Overview
Join us over 5 days for the 30th Anniversary celebration of the Canberra International Music Festival. From 1-5 May 2024, a remarkable lineup of international, national and First Nations artists will converge on the Nation’s Capital to bring vibrant life to an unmissable 2024 Festival Program. Program Highlights include ‘Compassion’ - Lior, all six of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos performed by Bach Akademie Australia, Andrew Ford’s ‘Red Dirt Hymns’ performed by Luminescence Chamber Singers, Chamber music performed by award-winning international ensembles Trio Karénine (France) and the Dudok Quartet (Amsterdam). Performances will be given by much-loved Australian artists including William Barton, Ensemble Offspring, the Stiff Gins, Tamara-Anna Cislowska and many more.
Our bespoke tour runs 1 - 6 May and includes 5 nights of accommodation in premium rooms at an award-winning luxury 4.5 star hotel; priority seating at 10 selected concerts spread across an exciting array of venues, including Canberra’s new Snow Concert Hall, the historic Albert Hall, The High Court of Australia, The National Museum and the Turkish Embassy; attendance at several bespoke events with opportunities to meet the artists; free parking at the hotel and organised bus travel to/from all concert venues. There will be optional food and wine experiences and guided gallery tours available between concerts.
This bespoke small group tour offers a rare and exciting combination of sublime musical experiences, a fabulous group of like-minded music lovers to travel and mix with, 3 experienced Tour Leaders to host and look after you, and ample opportunities to mix with the artists, composers, Artistic Director and wider Festival family.
Our journey begins as we arrive and check in to Canberra’s newest, award-winning 4.5- star luxury hotel, conveniently located in the heart of Canberra between the fashionable retail and restaurant hubs of Manuka and Kingston.
World-class
Concerts
Epicurean
Excellence
Luxury
Accommodation
Tour Itinerary
Day 1, Wednesday 1 May 2024
1st of 5 nights at East Hotel, Canberra
Festival Opening Gala ‘COMPASSION – Lior’, and ‘Welcome’ Drinks for our tour group
Our Canberra sojourn begins as we arrive and check in to Canberra’s highly acclaimed 4.5 star boutique design and lifestyle hotel, EAST. With its premium location between the fashionable retail and restaurant hubs of Manuka and Kingston, EAST Hotel provides a contemporary, cool and vibrant accommodation experience for visitors to the nation’s capital. East Hotel is a family affair with Italian roots. Roman chef Francesco Balestrieri, along with the hotel owners Dan and Dion Bisa, have together created an array of dining experiences that honour and celebrate their shared Italian heritage. The hotel has stand-alone dining and bar facilities, including Joe’s Bar – an intimate nocturnal meeting place to enjoy a curated wine list, classic cocktails, and contemporary Italian fare; Agostini’s – an Italian Restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine made with love; and Muse Café/Bookstore where good food, great wine and the magic of the written word come together!
In the early evening, the group will gather in the chic hotel foyer for bus travel to the SNOW CONCERT HALL, Canberra’s newest world-class music performance venue. Here, we will enjoy priority seating and pre-organised interval drinks while we attend the Festival’s Opening Gala – COMPASSION.
Lior’s award-winning work COMPASSION has won over critics and audiences alike. Based on ancient Hebrew and Arabic texts, Compassion brings together Lior’s ravishing voice with refined orchestrations by acclaimed composer Nigel Westlake to offer a life-affirming statement of shared humanity for a divided world.
Setting the scene are three musical giants from different corners of the world in a Festival exclusive: Persian tar player Hamed Sadeghi, acclaimed Belgian pianist Bram De Looze, and our very own William Barton.
CONCERT 1
7.30 pm – Snow Concert Hall, Red Hill
William Barton with Hamed Sadeghi and Bram De Looze
–– INTERVAL ––
Compassion – Lior Attar and Nigel Westlake
Artists
Lior (voice), William Barton (didgeridoo), Hamed Sadeghi (tar), Bram De Looze (piano), Veronique Serret (violin), Florian Peelman (viola), Freya Shack-Arnott (cello), Ben Ward (double bass), Claire Edwardes (percussion), Tamara-Anna Cislowska (piano), Roland Peelman (Director)
Post-concert, we travel by bus back to our hotel for celebratory ‘welcome’ drinks and supper in the chic lobby lounge.
Day 2, Thursday 2 May 2024
2nd of 5 nights at East Hotel, CanberrA
Three magnificent concerts; two spectacular venues; one inspiring day!
Mid-morning we gather in our hotel lobby for travel to one of Canberra’s most iconic and historic venues – Albert Hall. Restored to its original glory post refurbishment, the Albert Hall’s magnificent Classical Revival architecture, gloriously ornate ceilings and grand oversized windows which overlook the park, lake, and elegant surroundings, combine to create a beautiful atmosphere at this magnificent, historic building. It provides a grand and perfect backdrop for our Festival concert experience.
