American Tradition

Osvaldo Golijov's haunting Tenebrae was written in response to violence and beauty. Gordon Kerry's String Quartet No. 5, a new Australian work, is featuring various hymns and nature descriptions. The program will finish with Antonín Dvorák's famous String Quartet No. 12, Op. 96, 'American'. Dvorák wrote this wonderful piece during the summer of 1893, while being on vacation in Spillville, Iowa and it cleary shows African-American influences.

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4 + Viola! (Guest Emile Cantor, viola)

International viola soloist Emile Cantor returns to Australia to join Acacia Quartet for a program of viola quintets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Nick Wales and Antonin Dvorak. 

The program will feature Mozart's exquisite String Quintet in G minor, K516, Boomi's Ray by Australian composer Nick Wales, best known for his collaborations, notably with Sarah Blasko and the Sydney Dance Company and Dvorák's joyful String Quintet Op. 97, which he wrote during his summer vacation in Spillville, Iowa in 1893, just after his famous American quartet.

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High Tea and Concert

Join us for an enchanting afternoon of glorious music in the Annesley Ballroom

with one of Australia's finest string quartets, the Acacia Quartet and visiting international violist, Emile Cantor (member of the Orpheus Quartet, Germany).

Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine upon arrival before their superb concert featuring: 

Mozart - String Quintet No 4 in G minor K.516
Dvorak - String Quintet Op. 97

During the interval, join the Musicians and our Artistic Director, Myee Clohessy, 
for a sumptuous High Tea in The Garden Room at Annesley.

This event has kindly been sponsored by Annesley in Bowral
and Mr & Mrs Timothy & Eva Pascoe.  

All funds raised from this event will go towards creating an even more glorious
Bowral Autumn Music Festival for you in 2019!

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4 + Viola! (Guest Emile Cantor, viola)

International viola soloist Emile Cantor returns to Australia to join Acacia Quartet for a program of viola quintets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Nick Wales and Antonin Dvorak. 

The program will feature Mozart's exquisite String Quintet in G minor, K516, Boomi's Ray by Australian composer Nick Wales, best known for his collaborations, notably with Sarah Blasko and the Sydney Dance Company and Dvorák's joyful String Quintet Op. 97, which he wrote during his summer vacation in Spillville, Iowa in 1893, just after his famous American quartet.

BUY TICKETS

4 + Viola! (Guest Emile Cantor, viola)

International viola soloist Emile Cantor returns to Australia to join Acacia Quartet for a program of viola quintets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Nick Wales and Antonin Dvorak. 

The program will feature Mozart's exquisite String Quintet in G minor, K516, Boomi's Ray by Australian composer Nick Wales, best known for his collaborations, notably with Sarah Blasko and the Sydney Dance Company and Dvorák's joyful String Quintet Op. 97, which he wrote during his summer vacation in Spillville, Iowa in 1893, just after his famous American quartet.

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4 + VIOLA! (GUEST EMILE CANTOR, VIOLA)

International viola soloist Emile Cantor returns to Australia to join Acacia Quartet for a program of viola quintets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonin Dvorak. 

The program will feature Mozart's exquisite String Quintet in G minor, K516 and Dvorák's joyful String Quintet Op. 97, which he wrote during his summer vacation in Spillville, Iowa in 1893, just after his famous American quartet.

This outstanding event fuses exceptional music, landmark architecture, fine food and wine.

Recital and pre-show dinner
$140

Dining Room pre-show dinner 6.30–8 pm, two courses and a glass of estate wine

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4 + Viola! (Guest Emile Cantor, viola)

International viola soloist Emile Cantor returns to Australia to join Acacia Quartet for a program of viola quintets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Nick Wales and Antonin Dvorak. 

The program will feature Mozart's exquisite String Quintet in G minor, K516, Boomi's Ray by Australian composer Nick Wales, best known for his collaborations, notably with Sarah Blasko and the Sydney Dance Company and Dvorák's joyful String Quintet Op. 97, which he wrote during his summer vacation in Spillville, Iowa in 1893, just after his famous American quartet.

BUY TICKETS

4 + Viola! (Guest Emile Cantor, viola)

International viola soloist Emile Cantor returns to Australia to join Acacia Quartet for a program of viola quintets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonin Dvorak. 

