Celebrate 50 years of classical music on our national airwaves in this musical love letter to ABC Classic radio.

Lead by Principal Guest Conductor Benjamin Northey, this is a program proudly featuring all-Australian works from composers like Elena Kats-Chernin, Nigel Westlake, Ross Edwards, Peter Sculthorpe and Ella Macens, with a beautiful selection of Australian artists that will take you to all parts of our Country.

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Benjamin Northey conductor
Aura Go, piano
Slava Grigoryan guitar
James Tawadros percussion
Joseph Tawadros oud
Natalie Chee violin

From Studio Ghibli classics My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away to over 100 works for the screen and concert hall, Joe Hisaishi is one of the most prolific and beloved composers worldwide.

With a career featuring legendary collaborations with director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, multi-award winning scores for films, tv and the concert hall, Joe Hisashi’s music has been the soundtrack to people’s lives for decades.

In a specially-conceived new concert event, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, along with Art of the Score podcasters Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding, special guest pianist Aura Go and conductor Nicholas Buc, return to Hamer Hall to guide you through the musical world of Hisaishi in a love letter to Japan’s great Maestro.

NICHOLAS BUC conductor
AURA GO piano
ART OF THE SCORE
ANDREW POGSON host
DAN GOLDING host

From Studio Ghibli classics My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away to over 100 works for the screen and concert hall, Joe Hisaishi is one of the most prolific and beloved composers worldwide.

With a career featuring legendary collaborations with director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, multi-award winning scores for films, tv and the concert hall, Joe Hisashi’s music has been the soundtrack to people’s lives for decades.

In a specially-conceived new concert event, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, along with Art of the Score podcasters Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding, special guest pianist Aura Go and conductor Nicholas Buc, return to Hamer Hall to guide you through the musical world of Hisaishi in a love letter to Japan’s great Maestro.

NICHOLAS BUC conductor
AURA GO piano
ART OF THE SCORE
ANDREW POGSON host
DAN GOLDING host

From Studio Ghibli classics My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away to over 100 works for the screen and concert hall, Joe Hisaishi is one of the most prolific and beloved composers worldwide.

With a career featuring legendary collaborations with director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, multi-award winning scores for films, tv and the concert hall, Joe Hisashi’s music has been the soundtrack to people’s lives for decades.

In a specially-conceived new concert event, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, along with Art of the Score podcasters Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding, special guest pianist Aura Go and conductor Nicholas Buc, return to Hamer Hall to guide you through the musical world of Hisaishi in a love letter to Japan’s great Maestro.

NICHOLAS BUC conductor
AURA GO piano
ART OF THE SCORE
ANDREW POGSON host
DAN GOLDING host

Our fourth and final concert in Hobart’s showpiece new recital hall introduces first-time festival guests, Australian String Quartet who begin in less well-known territory with a rare performance of the lyrical piano quintet by American Amy Beach, who stood out for her determination and talent in a traditionally male-dominated domain a century ago.

AMY BEACH
Piano Quintet, op 67 (27’)

FRANZ SCHUBERT
String Quartet in D minor “Death and the Maiden” (43’)

Principal Cello of the Australian Chamber Orchestra Timo-Veikko Valve and pianist Aura Go have performed together extensively around Australia and overseas. The programs they co-curate seek new ways to experience both old and new music. The second part of this program weaves together the music of Beethoven and Webern. By selecting individual movements from different Beethoven sonatas and interlacing a fleeting moment of Webern, they create a unique new work, where we hear the two composers in close dialogue. This sequence in the program celebrates their recent Beethoven-Webern album released on ABC Classic.

LISA ILLEAN
ever-weaver 

HELVI LEIVISKÄ
Cantabile

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Sonata Op. 69, A major
I. Allegro ma non tanto
II. Scherzo (Allegro molto)

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Sonata Op. 102/2, D major
II. Adagio con molto sentimento d’affetto

ANTON WEBERN
Three Little Pieces Op.11

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Sonata Op. 5/2, G minor
II. Rondo (Allegro)

The opening concert of the 2025 Keynote Festival will be dazzling display of pianism by two outstanding Australian pianists Aura Go and Ian Munro. They have jointly conceived an exciting program of lesser-known works for four-hands at a single Steinway, encompassing familiar works by Schubert and Rachmaninov with an evocative re-imagining of Russian folk songs by Ekaterina Komalkova, receiving its Tasmanian premiere at the festival.

FRANZ SCHUBERT
Lebensstürme (13’)

ADOLF JENSEN
Abendmusik, Op. 59 (15’)

EKATERINA KOMALKOVA
Russian National Songs (selections) (20’)

SERGEI RACHMANINOFF
Capriccio bohemian  (20’)

Aura Go and Ian Munro (piano)

Felix Mendelssohn’s four simple, yet magical chords (I-V-iv-I) are a portal to a musical wonderland of elves, fairies, lovers, and a donkey. Mendelssohn stood on the conductor’s podium when the 16-year-old wonderchild composer-performer Clara Wieck premiered her own piano concerto. Her concerto would inspire and influence the concerti of her future husband, Robert Schumann, and their friends Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms.  Known for her unremittingly insightful playing, Aura Go joins SXS to perform Clara Schumann’s ravishing concerto, alongside the free-spirited fantasy of Robert Schumann’s fairytale miniatures. ​

Award-winning emerging Queensland composer, Ray Lin, collaborates with Williams in a new composition for Didgeridoo and Ensemble. 