Our morning concert features the French piano trio - Trio Karénine, acclaimed by critics and audiences for its musical integrity and passionate interpretation. At home in classic Parisian elegance the program begins with Saint-Saens Piano Trio No.1 and finishes with Ravel’s Trio in A.
CONCERT 2: TRIO KARENINE (FRANCE)
11am – Albert Hall, Yarralumla
Camille Saint-Saens, Piano Trio No.1 Op 18
Joaquin Turina, Theme and Variations from Trio No 1 Op 35
Maurice Ravel, Trio in A
Artists
Trio Karénine: Julien Dieudegard (violin), Louis Rodde (cello), Paloma Kouider (piano)
In the afternoon, we see the charismatic and captivating Dudok Quartet from Amsterdam. The program features Mozart’s last String Quartet - conceived for the cello playing King of Prussia! We will also hear a commissioned work by young composer Holly Harrison and the Polish master Bacewicz.
CONCERT 3: DUDOK QUARTET (AMSTERDAM)
3 pm – Albert Hall, Yarralumla
W.A. Mozart, String Quartet K590
Holly Harrison, Balderdash
Grazyna Bacewicz, String Quartet No. 4
Artists
Dudok Quartet: Judith Van Driel (violin), Marleen Website (violin), Marie-Louise De Jong (viola), David Faber (cello)
In the evening, we gather in the hotel foyer for travel to the National Museum of Australia, where we will see Luminescence Chamber Singers bring to life the entire song cycle – RED DIRT HYMNS. Written by Andrew Ford during the pandemic, these simple songs were created to connect people in simple ways using new texts by Australian poets. The work is a living songbook grounded in the red dirt of Australia.
CONCERT 4: RED DIRT HYMNS
8.00 pm – National Museum of Australia, Acton Andrew Ford, Red Dirt Hymns NB The Museum is open from 6.30pm for a private pre-concert viewing of the Great Southern Land exhibition
Artists
Luminescence Chamber Singers, with Freya Shack-Arnott (cello) and Hilary Geddes (guitar)
Post-concert, we travel by bus back to our hotel for drinks and supper in the chic lobby lounge.
Day 3, Friday 3 May 2024
3rd of 5 nights at East Hotel, Canberra
A special day: Breakfast in the Turkish Embassy, a Concert in the High Court of Australia, and an evening of Beethoven
In the morning, we meet in the hotel lobby for travel to the Turkish Embassy where we will enjoy an exclusive event including a traditional Turkish breakfast, as well as a performance by 3 eminent artists: acclaimed Bulgarian guitarist Pavel Ralev, the Persian virtuoso Hamed Sadeghi on tar, alongside Freedman Award winner Hilary Geddes – in a beautiful meeting of cultures.
CONCERT 5: TURKISH TEA
9.30 am – Embassy of the Republic of Turkiye, Yarralumla
Carlo Domeniconi – ‘Koyunbaba’ Improvisations
Artists
Pavel Ravi (classical guitar), Hamed Sadeghi (tar), Hilary Geddes (electric guitar)
Post Concert
In the afternoon, we travel together to the High Court of Australia for another exclusive event. Here, we will experience extraordinary musicians performing in an extraordinary space. Witness these superlative Australian artists engage with each other inside this lofty space. On arrival, we are treated to a short morning tea before enjoying the final performance of our series, Concert 4.
CONCERT 6: HIGH STAKES
3 pm – High Court of Australia, Parkes
New material under development by the four collaborators
Artists
William Barton (didgeridoo), Auntie Delmae Barton (voice), Veronique Serret (violin), Tamara Anna-Cislowska (piano)
In the evening we gather in the hotel foyer for travel to the Snow Concert Hall where we will see a Trio from France and a Quartet from the Netherlands climb the loftiest heights of Beethoven’s Legacy. This concert program will include two milestones of the European musical canon – Beethoven’s much loved Archduke Trio and Brahms String Quintet No. 2
CONCERT 7: BEETHOVEN’S LEGACY
7.30 pm – Snow Concert Hall, Red Hill
Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Trio No. 7 in Bb major, Op.97 ‘Archduke’
Johannes Brahms, String Quintet No.2 in G major, Op111 ‘Prater’
Artists
Trio Karénine (FRANCE): Julien Dieudegard (violin), Louis Rodde (cello), Paloma Kouider (piano); Dudok Quartet (NETHERLANDS): Judith Van Driel (violin), Marleen Website (violin), Marie-Louise De Jong (viola), David Faber (cello) with violist Florian Peelman (Berlin)
Post-concert, we travel by bus back to our hotel for drinks and supper in the chic lobby lounge.
