Australia Ensemble UNSW | Concert 4, 2026

French and Australian works bring the season to a glittering conclusion. Jean Anouilh’s satirical comedy, known in English as Ring Round the Moon and worthy of Wodehouse or Waugh, inspired Poulenc’s highly amusing incidental music of dances and parodic character pieces to illustrate the comic intrigues at a lavish ball. Gabriel Fauré’s delicate music is represented by a celebrated Nocturne and loving

team@sympley.com.au January 13, 2026

Attacca Quartet | at UKARIA

Two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Attacca Quartet is one of the most fearless and opinionated young quartets at work today. They make their UKARIA debut with a recital that exemplifies the ensemble’s unique character and programming style. Renowned in the US and Europe for the deft blending of old and new compositional voices, the Quartet’s first half is designed as a spirited exchange.

team@sympley.com.au December 13, 2025

Sitkovetsky Trio | at UKARIA

‘The Holy Grail of trio playing – three individual characters, but perfectly blended.’ – Edinburgh Music Review The Sitkovetsky Trio is one of the pre-eminent piano trios at work on today’s global stage. Formed by classmates at the UK’s Menuhin School over twenty years ago, the trio performs regularly in venues such as Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and London’s Wigmore Hall, and their extensive discography for

team@sympley.com.au December 11, 2025

Lucas Debargue | at UKARIA

The charismatic French pianist and composer Lucas Debargue makes his UKARIA debut. Since his sensational appearance at the 2015 Tchaikovsky competition, where he was awarded the prestigious Moscow Critics Award, Debargue has forged an international career as a virtuosic soloist and sought-after chamber musician. To regular performances as a soloist in Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, he adds chamber music collaborations with artists including Janine

team@sympley.com.au December 5, 2025

Cédric Tiberghien | at UKARIA

As a regular recitalist at London’s Wigmore Hall and as a soloist with the London and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras, French pianist Cédric Tiberghien is noted for his sensitive, versatile musicality as well as his innovative and engaging programming. His multiple talents are on display in this inventive, witty recital that stages the two halves of a conversation and increasingly delighted banter between compositional voices. Tiberghien’s first

team@sympley.com.au November 29, 2025

Musica Viva Australia | Beethoven’s Ghost – Melbourne

Australian pianist and storyteller Aura Go has worked with Finnish/Australian-based cellist Timo-Veikko (Tipi) Valve for many years, performing nationally and internationally as a duo. She’s also toured extensively with virtuoso Australian violinist Kristian Winther. Now Musica Viva Australia presents Aura Go, Timo-Veikko Valve and Kristian Winther performing all together. Beethoven’s Piano Trio in D, the ‘Ghost’, and Ravel’s stormy Piano

team@sympley.com.au November 22, 2025

Musica Viva Australia | Beethoven’s Ghost – Newcastle

team@sympley.com.au November 22, 2025

Musica Viva Australia | Beethoven’s Ghost – Sydney

team@sympley.com.au November 22, 2025

Ambassador thoughts

ACO’s Cocteau’s Circle – Encore Chloe Lankshear!

Australia Chamber Orchestra | Cocteau’s Circle November 17, 2025, Melbourne Recital Hall The Occasion A Monday night in the inventive and exploratory hands of Richard Tognetti and the ingenious ACO, Australia Chamber Orchestra. Having scaled the West face of Everest in ‘Mountain’ merely a fortnight ago, we have now migrated to the Melbourne Recital Centre, and set our Time Machine

Warren Wills November 20, 2025

Musica Viva Australia | Beethoven’s Ghost – Canberra

team@sympley.com.au November 6, 2025

Musica Viva Australia | Beethoven’s Ghost – Adelaide

team@sympley.com.au November 6, 2025

Musica Viva Australia | Beethoven’s Ghost – Perth

team@sympley.com.au November 3, 2025

Ambassador thoughts

Franck’s Symphony beautifully performed by MSO under the baton of Rodolfo Barráez