MENDELSSOHN

Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream

LIN/WILLIAMS

World Premiere - DCP work for Didgeridoo and Ensemble

R. SCHUMANN

Märchenerzählungen (Fairytales), Op. 132

O’BOYLE AM

Maggie’s Dance (World Premiere)

C. SCHUMANN

Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7

Experience the extraordinary music of Joe Hisaishi in a new concert event celebrating one of the world’s most beloved modern composers, performed live in concert by the Sydney Symphony and pianist Aura Go.

Featuring rarely heard masterpieces from Hisaishi’s concert works and film collaborations alongside music from some of his fan-favourite Studio Ghibli film scores, you’ll feel the power of this iconic music brought to life by the full force of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, in an unforgettable concert at the Sydney Opera House.

NICHOLAS BUC conductor
AURA GO piano
ART OF THE SCORE
ANDREW POGSON host
DAN GOLDING host

Experience the extraordinary music of Joe Hisaishi in a new concert event celebrating one of the world’s most beloved modern composers, performed live in concert by the Sydney Symphony and pianist Aura Go.

Featuring rarely heard masterpieces from Hisaishi’s concert works and film collaborations alongside music from some of his fan-favourite Studio Ghibli film scores, you’ll feel the power of this iconic music brought to life by the full force of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, in an unforgettable concert at the Sydney Opera House.

NICHOLAS BUC conductor
AURA GO piano
ART OF THE SCORE
ANDREW POGSON host
DAN GOLDING host

Experience the extraordinary music of Joe Hisaishi in a new concert event celebrating one of the world’s most beloved modern composers, performed live in concert by the Sydney Symphony and pianist Aura Go.

Featuring rarely heard masterpieces from Hisaishi’s concert works and film collaborations alongside music from some of his fan-favourite Studio Ghibli film scores, you’ll feel the power of this iconic music brought to life by the full force of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, in an unforgettable concert at the Sydney Opera House.

NICHOLAS BUC conductor
AURA GO piano
ART OF THE SCORE
ANDREW POGSON host
DAN GOLDING host

Experience the extraordinary music of Joe Hisaishi in a new concert event celebrating one of the world’s most beloved modern composers, performed live in concert by the Sydney Symphony and pianist Aura Go.

Featuring rarely heard masterpieces from Hisaishi’s concert works and film collaborations alongside music from some of his fan-favourite Studio Ghibli film scores, you’ll feel the power of this iconic music brought to life by the full force of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, in an unforgettable concert at the Sydney Opera House.

NICHOLAS BUC conductor
AURA GO piano
ART OF THE SCORE
ANDREW POGSON host
DAN GOLDING host

Experience the extraordinary music of Joe Hisaishi in a new concert event celebrating one of the world’s most beloved modern composers, performed live in concert by the Sydney Symphony and pianist Aura Go.

Featuring rarely heard masterpieces from Hisaishi’s concert works and film collaborations alongside music from some of his fan-favourite Studio Ghibli film scores, you’ll feel the power of this iconic music brought to life by the full force of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, in an unforgettable concert at the Sydney Opera House.

NICHOLAS BUC conductor
AURA GO piano
ART OF THE SCORE
ANDREW POGSON host
DAN GOLDING host

BACH ARR. KURTAG
Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106

JOHANNES BRAHMS
Waltzes Op. 39

GYÖRGY LIGETI
Five Pieces for piano duet

IAN MUNRO
Two lullabies

FRANZ SCHUBERT
Fantasy in F minor D. 940

Performance includes an opening set performed by the Callisto piano Duo, from 6.30pm. Music by Kats-Chernin, Tabuchi, Gershwin and Grieg.

Timo-Veikko Valve  cello
Aura Go  piano

Beethoven Horn Sonata Op. 17 
Mozart Andantino for cello and piano KV ANH. 46 (347g) (completed by Annette Isserlis)
Mozart Allegro KV Anh. 48 (transcribed and completed by Ian Munro)
Mozart Andante and Fugue KV402 (transcribed and completed by Ian Munro)
Lisa Illean ever-weaver 
Schubert Arpeggione Sonata

Sydney Mozart Society:

Timo-Veikko Valve and Aura Go are highly sought after in Australia and overseas as soloists and chamber musicians. Combining Aura’s warm hearted and insightful playing with Tippi’s creative and generous musicianship, their musical partnership is formidable. They will perform exquisite pieces and unfinished works by Mozart and Beethoven completed and arranged for piano and cello and give us our first performance in the season of Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata.  Contrast this with the arrangement for viola and piano in our September concert.

