Arrive in Hobart on suggested flights and make your own way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including a private transfer to the hotel, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

At 16:00, join tour leader Christopher Lawrence for a welcome briefing and talk about this evening’s performance. Then, attend the opening concert of the Tasmanian Chamber Music Festival in the Ian Potter Recital Hall. Two highly acclaimed Australian pianists, Aura Go and Ian Munro, demonstrate their skilful four-hands coordination, performing selected works by Schubert, Rachmaninoff and Adolf Jensen, as well as the Tasmanian premiere of Russian folk songs by Ekaterina Komalkova.

ARTISTS:
Aura Go, Ian Munro (piano)

PROGRAM:
Franz Schubert – Lebensstürme
Adolf Jensen – Abendmusik, Op. 59
Ekaterina Komalkova – Russian National Songs (selections) (Tasmanian premiere)
Sergei Rachmaninoff – Capriccio Bohemian

After the concert, enjoy a late supper back at the hotel.

(D)

Begin the day with a pre-performance talk by Christopher, followed by a morning concert in the Ian Potter Recital Hall. String Theorem returns to the festival with a rare performance of string music by Hungarian composer Dohnanyi, as well as Schumann’s lesser-known piano quartet.

ARTISTS:
Ji Won Kim (violin), Caleb Wright (viola),
Nicholas McManus (cello), Ian Munro (piano)

PROGRAM:
Ernst von Dohnanyi – Serenade in C major
Robert Schumann – Piano Quartet in E-flat, Op. 47

After lunch, attend a concert by Timo-Veikko Valve and Aura Go, with a creative interweaving of contemporary Finnish songs and Anton Webern’s compositions with Beethoven’s sonatas.

ARTISTS:
Timo-Veikko Valve (cello), Aura Go (piano)

PROGRAM:
Lisa Illean – Ever-weaver
Helvi Leiviskä – Selection of songs arranged for cello and piano
Ludwig van Beethoven – Sonata in A major, Op. 69
Ludwig van Beethoven – Sonata in D major, Op. 102/2
Anton Webern – Three Little Pieces, Op.11
Ludwig van Beethoven – Sonata in G minor, Op. 5/2

Return to the hotel and enjoy some time at leisure before tonight’s performance. The Australian String Quartet and Aura Go present a lesser-known yet lyrical piano quintet by Amy Beach, America’s earliest major female composer. The artists will also perform Schubert’s highly acclaimed string quartet Death and the Maiden.

ARTISTS:
Dale Barltrop (violin), Francesca Hiew (violin), Christopher Cartlidge (viola), Michael Dahlenburg (cello), Aura Go (piano)

PROGRAM:
Amy Beach – Piano Quintet, Op. 67
Franz Schubert – String Quartet in D minor Death and the Maiden

(BL)

After a pre-performance talk by Christopher followed by the remainder of the morning at leisure, transfer to St. George’s Anglican Church at the historic Battery Point for an afternoon performance by the Australian String Quartet, along with guest violist Stefanie Farrands.

ARTISTS:
Dale Barltrop (violin), Francesca Hiew (violin), Christopher Cartlidge (viola), Michael Dahlenburg (cello), Stefanie Farrands (viola)

PROGRAM:
Ludwig van Beethoven – String Quartet in G major, Op. 18/2
Johannes Brahms – String Quintet in G major

Return to the hotel for some time at leisure before attending the second performance at St. George’s Anglican Church, preceded by drinks in the church garden.

ARTISTS:
Dale Barltrop (violin), Francesca Hiew (violin), Christopher Cartlidge (viola), Michael Dahlenburg (cello), Stefanie Farrands (viola), Timo-Veikko Valve (cello)

PROGRAM:
Justin Williams – Movement for String Quartet
Oswaldo Golijov – Tenebrae (string quartet version)
Arnold Schönberg – Transfigured Night (for string sextet)

(B)

This morning, transfer to the historic Palais Theatre in Franklin for the festival finale. Inaugurated in 1912 and functioning as a town hall, the theatre was later used as a cinema and then a hall for dramas, balls and concerts for most of the 20th century. At this last performance, featuring the renowned Van Diemen’s Band, appreciate six Baroque-era vocal pieces by 17th-century composers, including Schutz, Gabrieli, Monteverdi, Cavalli, Weckmann and Schop.

ARTISTS:
Van Diemen’s Band (Julia Fredersdorff, Artistic Director), Michelle Ryan, Amy Moore (Soprano), Hannah Fraser (Alto), Louis Hurley, Eric Peterson (Tenors), Andrew O’Connor (Bass-Baritone)

Then, meet the artists over a gourmet lunch at Home Hill Winery, a boutique vineyard in Ranelagh with picturesque views over the Huon Valley.

Upon returning to Hobart, join Christopher and fellow tour members for farewell drinks at the hotel.

(BL)

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour, a room category upgrade, a private airport transfer and travel insurance (strongly recommended).

(B)