Day 4, Saturday 4 May 2024
4th of 5 nights at East Hotel, Canberra
A free day to relax and explore Canberra; a special evening of Bach Brandenburg Concerti
Today we have a free day with time to explore Canberra’s sights and galleries at leisure.
NB There will be the option to attend an organised guided tour of the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery for anyone interested.
In the evening, we gather in the hotel foyer for travel to the Snow Concert Hall, where we will see Bach Akademie Australia perform 3 of Bach’s glorious Brandenburg Concertos. Directed by Madeleine Easton, this concert forms Part 1 of the ‘Six Brandenburg Concertos’ - a Festival Highlight. Post concert we join the musicians of Bach Akademie at an exclusive ‘Friends’ event.
CONCERT 8: BACH’S BRANDENBURG, PART 1
7.30pm – Snow Concert Hall, Red Hill
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F BWV 1046
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G BWV 1048
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D BWV 1050
Artists
Bach Akademie Australia, Directed by Madeleine Easton
Day 5, Sunday 5 May 2024
5th of 5 nights at East Hotel, Canberra
Bach Brandenburg Concerti Part II and a Festival Finale in celebration of Roland Peelman
In the morning, we meet in our hotel lobby for travel to the Snow Concert Hall where we will enjoy performances of the remaining 3 glorious Bach Brandenburg Concertos. Directed by Madeleine Easton this concert forms Part II of the ‘Six Brandenburg Concertos’. Post concert we join the musicians of Bach Akademie at an exclusive ‘Friends’ event.
CONCERT 9: BACH’S BRANDENBURG, PART 2
11am – Snow Concert Hall, Red Hill
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F BWV 1047
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G BWV 1049
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 In Bb BWV 1051
Artists
Bach Akademie Australia, Directed by Madeleine Easton
In the evening, we will gather in the hotel foyer for travel to the Snow Concert Hall, where we will join Festival Artistic Director Roland Peelman and friends for the Festival Finale, “Mulanggari,” a celebration of the oldest living culture on earth. As the curtain falls on Roland’s decade-long tenure at the helm of the Festival, some of his closest musical collaborators join forces to mark the end of an era and to set the tone for the future. Post-concert we will join Roland and the performers to celebrate his outstanding contribution.
CONCERT 10: FINALE - MULANGGARI
6.30 pm – Snow Concert Hall, Red Hill
Simpson/Briggs, Selection of Songs in new arrangements by Jonathan Zwartz featuring Dudok Quartet Amsterdam
— INTERVAL —
Barton/Serret, duet.
Holly Harrison, new CIMF commissioned percussion trio.
Nardi Simpson, Burruguu (time of creation) Brenda Gifford, Wardhu (skin).
Artists
Stiff Gins: Kaleena Briggs and Nardi Simpson, William Barton (didgeridoo) and Veronique Serret (violin), Dudok Quartet Amsterdam, Claire Edwardes (percussion), Niki Johnson (percussion), Veronica Bailey (percussion), Jason Noble (clarinet), Lamorna Nightingale (flute), Freya Shack-Arnott (cello), Ben Ward (double bass), Luminescence Chamber Singers, Ellery String Quartet
Day 6, Monday 6 May 2024
TOUR CONCLUDES
Following a leisurely breakfast, we check out of EAST HOTEL and our wonderful 5-day Festival Tour concludes.
Costs and Information
There may be some changes to the itinerary.
Flights from Sydney to Canberra are not included in this itinerary.
Meals and drinks are not included in the overall tour cost. These are always optional and are to be paid on consumption.
Hotel parking is provided to you FREE OF CHARGE for the duration of your stay.
Our tour package includes tickets to 10 carefully selected concerts. There are many more concerts in the festival and guests are of course free to buy additional tickets and make their own arrangements to attend any of these.
CANBERRA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL TOUR
Wed 1st May - Mon 6th May 2024: 5 nights
TOUR PACKAGE COSTS
Upgraded Room at East Hotel (5 Nights) = $1250 Per Room (Paid to hotel on Check-in)
Tour including 10 Concert Ticket Package (Priority Seating) and Bus Travel to/from all concert venues= $1000 Per Person
NB Total Tour Payment is due by 15 April 2024 (details per invoice sent)
TOUR LEADERS
Annie Whealy – Director, MWV Music Tours
The Hon. Justice Anthony Whealy KC – Chair, Bach Akademie Australia
Rachel Whealy – Executive Director, Canberra International Music Festival
NB Places are limited to a maximum number of 50 participants; with numbers currently sitting at 30 this tour is likely to sell out soon!