Arrive in Canberra on suggested Qantas flights. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including a room category upgrade, transfers and pre-tour accommodation.

At 15:30, attend a welcome briefing and a pre-performance talk by your tour leader, Stewart Kelly, followed by an early dinner at the hotel.

Then, transfer to the Snow Concert Hall, a purpose-built acoustically-tuned auditorium with 936 seats. Attend the Opening Gala of the Canberra International Music Festival, featuring Compassion, Australian composer and Nigel Westlake’s ground-breaking work on love and reconciliation for a divided world, performed by singer Lior.

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Begin the morning with a performance by France’s leading piano trio, Trio Karénine, at the Albert Hall, an elegant example of the ‘Federal Capital’ style of architecture of the 1920s. Ravel’s Piano Trio provides a magical escape into a world of shimmering colours, exoticism and fleeting shadows.

PROGRAM:
Saint-Saëns – Piano Trio No. 1 in F major Op. 18 (1863)
Turina – Theme and Variations from Trio Op. 35 (1926)
Ravel – Piano Trio in A Minor (1914)

After lunch, return to the Albert Hall for a concert by the acclaimed Dutch ensemble, the Dudok Quartet, performing works such as Harrison’s Balderdash.

PROGRAM:
Mozart – String Quartet K. 590
Harrison – Balderdash
Bacewicz – String Quartet No. 4

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon; the evening is at leisure.

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This morning, begin with a pre-performance talk by Stewart, followed by a concert at the Albert Hall. Entitled Larry and Luigi, this performance celebrates two renowned figures in music, Luigi Nono and Larry Sitsky, who both captured the existential predicaments of the 20th century through their works.

PROGRAM:
Nono – La Fabbrica Illuminata (1924-1990)
Sitsky – Zuqerq for clarinet and bongos (1934)
Sitsky – A Feast of Lanterns II (1934)

In the afternoon, travel to the High Court of Australia for a concert performed with the sound of didgeridoo, violin and piano.

This evening, return to the Snow Concert Hall for a special tribute to Beethoven, showcasing his final multi-movement piano trio, the Archduke.

PROGRAM:
Beethoven – Piano Trio Op. 97 Archduke
Brahms – String Quintet Op. 111 Prater

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After a pre-performance talk by Stewart, enjoy a private, guided tour at the National Gallery of Australia and visit the exhibition, Deep Inside My Heart, displaying key works from the gallery’s national collection by major female artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

After lunch, return to the National Gallery of Australia’s Fairfax Theatre to attend a concert entitled American Modern. Hear some of American composer Steve Reich’s most famous works from the late 20th century which perfectly encapsulated American minimalism at its prime.

PROGRAM:
Reich – Clapping Music
Moore – Spin Bird
Reich – Electric Counterpoint
Monk – Gotham Lullaby
Reich – Different Trains

In the evening, return to the Snow Concert Hall for the first part of two concerts by the Bach Akademie Australia ensemble performing all six of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos.

PROGRAM:
Bach – Concerto No. 1 in F Major, BWV 1046
Bach – Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048
Bach – Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050

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This morning, attend the second part of the series of Bach’s six Brandenburg Concertos and the final performance for the tour. Revel in the liveliest and most colourful orchestral works of the time with the statelier second, the majestic fourth and finally the exuberant sixth concertos.

PROGRAM:
Bach – Concerto No. 2 in F Major, BWV 1047
Bach – Concerto No. 4 in G Major, BWV 1049
Bach – Concerto No. 6 in B-flat Major, BWV 1051

After the concert, join Stewart and fellow travellers for a special farewell lunch. Tour arrangements conclude upon arrival at the hotel around 2:30pm. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including any additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour, a room category upgrade and private airport transfers.

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