the Performance
Sunday 21 June, 5:00pm
Pier 2/3 Event Space, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct
Join us for the culminating performance of Coronation Choir 2026.
After a weekend of rehearsals on Sydney Harbour, singers come together with Roland Peelman and members of The Song Company to share Vivaldi’s Gloria in an informal and uplifting performance. Whether you’re supporting someone involved or simply wish to experience the music, all are welcome.
https://the.song.company/2026-season/vivaldis-gloria-coronation-choir-2026/
Woodend Winter Arts Festival - The Art of Close Harmony - Melbourne Octet
The Art of Close Harmony
The Melbourne Octet brings together eight outstanding musicians known for their sophisticated sound. The Octet toured Japan in 2025 with a program of stunning jazz arrangements, acclaimed for precise ensemble work and a disciplined blend. The Octet is delighted to present an afternoon of close-harmony jazz of the highest calibre, presenting finely crafted arrangements to create a refined and exciting sound world. Enter the era of the Jazz Band for an hour of pure delight!
It don’t Mean a Thing if it ain’t got that Swing — Duke Ellington, arr. Ben Parry
Let’s Misbehave — Cole Porter, arr. Alexander L’Estrange
Begin the Beguine — Cole Porter, arr. Alexander L’Estrange
Le Baylere — traditional folksong, arr. Goff Richards
Night and Day — Cole Porter, arr. Alexander L’Estrange
Machi no Dorufin — Kingo Hamada (1982), arr. Alexander L’Estrange
It’s De-Lovely — Cole Porter, arr. Alexander L’Estrange
O My Love is like a Red, Red Rose — traditional folksong, arr. Simon Carrington
Blue Moon — Richard Rogers, arr. David Blackwell
Dream a little Dream of Me — Wilbur Schwandt and Fabian Andree, arr. Julie Gaulke
The Best is Yet to Come — Cy Coleman, arr. Alexander L’Estrange
The Way you Look Tonight — Jerome Kern, arr. John Rutter
Tea for Two — Vincent Youmans, arr. Peter Gritton
Beyond the Sea — Charles Trenet & Jack Lawrence, arr. Alexander L’Estrange
https://woodendwinterartsfestival.org.au/the-art-of-close-harmony/
Der Schwanengesang - Schütz
Roland Peelman Returns: Schütz’s Der Schwanengesang
20–24 May
Newcastle | Sydney | Canberra | Wollongong
After 25 years shaping The Song Company into one of Australia’s most admired ensembles, Roland Peelman returns to direct a landmark project.
At its centre is Heinrich Schütz’s Der Schwanengesang – a monumental setting of Psalm 119, completed in 1671 as a lasting statement of moral and musical values. Written for two antiphonal quartets, this performance features sixteen voices, revealing a depth of colour, resonance and scale.
Eight core singers from The Song Company are joined by eight artists from the Emerging Artist Program, supported by the Ian Potter Foundation – bringing together unrivalled experience and fresh voices in a powerful act of artistic continuity.
Wed 20 May, 7pmNewcastle | Christ Church Cathedral Book Tickets
Thu 21 May, 7pmSydney | St James King Street Book Tickets
Sat 23 May, 7pmCanberra | St Paul’s Church, Manuka Book Tickets
Sun 24 May, 3pmWollongong | Wollongong Art Gallery Book Tickets
https://the.song.company/2026-season/schuetzs-der-schwanengesang/
Der Schwanengesang - Schütz
Roland Peelman Returns: Schütz’s Der Schwanengesang
20–24 May
Newcastle | Sydney | Canberra | Wollongong
After 25 years shaping The Song Company into one of Australia’s most admired ensembles, Roland Peelman returns to direct a landmark project.
At its centre is Heinrich Schütz’s Der Schwanengesang – a monumental setting of Psalm 119, completed in 1671 as a lasting statement of moral and musical values. Written for two antiphonal quartets, this performance features sixteen voices, revealing a depth of colour, resonance and scale.
