What's On

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs open their stellar 2026 season with Gloria, an unforgettable burst of Baroque opulence at the Pier 2/3, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct on Saturday 7 March.

Acclaimed Australian choral conductor Brett Weymark OAM presents five of Australia’s finest baroque vocalists – Lauren Lodge-Campbell, Angela Brun, Hannah Fraser, Richard Butler and Andrew O’Connor – who join forces with the Sydney Philharmonia Chamber Singers to present three masterpieces by Vivaldi, Bach and Handel, alongside a hand-picked orchestra playing on period instruments.

Weymark leads a virtuosic ensemble of 40 highly skilled choristers, Sydney Philharmonia’s Chamber Singers, in a stunning performance of Vivaldi’s most popular vocal work, Gloria in D. An exuberant setting of the Christian hymn ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo’ (Glory to God on high!), Vivaldi’s masterpiece sparkles with unparalleled joy, brilliance and vitality.

Also featured is Handel’s Dixit Dominus, written when he was just 22 and living in Italy, so not surprisingly it is astonishingly ambitious and overflows with theatrical drama. Filled with fiery voices and cascading melodies, it takes listeners on a visceral journey through Psalm 110, trampling enemies, shattering kings and smashing skulls along the way.

Finally, JS Bach’s poignant Cantata No.12 provides a delicious counterpoint to Vivaldi and Handel’s Italianate fire. This profoundly moving work traces the arc from despair to hope in a radiant conclusion.

Set against the iconic Sydney Harbour, this season‑opener invites audiences to immerse themselves in Baroque splendour before joining the Chamber Singers for a relaxed drink and sparkling harbour views.

Don’t miss this glorious afternoon of extravagance, three hundred years in the making.