The program will feature Mozart's exquisite String Quintet in G minor, K516 and Dvorák's joyful String Quintet Op. 97, which he wrote during his summer vacation in Spillville, Iowa in 1893, just after his famous American quartet.

BUY TICKETS

4 + Viola! (Guest Emile Cantor, viola)

International viola soloist Emile Cantor returns to Australia to join Acacia Quartet for a program of viola quintets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Nick Wales and Antonin Dvorak. 

The program will feature Mozart's exquisite String Quintet in G minor, K516, Boomi's Ray by Australian composer Nick Wales, best known for his collaborations, notably with Sarah Blasko and the Sydney Dance Company and Dvorák's joyful String Quintet Op. 97, which he wrote during his summer vacation in Spillville, Iowa in 1893, just after his famous American quartet.

BUY TICKETS

4 + Viola! (Guest Emile Cantor, viola)

International viola soloist Emile Cantor returns to Australia to join Acacia Quartet for a program of viola quintets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Nick Wales and Antonin Dvorak. 

The program will feature Mozart's exquisite String Quintet in G minor, K516, Boomi's Ray by Australian composer Nick Wales, best known for his collaborations, notably with Sarah Blasko and the Sydney Dance Company and Dvorák's joyful String Quintet Op. 97, which he wrote during his summer vacation in Spillville, Iowa in 1893, just after his famous American quartet.

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Workshop For String Players (4:00 - 6:00)

Acacia Quartet's return to the Mitchell Conservatorium will see the quartet with guest Emile Cantor giving two workshops for string players.

4 + Viola! (Guest Emile Cantor, viola) (7:30 - 9:30pm)

International viola soloist Emile Cantor returns to Australia to join Acacia Quartet for a program of viola quintets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Nick Wales and Antonin Dvorak. 

The program will feature Mozart's exquisite String Quintet in G minor, K516, Boomi's Ray by Australian composer Nick Wales, best known for his collaborations, notably with Sarah Blasko and the Sydney Dance Company and Dvorák's joyful String Quintet Op. 97, which he wrote during his summer vacation in Spillville, Iowa in 1893, just after his famous American quartet.

BUY TICKETS

Workshop For String Players (4:00 - 6:00)

Acacia Quartet's return to the Mitchell Conservatorium will see the quartet with guest Emile Cantor giving two workshops for string players.

4 + Viola! (Guest Emile Cantor, viola) (7:30 - 9:30pm)

International viola soloist Emile Cantor returns to Australia to join Acacia Quartet for a program of viola quintets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Nick Wales and Antonin Dvorak. 

The program will feature Mozart's exquisite String Quintet in G minor, K516, Boomi's Ray by Australian composer Nick Wales, best known for his collaborations, notably with Sarah Blasko and the Sydney Dance Company and Dvorák's joyful String Quintet Op. 97, which he wrote during his summer vacation in Spillville, Iowa in 1893, just after his famous American quartet.

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Italian Serenade

Let Acacia Quartet take you on a musical trip to Southern Europe. Hugo Wolf's Italian Serenade was inspired when setting music to poems by Joseph Eichendorff, while Giacomo Puccini's Crysantemi was written in one night after hearing about his friend's, the Duke of Savoy's death on the news. John Peterson's String Quartet No. 3 is a newly written, very groovy Australian piece.  The only surviving chamber music work of Giuseppe Verdi is his String Quartet. It was premiered during a production of AIDA at an informal recital at Verdi's hotel. Finishing in Spain, Joaquín Turina's La Oración del Torero (The Toreador's Prayer) is a dreamy reflection of longing and hope.

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Acacia Quartet's first appearance at the Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium will see the quartet giving a workshop for string players.

Italian Serenade

Let Acacia Quartet take you on a musical trip to Southern Europe. Hugo Wolf's Italian Serenade was inspired when setting music to poems by Joseph Eichendorff, while Giacomo Puccini's Crysantemi was written in one night after hearing about his friend's, the Duke of Savoy's death on the news. John Peterson's String Quartet No. 3 is a newly written, very groovy Australian piece.  The only surviving chamber music work of Giuseppe Verdi is his String Quartet. It was premiered during a production of AIDA at an informal recital at Verdi's hotel. Finishing in Spain, Joaquín Turina's La Oración del Torero (The Toreador's Prayer) is a dreamy reflection of longing and hope.

