In his final year as Artistic Director, Roland Peelman has chosen to open the festival with William Barton, Persian tar player Hamed Sadeghi and Belgian jazz pianist Bram De Looze, as well as Lior and Nigel Westlake’s Compassion. Guitar virtuoso Pavel Ralev, violist Florian Peelman, France’s Trio Karénine and Dudok Quartet Amsterdam all make an appearance, as do Bach Akademie Australia and Luminescence Chamber Singers, in what promises to be an exciting week in the nation’s capital.

Limelight Editor’s Choice

After ten years, Lior’s Compassion is finally coming to Canberra.

Since its premiere in 2013, this groundbreaking work has won over critics and audiences alike, earning the 2014 ARIA Award for Best Classical album. Based on ancient Hebrew and Arabic texts, Compassion brings together Lior’s ravishing voice with refined orchestrations by Nigel Westlake to offer a life-affirming statement of shared humanity for a divided world.

Setting the scene are three musical giants from different corners of the world in a Festival exclusive: Persian tar player Hamed Sadeghi, acclaimed Belgian pianist Bram De Looze, and our very own William Barton. Not to be missed.