Eight core singers from The Song Company are joined by eight artists from the Emerging Artist Program, supported by the Ian Potter Foundation – bringing together unrivalled experience and fresh voices in a powerful act of artistic continuity.
Wed 20 May, 7pmNewcastle | Christ Church Cathedral Book Tickets
Thu 21 May, 7pmSydney | St James King Street Book Tickets
Sat 23 May, 7pmCanberra | St Paul’s Church, Manuka Book Tickets
Sun 24 May, 3pmWollongong | Wollongong Art Gallery Book Tickets
https://the.song.company/2026-season/schuetzs-der-schwanengesang/
Der Schwanengesang - Schütz
Roland Peelman Returns: Schütz’s Der Schwanengesang
20–24 May
Newcastle | Sydney | Canberra | Wollongong
After 25 years shaping The Song Company into one of Australia’s most admired ensembles, Roland Peelman returns to direct a landmark project.
At its centre is Heinrich Schütz’s Der Schwanengesang – a monumental setting of Psalm 119, completed in 1671 as a lasting statement of moral and musical values. Written for two antiphonal quartets, this performance features sixteen voices, revealing a depth of colour, resonance and scale.
Eight core singers from The Song Company are joined by eight artists from the Emerging Artist Program, supported by the Ian Potter Foundation – bringing together unrivalled experience and fresh voices in a powerful act of artistic continuity.
Wed 20 May, 7pmNewcastle | Christ Church Cathedral Book Tickets
Thu 21 May, 7pmSydney | St James King Street Book Tickets
Sat 23 May, 7pmCanberra | St Paul’s Church, Manuka Book Tickets
Sun 24 May, 3pmWollongong | Wollongong Art Gallery Book Tickets
https://the.song.company/2026-season/schuetzs-der-schwanengesang/
Der Schwanengesang - Schütz
Roland Peelman Returns: Schütz’s Der Schwanengesang
20–24 May
Newcastle | Sydney | Canberra | Wollongong
After 25 years shaping The Song Company into one of Australia’s most admired ensembles, Roland Peelman returns to direct a landmark project.
At its centre is Heinrich Schütz’s Der Schwanengesang – a monumental setting of Psalm 119, completed in 1671 as a lasting statement of moral and musical values. Written for two antiphonal quartets, this performance features sixteen voices, revealing a depth of colour, resonance and scale.
Eight core singers from The Song Company are joined by eight artists from the Emerging Artist Program, supported by the Ian Potter Foundation – bringing together unrivalled experience and fresh voices in a powerful act of artistic continuity.
Wed 20 May, 7pmNewcastle | Christ Church Cathedral Book Tickets
Thu 21 May, 7pmSydney | St James King Street Book Tickets
Sat 23 May, 7pmCanberra | St Paul’s Church, Manuka Book Tickets
Sun 24 May, 3pmWollongong | Wollongong Art Gallery Book Tickets
https://the.song.company/2026-season/schuetzs-der-schwanengesang/
Acis & Galatea
Handel’s “Acis & Galatea”
Assembly Hall, Melbourne /
Ballarat Central Uniting Church
Featuring an English text by John Gay, George Frideric Handel’s “Acis & Galatea” has been variously described as a serenata, a masque, a pastoral, pastoral opera or even an oratorio. It was by far Handel’s most popular dramatic work during his lifetime, and is his only stage work never to have left the opera repertory, enjoying frequent performances throughout the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. The opera is based on the characters Acis and Galatea from Greek mythology, later associated together in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The story tells of the love between the mortal Acis and the sea-nymph Galatea; when the jealous cyclops Polyphemus kills Acis, the sea-nymph Galatea transforms her lover into an immortal river spirit.
