The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra with Paul Dyer (Artistic Director), Lixsania Fernandez (Cuba) viola da gamba and  Shaun Lee-Chen baroque violin perform

• Corelli, A. Scarlatti, Marais Folia pasticcio
• Locatelli Violin Concerto in D 'Il laberinto armonico', Op. 3 No. 12
• Vivaldi Concerto for 2 violins & viola da gamba, RV 578
• Graun Concerto for Viola da Gamba in G Major
• Vivaldi Sinfonia al Santo Sepolcro, RV 169
• Duchiffre Tango from Concerto for 2 Violas da Gamba

Charismatic Lixsania Fernandez’s energetic viola da gamba leads the Brandenburg in this tantalizing twist on the baroque. Her passionate performances on this iconic baroque instrument bring a vibrant energy to Vivaldi and Graun before detouring for a spirited Tango. Brandenburg's Concertmaster Shaun Lee-Chen performs Locatelli’s infamous Violin Concerto in D, The Harmonic Labyrinth. The immense technical challenge of this work was hinted at by the composer when he inscribed the score with ‘easy to enter, difficult to exit’.

White Hat suggests that if you think of baroque music as being stuffy and boring, this could well be the concert to change your mind.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra with Richard Tognetti (director and violin) perform:

• Sculthorpe Sonata for Strings No. 1
• Debussy (arr. Richard Tognetti)
  • The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
  • The Interrupted Serenade from Preludes Book I
• Ravel (arr. Richard Tognetti) Two Hebrew Melodies
• Elgar Serenade for Strings
• Walton Sonata for Strings

This program unites a collection of pieces that forego an explanatory narrative in return for a rich vein of timeless beauty.

William Walton’s Sonata for Strings is a seemingly effortless interweaving of parts, while fellow Brit, Sir Edward Elgar’s Serenade for Strings holds a special place in the heart of the ACO and it remains a favourite for musicians and audiences alike. 

Peter Sculthorpe’s first Sonata for Strings, Ravel’s Two Hebrew Melodies and Debussy’s The Girl with the Flaxen Hair and The Interrupted Serenade complete this offering of music for string orchestra

In a break with conventional piano trio ensembles, these busy soloists often include works for accompanied violin and cello in their recitals. White Hat suggests that aficionados of the piano trio repertoire will not be left out and will feel well rewarded by their rendition of the Ravel Piano Trio.

• Prokofiev Cello Sonata
• Prokofiev Violin Sonata no 2
• Gordon Kerry (b 1961) Im Winde (Piano Trio no 2)
• Ravel Piano Trio (one of White Hat's Top 100 Chamber Works)