Renowned for its dedication to the beauty and purity of the Baroque period, Sydney’s Pinchgut Opera has curated a series of “bucket list” experiences in 2025.

“The ‘bucket list’ is mine, actually,” admits Pinchgut’s Artistic Director, Erin Helyard. “These are works that are especially meaningful for me, and, I hope, to our audience.”

Erin Helyard. Photo © Anna Kucera

Goldberg Variations: An Intimate Season Opener

The season opens with a contemplative yet monumental piece: J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations, performed by Helyard himself.

In a first for Pinchgut, Helyard will be solo centre stage at City Recital Hall on 1 and 2 March for two performances of this meditative, intricately structured work. It’s a rare opportunity to hear the Goldberg Variations on the instrument Bach intended – the two-manual harpsichord.

“The Goldbergs has a whole universe in it,” says Helyard. “Every time I come back to it, I’m reminded how little I know. It’s like a fractal. Once you think you’ve understood one element of the piece, another comes into play.”

The last time Helyard performed...