Handel’s “Acis & Galatea” was the pinnacle of pastoral opera in England. Indeed, several writers, such as musicologist Stanley Sadie, consider it the greatest pastoral opera ever composed. Originally written as a courtly entertainment about the simplicity of rural life, the music contains significant quantities of wit and self-parody. The secondary characters, Polyphemus and Damon, provide humour without diminishing the pathos of the tragedy of the primary characters, Acis and Galatea. The music of the first act is both elegant and sensual, while the final act takes on a more melancholy and plaintive tone, and provides the listener with some of Handel’s most beautiful music.
Conductor Andrew Wailes directs an exciting cast of outstanding soloists in these three performances, with the RMP Choir and Orchestra in the intimate venues of the Assembly Hall in Melbourne and the Ballarat Central Uniting Church.
Andrew Wailes (Conductor)
Lily Flynn (Galatea) soprano
Timothy Reynolds (Acis) tenor
Alastair Cooper-Golec (Damon) tenor
Nicholas Dinopoulos (Polyphemus) bass-baritone
Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir
Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra
Stefan Cassomenos (Harpsichord)
Tickets and further information:
Acis & Galatea
Handel’s “Acis & Galatea”
Assembly Hall, Melbourne /
Ballarat Central Uniting Church
Featuring an English text by John Gay, George Frideric Handel’s “Acis & Galatea” has been variously described as a serenata, a masque, a pastoral, pastoral opera or even an oratorio. It was by far Handel’s most popular dramatic work during his lifetime, and is his only stage work never to have left the opera repertory, enjoying frequent performances throughout the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. The opera is based on the characters Acis and Galatea from Greek mythology, later associated together in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The story tells of the love between the mortal Acis and the sea-nymph Galatea; when the jealous cyclops Polyphemus kills Acis, the sea-nymph Galatea transforms her lover into an immortal river spirit.
Handel’s “Acis & Galatea” was the pinnacle of pastoral opera in England. Indeed, several writers, such as musicologist Stanley Sadie, consider it the greatest pastoral opera ever composed. Originally written as a courtly entertainment about the simplicity of rural life, the music contains significant quantities of wit and self-parody. The secondary characters, Polyphemus and Damon, provide humour without diminishing the pathos of the tragedy of the primary characters, Acis and Galatea. The music of the first act is both elegant and sensual, while the final act takes on a more melancholy and plaintive tone, and provides the listener with some of Handel’s most beautiful music.
Conductor Andrew Wailes directs an exciting cast of outstanding soloists in these three performances, with the RMP Choir and Orchestra in the intimate venues of the Assembly Hall in Melbourne and the Ballarat Central Uniting Church.
Andrew Wailes (Conductor)
Lily Flynn (Galatea) soprano
Timothy Reynolds (Acis) tenor
Alastair Cooper-Golec (Damon) tenor
Nicholas Dinopoulos (Polyphemus) bass-baritone
Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir
Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra
Stefan Cassomenos (Harpsichord)
Tickets and further information:
Acis & Galatea
Handel’s “Acis & Galatea”
Assembly Hall, Melbourne /
Ballarat Central Uniting Church
Featuring an English text by John Gay, George Frideric Handel’s “Acis & Galatea” has been variously described as a serenata, a masque, a pastoral, pastoral opera or even an oratorio. It was by far Handel’s most popular dramatic work during his lifetime, and is his only stage work never to have left the opera repertory, enjoying frequent performances throughout the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. The opera is based on the characters Acis and Galatea from Greek mythology, later associated together in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The story tells of the love between the mortal Acis and the sea-nymph Galatea; when the jealous cyclops Polyphemus kills Acis, the sea-nymph Galatea transforms her lover into an immortal river spirit.
Handel’s “Acis & Galatea” was the pinnacle of pastoral opera in England. Indeed, several writers, such as musicologist Stanley Sadie, consider it the greatest pastoral opera ever composed. Originally written as a courtly entertainment about the simplicity of rural life, the music contains significant quantities of wit and self-parody. The secondary characters, Polyphemus and Damon, provide humour without diminishing the pathos of the tragedy of the primary characters, Acis and Galatea. The music of the first act is both elegant and sensual, while the final act takes on a more melancholy and plaintive tone, and provides the listener with some of Handel’s most beautiful music.
