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While Townsville has recently received much attention for being the host of the 2021 State of Origin opening game next week, the north Queensland city is also where the 30th Australian Festival of Chamber Music will take place from 23rd July to 1st August - a joyous 10-day celebration of music curated by Artistic Director, Kathryn Stott in her third and final festival, themed, Carnival.  

Over 30 music-filled years based in Townsville, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) has forged a reputation as one of the best chamber music celebrations in the world, one that attracts leading music makers and music lovers from all corners of the globe, and while 2021 presents its challenges, Stott has created a program that’s extraordinary.  

Featuring 133 works, 112 composers, four world premieres and five Australian premieres the program stars more than 40 Australian musicians, 15 in their AFCM debut, as well as three ensembles including the Goldner String Quartet in their 25th anniversary year, and three local groups including the acclaimed Dancenorth.  

Stott notes “what a rollercoaster we have all been through with such unimaginable times on a global scale. The world of live music became eerily silent for far too long, but I am so excited about an absolute thriller of a Festival program for 2021! I am incredibly proud to bring together such an outstanding group of Australian musicians.”

The artist line-up is led by the return of legendary Australian pianist and toast of the world’s great concert halls, Piers Lane (and former AFCM Artistic Director), internationally applauded didgeridoo star William Barton returning to the Festival to celebrate the milestone 30th anniversary with his own compositions, and soprano and composer Deborah Cheetham with an important world premiere music event. They are joined by Kirsty McCahon (double bass), Zoë Black (violin), Tobias Breider (viola), Mark Gaydon (bassoon), James Crabb (accordion), Lloyd Van’t Hoff (clarinet), Timothy Young (piano), Natsuko Yoshimoto (violin), Daniel de Borah (piano) and a raft of fellow musical makers, representing the best of Australian talent from across the country (see the line-up below).   

Young stars will also feature at AFCM including 22-year-old violinist Grace Clifford and 24-year-old Australian pianist Kevin Chow who will appear as part of his ABC Young Performers Award. In thrilling news, violin prodigy, 14-year old Christan Li will also travel to Townsville to perform. Christian will be the youngest ever artist at AFCM and indeed made history in 2018 when just 10 years old, became the youngest performer to ever win the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists in the Junior Category.

Highlights in the 2021 program include:

WORLD PREMIERE - Deborah Cheetham AO - Nginda Ngarrini Bi Ngya: Opening Night Concert, Friday 23rd July

To celebrate the Festival’s 30th anniversary, AFCM has commissioned Yorta Yorta composer Deborah Cheetham AO’s work Nginda Ngarrini Bi Ngya featuring herself singing alongside David Greco (baritone) and the Goldner String Quartet, in the language of the Wulgurukaba people as acknowledgment of their culture and as the traditional owners of the land on which the Festival resides. This important work will have its world premiere at the opening night concert, PARADE.  

WORLD PREMIERE - Goldner Variations on ‘Ode to Joy’: Governor’s Gala concert, Saturday 24th July

In recognition of the 25th anniversary of its quartet in residence, the Goldner String Quartet, AFCM has commissioned 25 Australian composers to write short variations based on Beethoven’s famous ‘Ode to Joy’. Inventive and brilliant, the work will be performed by the Goldners. The 25 Australian composers include: Joe Chindamo, Robert Davidson, Brett Dean, Paul Dean, Ross Edwards, Andrew Ford, Paul Grabowsky, Iain Grandage, Maria Grenfell, Holly Harrison, Matthew Hindson, Mark Isaacs, Jakub Jankowski, Elena Kats-Chernin, Graeme Koehne AO, Liza Lim, Nicole Murphy, John Peterson, Andrew Schulz, Harry Sdraulig, Paul Stanhope, Clare Strong (formerly Johnston), Carl Vine, Natalie Williams and Elizabeth Younan.

BEETHOVEN TRIBUTE DAY - 250th CELEBRATIONS: Thursday 29th July

While COVID-19 stopped the world celebrating Beethoven’s 250th anniversary in 2020, Artistic Director Kathryn Stott pays tribute to this great composer (voted Australia’s favourite composer in the 2020 ABC Classic’s Top 100 Composer countdown) with a full day of music (this is in addition to the Goldner Variations concert on July 24). The evening concert salutes his Kreutzer Sonata and features two world premieres – Dancenorth’s specially curated choreography in response to the novel, The Kreutzer Sonata by Leo Tolstoy, directed by Amber Haines, as well as Roderick Williams’ Not Here Yet, performed by Jacqueline Porter (soprano) and Kristian Chong (piano).  

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE - Immortal Beloved:  Thursday 29th July

Written by UK author and music critic Jessica Duchen, narrated by Cheryl Barker and featuring David Greco (baritone), Timothy Young (piano) and the Flinders String Quartet, this Australian premiere explores the ongoing mystery of Beethoven’s legendary, unnamed ‘Immortal Beloved’.

WILD SPIRIT ~ FOUR CELLO BOLERO: Friday 30^th July

In one stunning evening concert, Kathryn Stott has programmed Ravel’s famous Bolero performed on four cellos featuring Julian Smiles, Yelian He, Blair Harris and Elina Faskhi, as well as Nigel Westlake’s iconic Spirit of the Wild performed by Diana Doherty (oboe), Kirsty McCahon (double bass), Timothy Young (piano) and the Goldner String Quartet.  

FESTIVAL FAVOURITE - The Families’ Concert - Stan and Mabel: Saturday 31st July

AFCM will perform composer Paul Rissmann’s chamber version of Stan and Mabel, the wonderful story by Jason Chapman of two friends (a dog and a cat) who start an orchestra. A local children’s choir will be part of the performance.   

The free Queens Garden Concert will be held on Sunday 25th July at 3pm and the much-loved Concert Conversations return as six Conversation Concerts over the 10 days. Bookending the Festival is the opening concert titled PARADE, and the closing night concert, CELEBRATION, and in between, a degustation of music to uplift. What’s more there are two superb concerts on nearby Magnetic Island to tempt visitors too.  

For more information and tickets go to www.afcm.com.au

Image: ANAM Cellist Eliza Sdraulig in Townsville

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