The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir with the  Australian Chamber Orchestra (Richard Tognetti director) perform:

• Arvo Pärt Da pacem Domine
• J. S. Bach Komm, Jesu, komm
• Arvo Pärt Summa
• J. S. Bach Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied
• Arvo Pärt Toccata from Collage on B-A-C-H
• J. S. Bach Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden
• J. S. Bach Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf
• Galina Grigorjeva In Paradisum
• Sculthorpe Djilile
• Arvo Pärt Berliner Messe

White Hat strongly recommends that anyone interested in choral music (or classical music in general) should go out of their way to hear this excellent programme. The world-renowned Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir together with the  Australian Chamber Orchestra alternate the mystical minimalism of the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt with the intricate and muscular polyphony of Bach's motets. Combing these two world's is Pärt's Toccata for strings from his Collage on B-A-C-H. The programme is rounded up with an offering form contemporary Estonian composer Galina Grigorjeva and Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe's Djilile, inspired by Indigenous song.

Our rating - 5 Hats

Richard Tognetti has been  chosen by White Hat as one of our 100 Important Living Australians. To find out why, we suggest you make your way to this concert.

• Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major
• Beethoven Symphony No.5 in C minor

For this performance of Beethoven's Fifth, the ACO will expand its forces, and also showcase another outstanding signature work, Beethoven’s mighty Violin Concerto. 

It has been some 25 years since Richard Tognetti gave his first performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the ACO back in 1993, and he last performed it with the Orchestra 11 years ago.

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 Lorenza Borrani (director & violin) perform:

• Prokofiev (arr. Lorenza Borrani) Violin Sonata No.1 in F minor
• Dobrinka Tabakova Such Different Paths (Australian Premiere)
• Beethoven (arr. strings) String Quartet in F major, Op.135

Over the years, White Hat has found that the Australian Chamber Orchestra has consistently brought us some of the most thoughtfully constructed and thought-provoking concerts on the Australian scene. This concert is no exception.

Beethoven's late string quartets strain to break the limitations of their limited forces and gain a useful new perspective when occasionally heard in arrangement for string orchestra. Similarly Prokofiev's Violin Sonata No.1 provides different insights when the piano is replaced by string orchestra. As an interlude between these powerful works, Bulgarian-British composer Dobrinka Tabakova’s Such Different Paths offers a radiant interlude evoking life’s journey.

Fiery and charismatic Italian violinist Lorenza Borrani, who delighted audiences on her last tour here in 2016, returns to lead this program of emotionally rich music.

Musica Viva present the Benedetti Elschenbroich Grynyuk Trio with Nicola Benedetti (violin), Leonard Elschenbroich (cello) and Alexei Grynyuk (piano).

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)

Musica Viva present the Benedetti Elschenbroich Grynyuk Trio with Nicola Benedetti (violin), Leonard Elschenbroich (cello) and Alexei Grynyuk (piano).

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 Brahms Piano Trio no 2.

• R. Strauss Sonata for Cello and Piano in F major
• R. Strauss Sonata for Violin and Piano in E-flat major
• Gordon Kerry (b 1961) Im Winde (Piano Trio no 2)
• Brahms Piano Trio no 2 in C major, op 87