- DAYLESFORD
- HEPBURN SPRINGS
A Feast of Music by name, and a feast of music by nature… a weekend of sumptuous sounds, mesmerising morsels and a world premiere, from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 September 2024.
Joining the core MCO musicians are classical accordion virtuoso James Crabb and much-loved Melbourne musicians, pianist and composer Stefan Cassomenos and violinist Elizabeth Sellars. Together, we will dance through tangos, sing songs old and new, and play a banquet of music from Bach to Beach, Mozart to Piazzolla and Schubert to Cassomenos.
Experience the thrill of a world premiere with the composer at the keyboard on Saturday afternoon when Stefan plays the first performance of his new work with the core MCO players, a reflection on Schubert’s glorious Trout Quintet.
James’ electrifying ability to make an orchestra of sounds from his accordion will be on full display through the weekend, showcasing his virtuosic range from the purity of Bach through to the fire of Piazzolla.
13 Sep - 15 Sep 24
THE PLAYERS
Sophie Rowell VIOLIN
James Crabb CLASSICAL ACCORDION
Stefan Cassomenos PIANO
Elizabeth Sellars VIOLIN
Merewyn Bramble VIOLA
Blair Harris CELLO
Emma Sullivan DOUBLE BASS
WHERE + WHEN
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DAYLESFORD | HEPBURN SPRINGS Friday 13 to Sunday 15 September Daylesford Town Hall | Hotel Bellinzona
FULL FESTIVAL PACKAGE -
DAYLESFORD Friday 13 to Sunday 15 September Daylesford Town Hall
4-CONCERT PACKAGE -
Festival Packages $405/$205 For single ticket bookings, please use booking buttons under each event description.
BOOK INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
GYPSY FIRE
DAYLESFORD TOWN HALL
Friday 13 September 7:30pm
The Festival begins with a journey through the passion and power of the music of middle Europe. James Crabb will set the stage alight with his arrangement of Haydn’s effervescent Gypsy Trio. The charm of Vanhal makes way for the sparks to fly in Brahms’ powerful first Piano Quartet. We all come together to finish the concert with the seductive magic that is the music of Piazzolla.
Joseph HAYDN Piano Trio No 39 in G major Gypsy Hob XV:25 (arr James Crabb)
Johann Baptist VANHAL Divertimento in G major
Johannes BRAHMS Piano Quartet No 1 in G minor Op 25
Astor PIAZZOLLA La Muerte del Angel (arr James Crabb)
SONGS + SKITTLES
DAYLESFORD TOWN HALL
Saturday 14 September 11:00am
Imagine a young Mozart sitting at his pianoforte merrily playing music inspired by the game of skittles he had just played with his sister. The joy and simple pleasure of this scene are so directly translatable into the essence of Mozart’s music. The music of Amy Beach has a distinctively personal nature with a haunting beauty that pervades her works. Aulis Sallinen’s Dance Suite showcases edgy dance rhythms to bring this concert to an irresistible toe-tapping close.
WA MOZART Trio in E flat major Kegelstatt K498
Amy BEACH La Captive, Berceuse, Pastorale from Five Pieces for Cello & Paino
WA MOZART-Ferruccio BUSONI Fantasia in F minor K608 (arr James Crabb)
Aulis SALLINEN Dance Suite
CONTEMPLATIONS
DAYLESFORD TOWN HALL
Saturday 14 September 2:30pm
In a true highlight of this Festival, we are delighted to present the world premiere performance of composer/pianist Stefan Cassomenos’ reflection on Schubert’s much loved Trout Quintet. Music is a true inspirer, for audiences, players, and for the composers themselves. Caroline Shaw was inspired by Haydn to write her mesmerising Entr’acte, while Lutosławski wrote these spectacular variations based on Paganini’s famous 24th Caprice.
JS BACH Sonata in E major BWV1016 (arr James Crabb)
Caroline SHAW Entr’acte
Witold LUTOSŁAWSKI Variations on a Theme by Paganini (arr James Crabb)
Stefan CASSOMENOS *World Premiere of MCO Commission^
Franz SCHUBERT Piano Quintet in A major Trout D667
^with thanks to the Robert Salzer Foundation
CHAMBER MUSIC DINING
HOTEL BELLINZONA, HEPBURN SPRINGS
Saturday 14 September 6:30pm
Enjoy an intimate dining experience with chamber music, with the hospitality of renowned luxury Hepburn Springs venue Hotel Bellinzona. A set three-course meal with pre-dinner canapés and selected wines* is accompanied by musical interludes performed by musicians of the Festival. Numbers are strictly limited.
*includes selected wine. Additional items available to purchase at the bar.
Note: Bookings must close 6 September 2024.
LAST TANGO IN…DAYLESFORD
DAYLESFORD TOWN HALL
Sunday 15 September 11am
We end this year’s Festival with favourites and fireworks. From the elegance of Boccherini and the sophistication of Bach to the intoxicating rhythm of Piazzolla, our Festival culminates with a joyous celebration of music…an end to this year’s feast and an invitation to next year’s.
Luigi BOCCHERINI String Quintet in C major Op 11 No 3 G273
Alan RIDOUT Ferdinand the Bull
JS BACH Concerto for two keyboards in C minor BWV1060 (arr James Crabb)
Antonio AGRI/José CARLI Desde Adentro (arr James Crabb)
Astor PIAZZOLLA Libertango (arr James Crabb)
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