Neal Peres de Costa, Timothy Constable, Ben Jacks, Timo-Veikko Valve and the Goldner String to fly the flag for Sydney
Sydney musicians are set to perform with the world’s best at the 2019 Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) in Townsville from Friday 26 July to Sunday 4 August. The program was officially announced by Artistic Director Kathryn Stott today and will feature five world premieres, five Australian premieres and 40 of the best chamber musicians on the planet – including 15 international artists, five of whom are performing in Australia for the first time.
Sydney harpsichordist Neal Peres de Costa, percussionist Timothy Constable, horn player Ben Jacks and cellist Timo-Veikko Valve are all set to star at the famed festival, along with the much-loved Goldner String Quartet of Dene Olding (Violin), Dimity Hall (Violin), Irina Morozova (Viola) and Julian Smiles (Cello).
Details were announced this week by Artistic Director Kathryn Stott, who flew into Australia from her UK home to celebrate the unveiling of the program and tickets going on sale.
“The 2019 Program is wrapped around the theme of ORIGINS, drawing on origins of the music, the composers and the artists. An abundance of music features – from the 13th century to the present day – representing cultures from all around the world. There is also a mini-focus on trios including giants like the Rachmaninov, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky Piano Trios, alongside smaller gems by Sibelius, Koechlin and more,” she said.
In a move that will be applauded by Australian audiences, the 2019 Composer-in-Residence is emerging talent, Brisbane-born and London-based Connor D’Netto. World premieres by D’Netto and fellow Australian composer Jessica Wells will feature.
In another stunning coup for Stott, and in keeping with her musical ace last year in hosting celebrated Chinese musician and master Sheng player Wu Tong, the world’s premier pipa virtuoso and leading ambassador of Chinese music, Wu Man will make her Festival debut. A founding member of the legendary Silk Road Ensemble with celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma, she will be joined by the who’s who of chamber music, with half of the artists making their AFCM debut.
German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser, hailed by Gramophone Magazine as “one of the finest among the astonishing gallery of young virtuoso cellists,” is an AFCM debut artist in 2019, as is the Grammy-nominated Estonian-born bassoon virtuoso, Martin Kuuskmann, who is now based in the US.
Making their debut performances in Australia at the 2019 AFCM include celebrated violinists Alexandra Conunova from Moldova and Liza Ferschtman from Holland, oboist Rachael Clegg from the UK, violist Jennifer Stumm from the USA and UK-based Roberto Carrillo Garcia who plays the gamba, double bass and guitar.
Australian-born, London-based super saxophonist Amy Dickson, fresh from being named the UK’s Young Australian of the Year 2016 and Grammy™ nominated twice, returns to the AFCM in 2019. Dickson made history by becoming the first saxophonist to win a Classic Brit Award and the first ever Australian to win the Mastercard Breakthrough Artist of the Year award.
The 29th AFCM takes place in Townsville from Friday 26th July to Sunday 4th August and features 22 concerts, five free events and three special events including an extraordinary concert on Orpheus Island and one on Magnetic Island. The program includes six morning Concert Conversations, the Sunset and Evening Series concerts, inspirational Winterschool masterclasses and performances as well as a new time and format for the entertaining Cleveland Bay Concert.
Some of the Festival’s favourite events include the Opening Night Concert, the Governor’s Gala on Saturday evening, the much-anticipated free Queens Garden Concert and Concert Conversations at The Ville where audiences can get up close and personal with the musicians. In 2019, the Festival will collaborate with Strand Ephemera, which is on at the same time, and deliver several music events that encourage visitors to enjoy the stunning sculptures along The Strand and music in the outdoors.
Dates and Ticket Details
General public tickets, passes and holiday packages go on sale on Monday 25 February.
AFCM Friends have been able to purchase tickets since 3 December. The AFCM Friends program is new to 2019 – join now at afcm.com.au/friends.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music: 26 July – 4 August 2019 | Townsville, North Queensland
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>AFCM principal partners include; Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and Arts Queensland, and Townsville City Council. The multi-award-winning Australian Festival of Chamber Music is recognised as a major event on the Tourism and Events Queensland calendar. The Queensland Government is proud to support the Australian Festival of Chamber Music through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. Queensland, just the place to experience Australia’s best live events.
