Welcome to the July edition of Australian Accent, Limelight‘s unashamedly parochial monthly roundup of the Australian music being played on our concert stages and in our recital halls.

Got a premiere to puff? A piece getting a repeat performance? Email editors@limelight-arts.com.au for inclusion in next month’s roundup (subject to editorial discretion).

We also have a week-by-week breakdown of the works being performed on our Instagram for something a little more digestible.

Touring

Ensemble Offspring’s Divine Darkness (The Neilson, ACO Pier, 3 July; The Street, Canberra 4 July) promises to “transcend the rituals of the concert hall in a drama-infused program”. In the mix will be the adventurous soprano and composer Jane Sheldon‘s Come, dark sigh. Jack Symonds conducts.

Jane Sheldon. Photo © Stefanie Zingsheim

Germany’s sublime vocal sextet Sjaella returns to Australia this month, touring a varying program featuring music by Purcell, Janequin and European folk song arrangements. During their Utzon Room debut (on 13 July) and at UKARIA, Adelaide on 19 and 20 July, they’ll also be singing a new work by Alice Chance.