Conductor Andrew Wailes directs an exciting cast of outstanding soloists in these three performances, with the RMP Choir and Orchestra in the intimate venues of the Assembly Hall in Melbourne and the Ballarat Central Uniting Church.
Andrew Wailes (Conductor)
Lily Flynn (Galatea) soprano
Timothy Reynolds (Acis) tenor
Alastair Cooper-Golec (Damon) tenor
Nicholas Dinopoulos (Polyphemus) bass-baritone
Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir
Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra
Stefan Cassomenos (Harpsichord)
Tickets and further information:
The Stars Turn - The Song Company
Celebrating the wealth of Australian music commissioned and performed by The Song Company over its illustrious 40-year history.
14 June - 5 July
Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Hobart, Berry
Drawing inspiration from the iconic masterpiece by Peter Sculthorpe, "The Stars Turn" captures the essence of The Song Company's vibrant history, showcasing our rich tapestry of collaborations with some of the brightest stars of Australian music. From the mesmerising Elena Kats-Chernin to the intricate textures of Nigel Butterly and Katy Abbott, this program is a snapshot of The Song Company's musical milestones.
"The Stars Turn" also casts its gaze toward the future, with the next generation of composers whose talents light up the musical sky. Experience the innovative soundscapes of Alice Chance, Sonya Holowell and Chris Williams, and the debut of a mesmerising new work by Angus Davison.
Don't miss this extraordinary celebration of Australian musical creativity, past, present and future. Secure your tickets now and be part of this luminous constellation of sound.
The Stars Turn - The Song Company
Celebrating the wealth of Australian music commissioned and performed by The Song Company over its illustrious 40-year history.
14 June - 5 July
Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Hobart, Berry
Drawing inspiration from the iconic masterpiece by Peter Sculthorpe, "The Stars Turn" captures the essence of The Song Company's vibrant history, showcasing our rich tapestry of collaborations with some of the brightest stars of Australian music. From the mesmerising Elena Kats-Chernin to the intricate textures of Nigel Butterly and Katy Abbott, this program is a snapshot of The Song Company's musical milestones.
"The Stars Turn" also casts its gaze toward the future, with the next generation of composers whose talents light up the musical sky. Experience the innovative soundscapes of Alice Chance, Sonya Holowell and Chris Williams, and the debut of a mesmerising new work by Angus Davison.
Don't miss this extraordinary celebration of Australian musical creativity, past, present and future. Secure your tickets now and be part of this luminous constellation of sound.
The Stars Turn - The Song Company
Celebrating the wealth of Australian music commissioned and performed by The Song Company over its illustrious 40-year history.
14 June - 5 July
Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Hobart, Berry
Drawing inspiration from the iconic masterpiece by Peter Sculthorpe, "The Stars Turn" captures the essence of The Song Company's vibrant history, showcasing our rich tapestry of collaborations with some of the brightest stars of Australian music. From the mesmerising Elena Kats-Chernin to the intricate textures of Nigel Butterly and Katy Abbott, this program is a snapshot of The Song Company's musical milestones.
"The Stars Turn" also casts its gaze toward the future, with the next generation of composers whose talents light up the musical sky. Experience the innovative soundscapes of Alice Chance, Sonya Holowell and Chris Williams, and the debut of a mesmerising new work by Angus Davison.
Don't miss this extraordinary celebration of Australian musical creativity, past, present and future. Secure your tickets now and be part of this luminous constellation of sound.
