Restless Baroque
From London to Leipzig, from Paris to Sydney, French harpsichordist Bertrand Cuiller joins the baroque renegades of Van Diemen's Band for courtly tunes and reckless virtuosity.
Concerts in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth and Sydney.
This concert is currently available as part of a 2027 Subscription (3 or more concerts). Single tickets will be available from 7 October 2026.
Virtuosity and curiosity at the frontiers of the Baroque.
Twenty years after first making music together, two kindred spirits reunite to open our 2027 Season. Celebrated French harpsichordist Bertrand Cuiller makes his Australian debut, joining Julia Fredersdorff and Van Diemen's Band, her acclaimed ensemble of Baroque adventurers.
This program traces a vibrant web of musical exchange, shaped by the flow of composers and scores between Europe's cultural capitals. At its heart is Bach's Harpsichord Concerto in D minor, fizzing with brilliant keyboard writing. Its three movements become pillars around which music from the courts and theatres of 17th-century England swirls: the sparkle of Purcell, the ceremony of Handel, the shadowy wit of Locke. Rare gems from Picforth, Brade and Schop, and a new work from Jane Sheldon, inspired by Byrd, transport us to the furthest corners of a rich and unexpected musical world.
"Intimate, dazzling and full of wonder"
"Performances of the highest calibre and an infectiously enthusiastic stage presence"
"Cuiller is a master of the ebb and flow of harpsichord sound"
ARTIST DISCOVERY PLAYLIST
Listen to the Van Diemen's Band & Bertrand Cuiller before you hear them live via the YouTube playlist below.
VAN DIEMEN'S BAND |
LOCKE Consort of Four Parts, No. 1: Fantazie |
Jane Sheldon is an Australian-American soprano and composer. Jane's 2022 album I am tree, I am a mouth was listed on The New Yorker's Notable Recordings of that year, alongside the Berlin Radio Symphony and Björk. Flowermuscle is her most recent release. Described as 'riveting' (New York Times) and 'gripping and expressive' (Financial Times), Jane's compositional output includes electronic music, chamber music, opera installations, works for dance companies, and large-scale sound installations for museums. Jane has sung at the Louvre, the Barbican, the Guggenheim, and the Sydney Opera House and performed at Lincoln Center Festival, Sydney Festival, Jerusalem Sacred Music Festival, Holland Festival, and Tokyo Festival. She holds a PhD in music composition from the University of Sydney and is an Artistic Associate at Sydney Chamber Opera. |
Special thanks to Ensemble Patrons Ian Dickson AM and Reg Holloway for their generous support of this tour. |
