It’s a wrap. Another very successful Australian Festival of Chamber Music, held in Townsville, UK violinist Jack Liebeck’s third as artistic director. And planning for his fourth, and the festival’s 35th is well-advanced.

Even after 34 years, the festival continues to attract a large following, with many concerts and events sold out long ahead. So, what is the attraction?

Jack Liebeck and Piers Lane. Australian Festival of Chamber Music 2024. Photo © Andrew Rankin

Musically there is the known and the new, the challenges and the comfort zones. There’s an extraordinary variety.

And it’s always nice to be part of a world premiere. This year there were two.

One was from UK composer, and festival composer-in-focus, Stephen Johnson, who wrote Unquiet Sleepers (2024), about five ghost stories told on a stormy (and presumably dark) night around a warm fireplace. It’s scored for an unusual ensemble of violin, cello, clarinet, horn and piano.

The other was from composer and very entertaining baritone singer, Roderick Williams, also from the UK. His song cycle (six songs) Not Yet Here (2024) is the possible response of the beloved in Beethoven’s song cycle (also six songs), An...