Vespers for Mother Earth - The Song Company
The world premiere of a major new work by Australia's most beloved composer performed by the country's finest singers and instrumentalists
Sunday 23 June, 3pm
40th Anniversary Gala Concert
Sydney – City Recital Hall
Join us in celebrating The Song Company's 40th Anniversary with a musical event like no other—the world premiere of Vespers for Mother Earth, an astonishing composition by beloved composer Ross Edwards. Joining them on stage in this historic performance at the prestigious City Recital Hall is an eclectic array of instrumental forces, including the groundbreaking Ensemble Offspring, Genevieve Lang (harp), Julian Smiles (cello), Lu Liu (pipa) and Lindsay Dugan (shakuhachi).
Inspired by Monteverdi's masterpiece Vespero della Beata Vergine, Edwards ingeniously weaves symbols of day and night into a profound contemplation on the pressing ecological crisis of our time. It symbolises both a farewell to humanity's destructive dominance and the dawn of a new era — a rekindling of the sacred feminine principle, embodied by the night.
In an eagerly anticipated moment, long-term Artistic Director of The Song Company Roland Peelman returns to direct after a nine-year absence. His masterful guidance ensures this performance will be a true testament to our 40-year journey of excellence.
The program's first half is a celebration of our rich history of collaborations with luminaries of Australian music, including Peter Sculthorpe, Elena Kats-Chernin, Nigel Butterly and Katy Abbott. We also look to the future, showcasing the next generation of composers, including Alice Chance and Sonya Hollowell, and a captivating new work by Angus Davison.
Discount for group bookings now available.
The Stars Turn - The Song Company
Celebrating the wealth of Australian music commissioned and performed by The Song Company over its illustrious 40-year history.
14 June - 5 July
Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Hobart, Berry
Drawing inspiration from the iconic masterpiece by Peter Sculthorpe, "The Stars Turn" captures the essence of The Song Company's vibrant history, showcasing our rich tapestry of collaborations with some of the brightest stars of Australian music. From the mesmerising Elena Kats-Chernin to the intricate textures of Nigel Butterly and Katy Abbott, this program is a snapshot of The Song Company's musical milestones.
"The Stars Turn" also casts its gaze toward the future, with the next generation of composers whose talents light up the musical sky. Experience the innovative soundscapes of Alice Chance, Sonya Holowell and Chris Williams, and the debut of a mesmerising new work by Angus Davison.
Don't miss this extraordinary celebration of Australian musical creativity, past, present and future. Secure your tickets now and be part of this luminous constellation of sound.
The Stars Turn - The Song Company
Celebrating the wealth of Australian music commissioned and performed by The Song Company over its illustrious 40-year history.
14 June - 5 July
Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Hobart, Berry
Drawing inspiration from the iconic masterpiece by Peter Sculthorpe, "The Stars Turn" captures the essence of The Song Company's vibrant history, showcasing our rich tapestry of collaborations with some of the brightest stars of Australian music. From the mesmerising Elena Kats-Chernin to the intricate textures of Nigel Butterly and Katy Abbott, this program is a snapshot of The Song Company's musical milestones.
"The Stars Turn" also casts its gaze toward the future, with the next generation of composers whose talents light up the musical sky. Experience the innovative soundscapes of Alice Chance, Sonya Holowell and Chris Williams, and the debut of a mesmerising new work by Angus Davison.
Don't miss this extraordinary celebration of Australian musical creativity, past, present and future. Secure your tickets now and be part of this luminous constellation of sound.
Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen - BWV 11, JS Bach
Ascension Day Vespers
7:30pm Thursday 9 May 2024
Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen (BWV11) the Ascension Oratorio
for 4 soloists, choir, strings, 2 oboes, 2 flutes, 3 trumpets, timpani and continuo
Judith Dodsworth (soprano)
Sally-Anne Russell (mezzosoprano)
Timothy Reynolds (tenor)
Christopher Tonkin (bass)
St Johns Bach Choir and Orchestra
director: Graham Lieschke
Preacher: James Winderlich
Hidden Thoughts I | MSO & Consort of Melbourne
Hidden Thoughts I
Sunday 21 April 2024, 11:00am
Iwaki Auditorium, Southbank
The Consort of Melbourne are featured artists for the 2024 MSO Chamber Series.
