The fifth Bendigo Chamber Music Festival of celebration and fireworks was a blast with the Friday Night Fireworks concert at the Capital Theatre in the beautiful city of Bendigo in Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Country. It was one of 14 concerts featuring 18 esteemed musicians in six venues over five days, delivering world-class chamber music to Country Victoria and beyond.

Capital Theatre, Bendigo. Photo supplied

Cellist and Co-director Chris Howlett opened the concert, commenting on how excited he was to play with his mates, including bassoonist Lindon Watts. Howlett is also the Co-Director of Australian Digital Concert Hall, created in 2020 during the Covid crisis to share live music between musicians and audiences across the globe, raising $4 million for artists.

The baroque tones of Bach and Handel featured in the first half of the concert. Violinist Sophie Rowell, the recently appointed Artistic Director of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, commented that the Bach was her favourite and like a bowl of champagne featuring fun things you can do with a harpsichord!

Special guest Donald Nicholson, an esteemed harpsichordist and pianist from the University of Melbourne, was impressive during C.P.E. Bach’s Sinfonia...