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Acacia Quartet's first appearance at the Clarence Valley Conservatorium will see the quartet participating in a workshop for string players. (11:00am - 4pm)

In the evening (7-8:30pm) the workshop will be followed by a concert:

American Tradition

Osvaldo Golijov's haunting Tenebrae was written in response to violence and beauty. Gordon Kerry's String Quartet No. 5, a new Australian work, is featuring various hymns and nature descriptions. The program will finish with Antonín Dvorák's famous String Quartet No. 12, Op. 96, 'American'. Dvorák wrote this wonderful piece during the summer of 1893, while being on vacation in Spillville, Iowa and it cleary shows African-American influences.

BUY TICKETS

Italian Serenade

The festival closes with Verdi's fantastic but seldom-performed String Quartet in E minor. Clearly operatic in nature, this work is full of Italian passion, excitement and drama.  Acacia Quartet is also thrilled to be presenting the world premiere of the beautiful String Quartet No 3 by Australian composer John Peterson alongside Puccini's melancholic 'Crisantemi' and the vibrant, comic-opera-like 'Italian Serenade'. 

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Return of the Light

Acacia Quartet takes us on a journey from the dark, ethereal melodies of Golijov's 'Tenebrae' to the hidden Welsh lullabies and seascapes of Gordon Kerry's new String Quartet No 5. After the interval, Acacia will end with Dvorák's much-loved 'American' quartet in which shimmering light returns in celebration of uninhibited 'joie de vivre'.

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Acacia Quartet's first appearance at the Orange Regional Conservatorium will see the quartet giving a workshop for the Orange Youth Orchestra.

Italian Serenade

Let Acacia Quartet take you on a musical trip to Southern Europe. Hugo Wolf's Italian Serenade was inspired when setting music to poems by Joseph Eichendorff, while Giacomo Puccini's Crysantemi was written in one night after hearing about his friend's, the Duke of Savoy's death on the news. John Peterson's String Quartet No. 3 is a newly written, very groovy Australian piece.  The only surviving chamber music work of Giuseppe Verdi is his String Quartet. It was premiered during a production of AIDA at an informal recital at Verdi's hotel. Finishing in Spain, Joaquín Turina's La Oración del Torero (The Toreador's Prayer) is a dreamy reflection of longing and hope.

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ACTIVISM AND RADICALISM FROM THE AIDS CRISIS TO TODAY

Conversations inspired by the stories told in the film BPM (Beats Per Minute) by Robin Campillo

Moderated by Nell Schofield, with panelists Philippe Mangeot, Maxime Forest, Bridget Haire and Lyle Chan.

When the AIDS crisis hit, LGBTQI communities around the world were changed forever. Groups like ActUp! mobilized themselves with radical tactics to fight for our lives against hostile attitudes and governments. This panel will bring together Australian and French perspectives on the AIDS crisis, and how the lasting effects of AIDS activism is still felt today in fighting for the rights of all LGBTQI people.

This panel will feature the co-screenwriter of BPM (Beats Per Minute) Philippe Mangeot sharing some key scenes from the film and recounting his own experience as President of ActUp! Paris in the 90s.

The Acacia Quartet will also feature and perform live, playing an excerpt of Lyle Chan’s work, the AIDS Memoir Quartet, a musical reflection on Chan’s experience as an activist during the crisis.

BPM (Beats Per Minute) will be screening at the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival and the Mardi Gras Film Festival. 

Alliance Francaise French Film Festival screenings are here, and the Mardi Gras Film Festival screening is here.

This panel is proudly presented in partnership with the French Embassy and the Alliance Française French Film Festival, with the support of the Institut Français. The talk is part of the French Australian Conversations series.

Dombrovskis Quartet

The Acacia Quartet perform the world premiere of Moya Henderson’s The Dombrovskis Quartet, followed by a late night viewing of the photographs that inspired its creation in the exhibition Dombrovskis: Journeys into the Wild. There also be performances of Moya Henderson's Wilderness Pieces for violin and piano (guest Roland Peelman), excerpts of Verklärung: Ecstatic Exercises for Solo Cello and Kudikynah Cave for string quartet.

