The Australian Chamber Orchestra continue their long established tradition of imaginative programming of fine music. White Hat suspects that this program will gain  some new followers of classical music from amongst jazz fans, and also some new appreciation of fine jazz, and also some new appreciation of fine jazz from amongst classical music followers.

During the Middle Ages, Spain became a melting pot of cultures with the locals being influenced the musical instruments and idions of the Sephardic Jews and the Moors. The resulting and evolving Spanish musical styles had an enduring ‘exotic’ appeal for other European composers who often paid it homage. It was also to cross-fertilize with further idioms with the spread of the Spanish and Portuguese Empires. Not surprisingly its influence is also to be heard in certain jazz and popular music.

Richard Tognetti leads the ACO for this musical exploration, and they are joined by a jazz quartet, featuring pianist Matt McMahon and trumpeter Phil Slater.

• Debussy Images pour orchestre: 2. Ibéria: I. Par les rues et les chemins
• Boccherini String Quintet in C major, G.324 “Night music of the streets of Madrid”: Selections
• Ravel (arr. Tognetti) Violin Sonata No.2: II. Blues. Moderato
• Bizet (arr. Shchedrin) Carmen Suite: Selections
• Traditional Sephardic music, incl. Yo era niña de casa alta
• Miles Davis Sketches of Spain: Solea
• Chick Corea Spain

Pricing and online ticket sales available on Australian Chamber Orchestra website

The Australian Chamber Orchestra with Richard Tognetti (director & violin) and Stefanie Farrands (viola) perform a program of works by Mozart and Britten.

Benjamin Britten and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart bothe began composing at an early age, and this concert presents one work from each of them composed at the age of 16. It also has one work from each composer's maturity. White Hat confidently expects that both the youthful and mature works will receive the highly polished and professional performances we have grown to expt from the ACO.

• Britten Elegy for Strings (Australian Premiere)
• Mozart (arr. strings) Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat major, K.364
• Mozart Divertimento in D major, K.136
• Britten Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op.10

Pricing and online ticket sales available on Australian Chamber Orchestra website

When it comes to dynasties of musicians and composers, the Bach family is one of the most remarkable, crowned of course by the mighty Johann Sebastian. However, his forebears were more than competent at their trade as this concert demonstrates, while his two most prominent sons - Carl Phillip Emanuel and Johann Christian - explored new paths towards the ‘storm and stress’ style and Haydn and the rococo style and Mozart respectively

It was no surprise that when White Hat compiled our list top 100 concertos, J. S. Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins came out as number 1. Not even the best efforts of generations of juvenile violin students have been able to destroy this work. Imagine then how it shines when played by some of Australia's finest - the Australian Chamber Orchestra with Richard Tognetti (Director) and Anna Dowsley (Principal Violin) as violin soloists. Other fine soloists include Anna Dowsley (mezzo-soprano), Helena Rathbone (violin),  Erin Helyard (harpsichord & fortepiano) and Timo-Veikko Valve (cello) in C. P. E. Bach’s virtuoistic Cello Concerto.

• J. L. Bach Suite in G major: Overture
• H. Bach Sonata à 5 in F major
• J. C. Bach Meine Freundin, du bist schön: Ciaconna “Mein Freund is Mein”
• J. S. Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV1043 (one of White Hat's Top 100 Concerti)
• J. S. Bach Cantata “Widerstehe doch der Sünde” BWV54: “Widerstehe doch der Sünde”
• J. S. Bach Cantata “Ich habe genug”, BWV82: “Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen”
• Mozart (after J. C. Bach) Piano Concerto No.12 in A major, K.414: II. Andante
• J. C. F. Bach Sinfonia in D minor: I. Allegro
• J. C. F. Bach Die Amerikanerin: “Mein Herz fleucht ihr entgegen”
• C. P. E. Bach Cello Concerto in A major, Wq.172

Pricing and online ticket sales available on Australian Chamber Orchestra website