Katy Abbott’s series of works Hidden Thoughts is presented throughout 2024. Each work includes text sourced from the public, elevating the perceived ‘ordinary and mundane’ into powerful and meaningful statements of grace and kindness. The first of the series, Do I Matter?, uses anonymous answers from a survey created by Katy Abbott and writer and cartoonist Kaz Cooke asking women for their ‘hidden thoughts’. The audience at this performance is also invited to submit their responses at the concert for incorporation into the performance that day.
The Consort of Melbourne will feature the voices of Katherine Norman, Kristy Biber, Hannah Pietsch, Timothy Reynolds, Andrew O’Connor and Steven Hodgson (Director).
Johannes-Passion, JS Bach
BACH THE ST JOHN PASSION
GOOD FRIDAY 29 MARCH 2024 FROM 7:30PM
Choir of The Scots’ Church
The Melbourne Baroque orchestra
Leader: Timothy Willis
Evangelist and tenor solos: Timothy Reynolds
Conductor: Douglas Lawrence
Soloists: Kate McBride, Elizabeth Anderson, Thomas Drent, Kieran Macfarlane, Mitchell Relf.
Admission is free. The performance is in German, a full translation is supplied. The performance is without interval.
Superbloom - The Song Company
Experience a musical Superbloom in a captivating journey inspired by nature's miracles
1-10 March
Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Sydney, Orange
"Superbloom" is the phenomenon in which the desert landscape receives an unusual season of rain such that the next spring brings forth carpets of rare displays of flowers. Immerse yourself in this magical and musical "Superbloom" - a program of rare works for unaccompanied voices that draws parallels between the stark beauty of the arid desert and the lush abundance brought by the wet season.
Acclaimed Australian-American soprano and composer Jane Sheldon makes her Guest Directorial debut with The Song Company. Her artistry has created a musical journey that connects historical compositional giants such as Hildegard von Bingen and Carlo Gesualdo with contemporary composers Rebecca Saunders, Chaya Czernowin and James Weeks. Plus, be among the first to experience a brand-new work composed by the talented Jane Sheldon herself.
The Song Company has been captivating audiences with adventurous programming for 40 years. Join Australia's world-class vocal ensemble for this unforgettable experience that celebrates both the resilience of the desert and the creativity of the human spirit.
Superbloom - The Song Company
Experience a musical Superbloom in a captivating journey inspired by nature's miracles
1-10 March
Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Sydney, Orange
"Superbloom" is the phenomenon in which the desert landscape receives an unusual season of rain such that the next spring brings forth carpets of rare displays of flowers. Immerse yourself in this magical and musical "Superbloom" - a program of rare works for unaccompanied voices that draws parallels between the stark beauty of the arid desert and the lush abundance brought by the wet season.
Acclaimed Australian-American soprano and composer Jane Sheldon makes her Guest Directorial debut with The Song Company. Her artistry has created a musical journey that connects historical compositional giants such as Hildegard von Bingen and Carlo Gesualdo with contemporary composers Rebecca Saunders, Chaya Czernowin and James Weeks. Plus, be among the first to experience a brand-new work composed by the talented Jane Sheldon herself.
The Song Company has been captivating audiences with adventurous programming for 40 years. Join Australia's world-class vocal ensemble for this unforgettable experience that celebrates both the resilience of the desert and the creativity of the human spirit.
Superbloom - The Song Company
Experience a musical Superbloom in a captivating journey inspired by nature's miracles
1-10 March
Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Sydney, Orange
"Superbloom" is the phenomenon in which the desert landscape receives an unusual season of rain such that the next spring brings forth carpets of rare displays of flowers. Immerse yourself in this magical and musical "Superbloom" - a program of rare works for unaccompanied voices that draws parallels between the stark beauty of the arid desert and the lush abundance brought by the wet season.
