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This October Sydney is playing host to an outstanding line-up of world-renowned musicians featuring five jam-packed days of cultural vibrancy, exceptional performers and fantastic music.
 
The Festival will be a rich musical feast featuring more than 50 events including performances by the Juilliard String Quartet (New York); Angela Hewitt (Canada) OBE recipient and the ‘pre-eminent Bach pianist of our time’; the Jerusalem Quartet (Israel); the Eggner Trio (Austria) and a wealth of leading Australian performers including the Australian String Quartet whose members were selected to perform celebratory concerts for the Danish Royal Wedding in 2004. The Idea of North, an ‘a capella’ ensemble which has played with some of Australia’s greats including James Morrison and Don Burrows, will perform an eclectic mix of popular, jazz, soul, gospel and originals songs.
 
According to the Festival’s Artistic Director, Carl Vine, “Music plays an essential, inspirational role in all of our lives. The Musica Viva Festival will bring some of the world’s finest musicians to Sydney for a brilliant, concentrated burst of chamber music excitement.”
 
The Festival will be closely linked to the Australian Youth Orchestra's 2008 Chamber Music Camp which brings together dozens of the most talented young musicians from around the country for a period of intense study and collaboration with leading exponents in the field culminating in a thrilling stream of performances by the students and their mentors.
 
“Following the outstanding success of our inaugural Chamber Music Camp last year, we are delighted to be presenting this program in association with Musica Viva Australia, and again with support from the Colonial Foundation Trust. In bringing Australia’s finest young musicians together with the world’s finest chamber ensembles, this program aims to enrich and invigorate the next generation of professional Australian chamber musicians, and the world of chamber music” said Colin Cornish, CEO, Australian Youth Orchestra.
 
Join us at St James’ Anglican Church to delight your senses over lunch; participate in a masterclass at the Police and Justice Museum; set the stage for romance and drama with Tango, Flamenco and more at late night concerts in the Barnet Long Room, Customs House; be inspired by “In Conversation” presentations, free talks by festival artists and music experts, prior to selected premier concert events at City Recital Hall Angel Place; or share unique experiences with the whole family at one of the special daytime Family Concerts.
 
Devotees and discoverers of chamber music alike will be rewarded with a rich sampling of masterworks and unexpected gems played by the world’s finest practitioners, and challenged with an offering of music from other cultures in the late night concert series. The series of informative seminars exploring links between music and society will surely engage all music lovers.
 
 
Further details www.musicaviva.com.au