Australian Festival Of Chamber Music With Melbourne Digital Concert Hall Presents 3-Day Event Online

The Australian Festival of Chamber Music announces a three-day digital event: Festival Prelude,  because nothing can stop the (chamber) music!

Fans of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) won’t have to wait for another year for their favourite music experience with the presentation of Festival Prelude. Tickets go on sale today, July 13.

Scheduled for 31 July to 9 August in Townsville, North Queensland, the AFCM was to be the 30th anniversary of the annual musical extravaganza that attracts musicians and fans from all over the world, and the final under the artistic direction of acclaimed British pianist Kathryn Stott. It was postponed earlier this year due to COVID19, with the majority of the program and artists successfully rescheduled to the 2021 dates of 23 July to 01 August.

Festival Prelude is headlined by three concerts live-streamed to audiences, in partnership with the Melbourne Digital Concert Hal (MDCH). The concerts are supported by a program of digital content and specially-recorded performances with Kathryn Stott herself plays with some of the luminaries of chamber music including violinist Jack Liebeck (incoming AFCM Artistic Director) and baritone Roderick Williams.

Each day is hosted by Kathryn Stott with interviews, flashbacks, a daily Chamber Challenge, and a stunning celebration of
Townsville and North Queensland! The three headline concerts include:
DAY ONE: Friday 7 August, 7pm – Spring Sonata
Lloyd Van’t Hoff, clarinet with Kristian Chong, pianist, in a 90-minute concert that includes a 30-minute Q&A, streamed live from the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne.
Repertoire:
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN – Violin Sonata in F major, no. 5 Op. 24 “Spring Sonata” (arr. for clarinet)
Johannes BRAHMS – Sonata for clarinet and piano in F minor, op. 120 no. 1
Johannes BRAHMS – Three Intermezzi Op. 117, no. 1 (arr. for clarinet and piano, Paolo Gorini)

DAY TWO: Saturday 8 August, 7pm – Dream a little Dream
Ensemble Liaison comprising David Griffiths clarinet, Svetlana Bogosavljevic cello and Timothy Young piano. The
90-minute concert includes a 30-minute Q&A, live streamed from the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne. Audience members will have the opportunity to send in questions at the time, or ahead of the concert.
Repertoire:
Timothy YOUNG – Fantasy Trio ‘Für Elise’
Johannes BRAHMS – Trio for clarinet cello and piano in A minor, Op 114
Earl WILDE – Concert Etude n.3 ‘The Man I Love’
Igor FROLOV – Concert Fantasy on themes from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (arr. Ensemble Liaison)

DAY THREE: Sunday 9 August, 4pm – An American in Paris
Nexas Quartet, comprising Michael Duke, soprano saxophone, Andrew Smith, alto saxophone, Nathan Henshaw, tenor saxophone and Jay Byrnes baritone saxophone. The 90-minute event includes a 30-minute Q&A, live from UNSW in Sydney.
Repertoire:
Astor PIAZZOLLA – La Muerte del Ángel (arr. Byrnes)
George GERSHWIN – An American in Paris (arr. Byrnes)
Claude DEBUSSY – Clair de lune (arr. Byrnes)
Graciano DE LEONE – Reliquias portenas (arr. Gustavo Hunt)
Pierre-Max DUBOIS – Quatuor pour Saxophones
Jean RIVIER – Grave et Presto
Michael DUKE – Los Zapatos de Roberto

Digital tickets for Festival Prelude are just $20 with a $4 admin and 3-day Festival passes are also available. All ticket income goes directly back to the artists performing in each concert. The AFCM will not be receiving any revenue from ticket sales.
MDCH have invested in high quality audio and visual equipment to ensure an optimal viewing experience by audiences, with each concert live streamed from the venue. Audience members can watch from anywhere around the world.
Patrons, where permitted, are encouraged to host their own watch parties with friends and family. Ticket holders simply need internet access to be able to view the concert at the advised start time.

Tickets on sale from Monday 13th July
Fulle programme and tickets available at afcm.com.au and via melbournedigitalconcerthall.com
Digital ticket – single concert – $20 plus $4 admin fee)
Digital ticket – Festival pass (includes all 3 concerts) – $57 plus $8 admin fee
Note: $20 from each ticket sold goes directly back to the artists performing in each concert. AFCM isn’t receiving
any revenue from ticket sales.