Acclaimed Australian-American soprano and composer Jane Sheldon makes her Guest Directorial debut with The Song Company. Her artistry has created a musical journey that connects historical compositional giants such as Hildegard von Bingen and Carlo Gesualdo with contemporary composers Rebecca Saunders, Chaya Czernowin and James Weeks. Plus, be among the first to experience a brand-new work composed by the talented Jane Sheldon herself.
The Song Company has been captivating audiences with adventurous programming for 40 years. Join Australia's world-class vocal ensemble for this unforgettable experience that celebrates both the resilience of the desert and the creativity of the human spirit.
Superbloom - The Song Company
Experience a musical Superbloom in a captivating journey inspired by nature's miracles
1-10 March
Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Sydney, Orange
"Superbloom" is the phenomenon in which the desert landscape receives an unusual season of rain such that the next spring brings forth carpets of rare displays of flowers. Immerse yourself in this magical and musical "Superbloom" - a program of rare works for unaccompanied voices that draws parallels between the stark beauty of the arid desert and the lush abundance brought by the wet season.
Acclaimed Australian-American soprano and composer Jane Sheldon makes her Guest Directorial debut with The Song Company. Her artistry has created a musical journey that connects historical compositional giants such as Hildegard von Bingen and Carlo Gesualdo with contemporary composers Rebecca Saunders, Chaya Czernowin and James Weeks. Plus, be among the first to experience a brand-new work composed by the talented Jane Sheldon herself.
The Song Company has been captivating audiences with adventurous programming for 40 years. Join Australia's world-class vocal ensemble for this unforgettable experience that celebrates both the resilience of the desert and the creativity of the human spirit.
Superbloom - The Song Company
Experience a musical Superbloom in a captivating journey inspired by nature's miracles
1-10 March
Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Sydney, Orange
"Superbloom" is the phenomenon in which the desert landscape receives an unusual season of rain such that the next spring brings forth carpets of rare displays of flowers. Immerse yourself in this magical and musical "Superbloom" - a program of rare works for unaccompanied voices that draws parallels between the stark beauty of the arid desert and the lush abundance brought by the wet season.
Acclaimed Australian-American soprano and composer Jane Sheldon makes her Guest Directorial debut with The Song Company. Her artistry has created a musical journey that connects historical compositional giants such as Hildegard von Bingen and Carlo Gesualdo with contemporary composers Rebecca Saunders, Chaya Czernowin and James Weeks. Plus, be among the first to experience a brand-new work composed by the talented Jane Sheldon herself.
The Song Company has been captivating audiences with adventurous programming for 40 years. Join Australia's world-class vocal ensemble for this unforgettable experience that celebrates both the resilience of the desert and the creativity of the human spirit.
Superbloom - The Song Company
Experience a musical Superbloom in a captivating journey inspired by nature's miracles
1-10 March
Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Sydney, Orange
"Superbloom" is the phenomenon in which the desert landscape receives an unusual season of rain such that the next spring brings forth carpets of rare displays of flowers. Immerse yourself in this magical and musical "Superbloom" - a program of rare works for unaccompanied voices that draws parallels between the stark beauty of the arid desert and the lush abundance brought by the wet season.
Acclaimed Australian-American soprano and composer Jane Sheldon makes her Guest Directorial debut with The Song Company. Her artistry has created a musical journey that connects historical compositional giants such as Hildegard von Bingen and Carlo Gesualdo with contemporary composers Rebecca Saunders, Chaya Czernowin and James Weeks. Plus, be among the first to experience a brand-new work composed by the talented Jane Sheldon herself.
The Song Company has been captivating audiences with adventurous programming for 40 years. Join Australia's world-class vocal ensemble for this unforgettable experience that celebrates both the resilience of the desert and the creativity of the human spirit.