Chamber music lovers should welcome the return of Tasmanian Chamber Music Festival this year, with tickets now available.
The festival, which sold out completely in 2017, 2018 and 2019 before being cancelled due to COVID in 2020 and 2021, has an increased overall capacity this year. The even now has two consecutive, three-day programs being run instead of the usual one in northern Tasmania in late October.
TCMF Director Allanah Dopson said the additional single tickets were a welcome by-product of the need to re-structure the festival to uphold social distancing practices.
“The true magic of the Tasmanian Chamber Music Festival lies in its intimacy, with people being able to share a unique experience with the artists as well as other likeminded individuals,” Dopson said.
“With a desire to ensure a level of social distancing within venues, we decided to run back-to-back programs to ensure we could meet demand for the festival without compromising the intimacy of performances.
“As such, we’ve effectively doubled the capacity of the festival, meaning we can offer more opportunities for people who can’t commit to the full three-day experience to get a taste of what makes the festival so special.”
Dopson said single tickets were available for three of the festival’s six concerts, with artists including Piers Lane, Goldner String Quartet, Erin Helyard and David Greco.
“It’s very exciting to be able to offer tickets to see acclaimed ensemble Goldner String Quartet performing with one of Australia’s most revered classical musicians, Piers Lane.
“Another festival highlight will be the performance of duo Erin Helyard and David Greco performing the two great song cycles of Schubert in Longford’s Christ Church, which is an absolutely majestic venue when lit by candlelight at night.
“Dr Erin Helyard will be playing a very special Graf Fortepiano being brought over especially for the festival from the Australian National University’s remarkable instrument collection.
“We’re also offering single tickets to the festival’s closing performance by Piers Lane at Westbury’s Town Hall, which is followed by a gala lunch at the remarkable Culzean Gardens filled with fine food and discussion with the festival’s artists.”
Dopson said she was looking forward to bringing the festival to Westbury after the cancellation of last year’s event, which was also scheduled to visit the town.
“We are so lucky to be able to showcase Tasmania’s natural and built beauty, with its stunning historic venues, renowned food and wine and picturesque rolling countryside, all tied together with world class chamber music and it is a delight to bring the festival to Westbury for the very first time.
“Many smaller towns across the state have had a hard time of it over the past two years, with lower-than-normal visitation numbers affecting local businesses.
“We’re hoping that our patrons will be enticed to spend some more time discovering the charms of Westbury themselves after the performances have concluded.”
Single concert tickets for the Tasmanian Chamber Music Festival are available at www.taschamberfestival.com.au or by calling Theatre North Box Office on 6331 0052.
A limited number of three-day festival passes are also still available, with the full program available on the website.
2022 Tasmanian Chamber Music Festival single tickets
Goldner String Quartet & Piers Lane
Wednesday 19 October & Friday 21 October, both 20:00
Falls Pavilion, Logan Road, Evandale
David Greco & Erin Helyard
Thursday 20 October & Saturday 22 October, both 20:00
Christ Church, Longford
Piers Lane piano recital followed by festival gala lunch
Friday 21 October & Sunday 23 October, both 10:30
Westbury Town Hall, Lyall Street, Westbury (lunch at Culzean house and gardens in Westbury)
Featured image above courtesy Mel De Ruyter.
Piers Lane.
