Brisbane Music Festival, Part 1

Brisbane Music Festival, Part 1. From Rachmaninoff to Radiohead, this festival has something for everyone.

Curated by Alex Raineri and praised for its “diverse programming” (Limelight), the annual Brisbane Music Festival (BMF) is currently in its sixth year of operation. It has swiftly established itself as one of the most vibrant happenings within Australia’s cultural calendar.

Celebrating eclectic approaches to programming, the BMF is a cross-cultivation of musical offerings from the old and familiar to the vibrant and new. Primarily a classical music festival, the BMF frequently ventures into realms of jazz, pop, and experimental music. There is a significant focus on new Australian music, and incredible Australian performers.

The 2023 BMF features - 34 Events | 40 Creatives | 9 World Premieres | 7 Australian Premieres.

Part 1 features 17 events...

'Festival Gala #1' (23rd Oct) - quirky and charming music by Poulenc and blistering virtuosity of Ligeti's music, performed by some of Australia's leading artists; Katie Stenzel, Stefan Cassomenos, and more.

'Picture This' (24th Oct) - a thoughtful and innovation performance of works for horn and electronics, original music by American horn virtuoso Brian KM.

'Lights Down Low #1' (24th Oct) - the lights go down, the piano is open, the music flutters, grooves, and plunges into a gothic-grunge soundscape. Performed by Alex Raineri.

'The Axe Manual' (25th Oct) - scintillating contemporary works performed by extraordinary percussionist Rebecca Lloyd-Jones.

'I'm Doing Well' (26th Oct) - New York queen of the avant-garde piano Lisa Moore in recital.

'Festival Gala #2' (27th Oct) - featuring multiple festival artists including Claire Edwardes (percussion) and Alex Raineri (piano).

'Sacred Sky' (28th Oct) - masterpieces by Robert Schumann and Nigel Westlake.

'April Moon' (28th Oct) - Irena Lysiuk's enchanting soprano features in two song cycles by Francis Poulenc. Leading pianists Stefan Cassomenos and Alex Raineri perform Rachmaninoff's monstrous 'Suite No. 2'.

'Flavours of Spain' (28th Oct) - Australian musical royalty - guitarist Karin Schaupp, in an enchanting program flavoured with musical spices of Spain.

'Rituals' (28th Oct) - Lisa Moore in recital with leading clarinettist Lloyd Van't Hoff.

'Songbirds' (28th Oct) - Australia's leading contemporary music collective Ensemble Offspring in their BMF debut.

'Passing Bells' (28th Oct) - Chris Dench's award winning masterwork depicting mediaeval monastic life, complete with captivating lighting design.

'The Virgin's Lament' (29th Oct) - rarely heard baroque gems, performed by the captivating voice of Katie Stenzel, Tarilindy String Quartet, Marian Heckenberg and Alex Raineri.

'Poulenc Tribute #1' (29th Oct) - a homage concert to the great French composer, celebrating his musical whimsy and deeply sentimental oeuvre.

'Celestial Worlds' (29th Oct) - celebrated harpist Emily Grainger in duo with Australia's foremost percussionist, Claire Edwardes.

'Stefan Cassomenos in Recital' (29th Oct) - virtuoso pianist Stefan Cassomenos plays Beethoven's mighty 'Diabelli Variations', and other masterworks.

'Unravelling the Voice' (29th Oct) - witness the metamorphosis of Scottish-Australian soprano Jenna Robertson as she journeys through opera, folk, pop, and spoken word to reveal her most authentic creative expression, layer by layer.