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra | Impressions of Paris October 25, 2025, Hamer Hall, Melbourne, VIC César Franck might have said, as a certain diminutive, dapper detective did: “I am not Frrench, I am Belgian!” Living most of his life in Paris, including being organist at a posh Paris church, he took required French nationality when becoming head of organ studies at

David Hood October 26, 2025

Ambassador thoughts

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet + QSO thrilled the crowd

Queensland Symphony Orchestra | Franck and Ravel 18 October, 2025, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane, QLD Conductor: Lionel Bringuier Soloist: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet This Maestro concert transported QSO subscribers to France as the conductor, Lionel Bringuier and concert pianist, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and repertoire were all French and yet the program wasn’t a casual stroll by the river Seine on a balmy

Gillian Wills October 22, 2025

Ambassador thoughts

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s electrifying Ravel – recipe for a brilliant recital

SSO – International Pianists in Recital | Jean-Efflam Bavouzet 20 October, 2025, City Recital Hall, Sydney MAURICE RAVEL (1875–1937) Sérénade grotesque (1893) Pavane pour une infante défunte (1899) Miroirs (1904–05) Gaspard de la nuit (1908) Le tombeau de Couperin (1914–17) For many of the concertgoers at the piano recital of the music of Ravel, pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet would have touched

Alan Holley October 21, 2025

Ambassador thoughts

The Orchestra Project “the cheapest orchestra in the world”, and perhaps the best!

The Orchestra Project | The Rite of Spring 20 April, 2025, Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney, NSW Igor Stravinsky was always a bit of a rebel. When he was nine, his piano teacher complained that he would not practice his designated pieces and would instead improvise. Most would take this as a sign of talent but not his parents, who refused to

Tony Burke April 21, 2025

Ambassador thoughts

…a different, beautiful and musical story with each work from Selby & Friends

Selby & Friends | Joyeux Anniversaire 8 April, 2025, Primrose Potter Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre, VIC ARTISTS Daniel Dodds – violin Julian Smiles – cello Kathryn Selby – piano PROGRAM W.A. Mozart Piano: Trio No 5 in C major K548 – Allegro, Andante Cantabile, Allegro Alexander Zemlinsky: Piano Trio in D minor op 3 – Allegro ma non troppo, Andante,

Peter Hagen April 14, 2025

Ambassador thoughts

MSO’s Daphnis et Chloé truly beautiful

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra | Jaime conducts Brahms and Ravel 10 April, Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, VIC Jaime Martín – conductor James Ehnes – violin MSO Chorus Warren Trevelyan-Jones – chorus director Musicians from the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) PROGRAM Brahms, Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 Ravel, Daphnis et Chloé – Symphonie chorégraphique When the audience

Alan Holley April 11, 2025

Ambassador thoughts

David Griffiths with Australia Ensemble UNSW – awe inspiring

Australia Ensemble UNSW | Concert 1 22 March, 2025, John Clancy Auditorium, UNSW PROGRAM FAURÉ Piano Trio Op.120 in D minor RAVEL Sonata for violin & cello MESSIAEN Quartet for the End of Time ARTISTS David Griffiths, clarinet Dimity Hall, violin Julian Smiles, cello Andrea Lam, piano Three monumental works by French composers made for an expertly crafted program. The

Daniel Kaan March 23, 2025

Ambassador thoughts

Bendigo Chamber Music Festival | Day 4 – Great depth

Bendigo Chamber Music Festival | Day 4 February 8th, 2025, Bendigo, VIC ____________________________________ Read the other reviews of this festival: WEDNESDAY + THURSDAY concerts >> FRIDAY concerts >> SUNDAY concerts >> ____________________________________ Saturday 9.30am Masterclass – Forest St Uniting Church Four local students/musicians presented themselves for this event. I was interested to see how the students would present themselves being

Peter Hagen February 14, 2025

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