Ensemble Polyphème Debuts With Acis And Galatea

Exciting new chamber music ensemble Ensemble Polyphème presents their inaugural performance – Handel’s Acis and Galatea. This beautiful semi-staged production of a rarely performed work uses historically informed performance practice to explore the beautiful love story of Acis and Galatea performed in Paddington’s Uniting Church.

Founded by Nathan Cox and Nathan Bryon, two young musicians from rural NSW, Ensemble Polyphème aims to present Baroque works with the best professionals and upcoming talent. It is dedicated to the performance of masterworks from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and aims to provide a much-needed platform for talented young artists to develop expertise in Baroque practice.

The company is entirely driven by the artists themselves, who work collaboratively on all the different aspects of staging the opera.

Nathan Cox, a Ph.D candidate at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, leads an exciting historically informed orchestra, with an ensemble of hand-picked players from ensembles such as ACO, Pinchgut Opera, and Bach Akademie Australia, with a fabulous mix of professional singers and talented young artists.

“I am very proud of the cast that we’ve assembled—it brings together a mix youth and experience that creates a vibrancy and a willingness to experiment and try new ideas. We are also very fortunate to have our production directed by the amazing Christine Douglas, founder of Pacific Opera, who brings her wealth of experience and a fabulous enthusiasm to our production” says Cox.

The performers: Chloe Lankshear: Galatea/ Nathan Bryon: Acis/ Andrew O’Connor: Polyphemus/ Spencer Darby: Damon/ Laura Wachsmann: Coridon/ Music Director: Nathan Cox/ Director: Christine Douglas/ Producer: Nathan Bryon/ Production Manager: Stephanie Troost/ Technical Manager: Geordie Marsh

Tickets: $40 available at – https://www.trybooking.com/BFFXC