News Release:
Final tickets on sale for Bach extravaganza
| 28/1/04 013/04 This week marks the final release of tickets for the Bach Festival's highlight performance, featuring The Australian Brandenburg Ensemble and The Song Company. In a coup for Armidale as a centre for culture and music, the two ensembles will perform together for the first time, festival director Caroline Downer said. The program for the joint performance, on February 13, will include a cantata, motet and orchestral suite. The Australian Brandenburg Ensemble will perform separately at the festival's grand opening, featuring works by Vivaldi as well as Bach, while the Song Company will perform a number of German polyphonic works motets at the Ursuline Chapel on Saturday, February 14. The Bach Festival runs over five days from February 12. Tickets cost from $15 (concession) to $160 for a season ticket to all events, but discounts are available on this price. There is also a website giving all details. "The Song Company performing with The Australian Brandenburg Ensemble is a perfect complement, since they specialise in period instrument performances and early music," Ms Downer said. A feature of the joint performance will be the use of period instruments. Ms Catherine Hastings, Operations Manager for The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, said this would give the music a different texture and sound and add depth to the repertoire.
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"One of the instruments being used is a theorbo, which is a member of the lute family but plays deeper notes," Ms Hastings said. Another coup will be the presence of Tommie Andersson, a specialist in early guitar and lute and Neal Peres da Costa, who will play the harpsichord. Lucinda Moon will direct The Australian Brandenburg Ensemble. Song Company manager Joanne Kee said the event provided an opportunity for the complement of six singers to extend its repertoire. "We have performed regularly in Armidale but this will be a first, performing with The [Australian] Brandenburg [Ensemble] and we are thrilled to be able to have the opportunity," Ms Kee said. The Bach Festival features a number of other events, including a dramatic workshop at Ben Venue School for primary school children, a performance of Bach's peasant cantata in Hanna's Arcade, Armidale, a harpsichord recital and festival dinner at Booloominbah, at the University of New England, a sponsor of the festival. Media contact: Caroline Downer (02) 6775 2404. |