Mozart's Clarinet Quintet

Acacia Quartet will be starting the concert with Osvaldo Golijov's haunting Tenebrae and will be ending the concert with one of the most loved chamber music works, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Clarinet Quintet. Joining the quartet will be wonderful clarinetist David Griffiths.

Ravel's String Quartet

Acacia Quartet will accompany Artistic Director & Chevalier des Arts et Lettres, Jane Rutter, in two haunting Pavannes for flute and strings by Fauré and Ravel and will then perform Ravel's masterful String Quartet in F.

Rhythm & Texture

It’s all about rhythm and texture in this exciting program by Acacia Quartet. Starting with Osvaldo Golijov’s haunting Tenebrae, we are transported above the planet, seeing Earth as a beautiful blue sphere. Beautiful, pulsating textures are carefully threaded with haunting melodies. Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 7 is dedicated to his first wife and shows all the emotion and heightened drama of Shostakovich’s best work — nervous energy and rapid pulses next to hypnotic lyrical passages.
Lyle Chan’s Andante Moderato, a world premiere, is more subtle and subdued, followed Javier Alvarez’s Metro Chabacano - a dedication to one of Mexico City’s subway stations.
And lastly, an inspired finale with Ravel’s work, String Quartet in F, composed in 1903.

Rhythm & Texture

It’s all about rhythm and texture in this exciting program by Acacia Quartet. Starting with Osvaldo Golijov’s haunting Tenebrae, we are transported above the planet, seeing Earth as a beautiful blue sphere. Beautiful, pulsating textures are carefully threaded with haunting melodies. Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 7 is dedicated to his first wife and shows all the emotion and heightened drama of Shostakovich’s best work — nervous energy and rapid pulses next to hypnotic lyrical passages.
Lyle Chan’s Andante Moderato, a world premiere, is more subtle and subdued, followed Javier Alvarez’s Metro Chabacano - a dedication to one of Mexico City’s subway stations.
And lastly, an inspired finale with Ravel’s work, String Quartet in F, composed in 1903.

Rhythm & Texture

It’s all about rhythm and texture in this exciting program by Acacia Quartet. Starting with Osvaldo Golijov’s haunting Tenebrae, we are transported above the planet, seeing Earth as a beautiful blue sphere. Beautiful, pulsating textures are carefully threaded with haunting melodies. Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 7 is dedicated to his first wife and shows all the emotion and heightened drama of Shostakovich’s best work — nervous energy and rapid pulses next to hypnotic lyrical passages.

Lyle Chan’s Andante Moderato, a world premiere, is more subtle and subdued, followed Javier Alvarez’s Metro Chabacano - a dedication to one of Mexico City’s subway stations.
And lastly, an inspired finale with Ravel’s work, String Quartet in F, composed in 1903.

Rhythm & Texture

It’s all about rhythm and texture in this exciting program by Acacia Quartet. Starting with Osvaldo Golijov’s haunting Tenebrae, we are transported above the planet, seeing Earth as a beautiful blue sphere. Beautiful, pulsating textures are carefully threaded with haunting melodies. Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 7 is dedicated to his first wife and shows all the emotion and heightened drama of Shostakovich’s best work — nervous energy and rapid pulses next to hypnotic lyrical passages.
Lyle Chan’s Andante Moderato, a world premiere, is more subtle and subdued, followed Javier Alvarez’s Metro Chabacano - a dedication to one of Mexico City’s subway stations.
And lastly, an inspired finale with Ravel’s work, String Quartet in F, composed in 1903.

Indulge Your Senses

Indulge your senses with an evening of elegance and sophistication at a stunning new venue in the Hunter Valley - Chateau Elan.

To celebrate the new home,  two of our best and most-loved opera stars, international soprano Cheryl Barker and popular baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes, will excite and delight you with their breathtaking voices and charismatic stage presence. Joining them will be gifted international flautist Jane Rutter and Maestro Guy Noble from ABC Classic FM, who will conduct the proceedings and accompany the artists on piano, supported by the rich tones of Acacia Quartet.