Earlier this year I was approached to participate in a new series of Saturday afternoon concerts in Daylesford (Victoria) at Christ Church. Inspired and managed by local Daylesford resident Frank Page, the inaugural series presented five concerts with a wide range of types of performances.
The first concert of the series was presented by string ensemble Klemantyne based in Ballarat, performing works by Handel, Cimarosa, Sibelius, Elena Kats-Chernin, Heitor Villa-Lobos, and Astor Piazzolla.
Viol consort Consortium presented ‘The Gamut of Viols’, a smorgasbord of music for viol consort from the 16th and 17th centuries in England and Europe to new works by Brooke Green. Early music ranged from Battaglia by Henrich Isaac depicting a battle, to fantasias by Henry Purcell with distinct sections heralding the future of movements.
The third concert was presented by Saltbush. Reidun Turner (viols) and Ryan Wiliams (recorder) were joined for this concert by Joy Lee on harpsichord. The concert, ‘The Italian Affections’, presented music from seventeenth-century Italy, exploring music from the very beginnings of the sonata to works by Corelli and Vivaldi.
The series concluded with two final performances; Rossini’s comic opera ‘La Cenerentola’ (‘Cinderella’) performed by the touring opera company, Lyster Opera Company, and the Daylesford Community Brass Band.
Historic Christ Church was built around 1862, was designed by Melbourne architect Leonard Terry who also designed the Melbourne Club building. It was a beautiful backdrop for this series and every concert was close to capacity with audience coming from Melbourne, regional areas, as well as local residents.
After such a successful beginning there are plans for a series in 2023. Visit their website – https://www.daylesfordanglican.com/events for further information.
— Victoria Watts