The KPO presents a generously varied program of great works from the German tradition. Where better to begin than with Bach? His Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 is renowned today for its virtuosic solo harpsichord part. Adapted from an earlier work, this concerto was amongst a folio of six that Bach dedicated to Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg in 1721.

Mozart conducted the premiere of his Symphony No. 38 in Prague in 1787, just two days after he had directed a performance of his very popular opera The Marriage of Figaro. With its transparent textures, theatrical contrasts and stream of engaging melodies, the symphony is widely held to be imbued with the spirit of that opera.

Carl Reinecke may be considered a musical conservative, but flautists are grateful not only for his sonata, Undine, but also for his beautifully crafted Flute Concerto, from a time at the turn of the 20th century when few such works were composed. In its three movements it explores three very different characters: a sunny and pastoral first movement, a note of tragedy in the second, then bold heroism in the third. Our brilliant young soloist is Amily He, winner of the 2025 NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition.

To complete the program, we perform Brahms’s majestic and richly contrapuntal Variations on a Theme of Haydn. Composed in 1873, this work began a phase of new confidence in orchestral writing for Brahms and was followed by a series of substantial works for orchestra.