Australia Ensemble UNSW 2023 Season Launched

Australia Ensemble UNSW is thrilled to launch its 44th annual subscription season, bursting with “luminosity through a typically rich and varied program sure to ignite an inner glow” as described by the Artistic Chair, Paul Stanhope.

In 2023, Australia Ensemble UNSW offers breathtaking masterworks such as the Brahms String Sextet in B flat, the compelling Smetana Piano Trio, Dvořák’s summery Piano Quartet no. 2 and with guest pianist Andrea Lam joining forces with Ian Munro, Mozart’s brilliant Sonata for Two Pianos K448. Mid-twentieth century pieces by Samuel Barber, Jean Françaix and Leo Smit are as sparkling as a glass of prosecco. 

In contrast, the new season will feature the live concert premiere of an impressive new quintet Concord Concertino by the rising star, Elizabeth Younan and other contemporary pieces such as bright and effervescent works by Nigel Westlake and Ross Edwards, and contemplative yet ravishing lullaby-inspired pieces by Anna Cawrse and Australia Ensemble UNSW’s very own Ian Munro.

Australia Ensemble UNSW’s glorious exploration of chamber music and song will include a performance by Australian tenor, Andrew Goodwin in song cycles by Ravel and Vaughan Williams. Themes of warm friendship, drama, humour, darkness, and light emerge through songs by Müller, Dowland, Beethoven and Australia Ensemble UNSW’s Artistic Chair, Paul Stanhope’s 2021 trio, Out of the Darkness: Dawn. 

The Ensemble is joined by and welcomes 2023 guest artists across the season: Andrew Barnes, bassoon; Tobias Breider, viola; Miles Mullin-Chivers, cello; David Elton, trumpet; Andrew Goodwin, tenor; Alexandre Oguey, oboe; Elizabeth Layton, violin; Wenhong Luo, viola; Teije Hylkema, cello; Shefali Pryor, oboe; Robert Johnson, horn; Joshua Batty, flute; Andrea Lam, piano; Andrew Meisel, double bass; and Joshua Hill, percussion.

FULL PROGRAM HERE >> 

Tickets

Subscriptions on sale from Saturday 22 October 2022, 10pm 

Single tickets on sale on Monday 13 February 2023, 10am

The Australia Ensemble is a professional chamber music ensemble which adds significantly to the cultural life of UNSW and the community, through an annual subscription series based in the Sir John Clancy Auditorium.  Comprising some of Australia’s foremost instrumentalists and an Artistic Chair, the Australia Ensemble has a demonstrated commitment to the development of new Australian music, having been involved in commissioning a body of over forty-five works by leading composers. This commitment to new work is an important legacy to chamber music, as is the Ensemble’s quality which sets a benchmark for performance in Australia.  

The Australia Ensemble was founded in 1980 following a proposal put to the University by Roger Covell and Murray Khouri and toured nationally and internationally over many years. The Ensemble regularly engages prominent guest artists to work with the core musicians, enabling it to present unusual and varied instrumental groupings as well as the standard chamber music repertoire, for which it has become known.

ARTISTS

David Griffiths (clarinet), Dimity Hall (violin), Irina Morozova (viola), Ian Munro (piano), Dene Olding (violin), Julian Smiles (cello), Paul Stanhope (Artistic Chair), Emeritus artist Geoffrey Collins (flute)