The Canberra International Music Festival has announced its 2019 program with the theme Re/Discover Bach, and international guests including the Brodsky Quartet and Quatuor Voces.

“It’s our 25th anniversary, and this is my anniversary present to all those people who have stood by us for 25 years, who have ensured we are still a going concern,” Artistic Director Roland Peelman tells Limelight. “And that we’re stronger than ever, as a matter of fact!”

“If I were to pick one composer I might design a festival around, Bach would have to be it. Our Canberra patrons love Bach – they’re quite outspoken about it, dare I say – so we have Bach every year,” Peelman says. “But instead of doing it just on one morning or one evening, we thought, OK, let’s do the whole festival around Bach.”

The Brodsky Quartet. Photo: supplied

While Bach isn’t the only composer featured on the program, which runs from May 2 – 12 at venues around Canberra next year, everything can be tied back to the composer, whether it’s through elements of counterpoint, adaptation or improvisation. The opening concert, A World...