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

It was once said that Ravel picked up the first tune of his Piano Trio while watching ice-cream vendors dancing a fandango in the Basque border town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Whatever the origins, Ravel embraced this Basque connection as he worked feverishly on the piece throughout the summer of 1914. For a true Spaniard such as Turina, all of the many and varied sounds of Spain provided inspiration. In his Trio he forged a series of variations, each based on the musical footprint of a Spanish region.

At home in classic Parisian elegance, Julien, Louis and Paloma begin with the clearly chiselled melodic lines that are Sains-Saëns’ trademark.

Witness the consummate skill of this leading French ensemble on their first tour down under: the acclaimed Trio Karénine.