Programme:

BEETHOVEN Horn Sonata in F major, Op.17 arr. Beethoven

MOZART Andantino in B-flat major, K 374g cmpl. A Isserlis

MOZART Allegro in A major, K 480a cmpl./arr. I Munro

MOZART Andante and Fugue, K 402 cmpl. M Stadler, arr. I Munro

ILLEAN (Lisa) ever-weaver

SCHUBERT Sonata in A minor, D.821 Arpeggione

BEETHOVEN - Horn Sonata Op. 17 (arranged by Beethoven)
MOZART - Andantino for cello and piano KV ANH. 46 (347g) (completed by Annette Isserlis)
MOZART - Allegro KV Anh. 48 (arranged and completed by Ian Munro)
MOZART - Andante and Fugue KV402 (arranged and completed by Ian Munro)
LISA ILLEAN - ever-weaver (2022/24)
SCHUBERT - Arpeggione Sonata

Aura Go presents the first Australian performance of a gem in the piano concerto repertoire, Doreen Carwithen’s concerto for piano and strings. Other program highlights include Barber’s heartfelt Adagio for strings, Peter Sculthorpe’s serene Pastorale from his final string quartet, and one of the masterpieces of the string orchestra repertoire, Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.

The first Australian performance of a gem in the piano concerto repertoire, Doreen Carwithen’s concerto for piano and strings. Other program highlights include Barber’s heartfelt Adagio for strings, Peter Sculthorpe’s serene Pastorale from his final string quartet, and one of the masterpieces of the string orchestra repertoire, Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.

Kristian Winther Violin

Timo-Veikko Valve Cello

Aura Go Piano

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Piano Trio in D, Op. 70 No. 1 Ghost

Helvi Leiviskä (1902–1982)
Piano Trio

Lili Boulanger (1893–1918)
D’un Soir Triste

Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 63

Every year for over two decades, ABC Classic has asked music lovers to nominate their favourite pieces on a particular theme, counting down the results across an exciting weekend in June.

Join us for the third edition of this popular live event featuring highlights from the countdown!

Featuring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Benjamin Northey conductor / creative director
Jeremy Fernandez presenter
Megan Burslem presenter
Andrea Lam piano
Simon Tedeschi piano
Dong Jun 'DJ' Ha piano
Aura Go piano
Elena Kats-Chernin piano
Tamara-Anna Cislowska piano
Nat Bartsch piano
Konstantin Shamray piano

Every year for over two decades, ABC Classic has asked music lovers to nominate their favourite pieces on a particular theme, counting down the results across an exciting weekend in June.

Join us for the third edition of this popular live event featuring highlights from the countdown!

Featuring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Benjamin Northey conductor / creative director
Jeremy Fernandez presenter
Megan Burslem presenter
Andrea Lam piano
Simon Tedeschi piano
Dong Jun 'DJ' Ha piano
Aura Go piano
Elena Kats-Chernin piano
Tamara-Anna Cislowska piano
Nat Bartsch piano
Konstantin Shamray piano

After an evocative presentation in 2024, the music of Jane Austen’s time is further explored in this delightfully enchanting musical event. Transporting listeners to the drawing rooms and picturesque surroundings of Pemberley, Rachael Beesley, Aura Go and Lizzy Bennet’s Band bring the musical heart of Austen’s most cherished novels to life.

Aura Go joins University of Adelaide’s Quartet-in-Residence, the Australian String Quartet, for a lunchtime concert of works by Zoltán Kodály and Amy Beach. Amy Beach’s powerful Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor, Op. 67 is celebrated for its lush Romantic textures and dramatic scope.

Artists in Residence at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music in 2025, the Australian joins Head of Piano Aura Go in the magnificent piano quintet of Amy Beach. Free admission.

Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance

55 Scenic Boulevard, Monash University Clayton Campus

Scottish mezzo-soprano and Cardiff Singer of the World Catriona Morison collaborates with Utzon favourite Aura Go in an afternoon of consummate music making.  Expressive songs by Johannes Brahms, Gustav Mahler’s venerated Rückert Lieder, and Scottish and English folk songs arranged by Benjamin Britten, Claire Liddell, Herbert Howells, Percy Grainger, and Bertha Koopman trace the gamut of human experience. In tranquil relief, are Mendelssohn’s lyrical Songs Without Words and elegant piano solos by Swedish composer Hélène Tham. 

KIAZMA Piano Duo presents a captivating program of music by Bach-Kurtag, Johannes Brahms, György Ligeti, Ian Munro and Franz Schubert.

This program begins with Hungarian composer György Kurtág’s reverent transcriptions of some of Bach’s most beautiful Chorales that confront death, devotion and consolation. Composed in the shadow of his father's sudden death in 1922, Shostakovich's Suite for two pianos, Op.6, is music of immense power and tragic intensity, written when the composer was just 15.

Composer Holly Harrison is one of Australia's rising stars. Her music embraces juxtaposing styles, blending the visceral energy of rock with whimsical humour. She writes, ‘Crunch is a highly rhythmic work for piano four-hands which draws inspiration from honky-tonk, blues, punk, and grunge music. The word ‘crunch’ refers to dissonance and rhythmic punch, and …the percussiveness and physicality of the piano.