Step into the witty and brilliant world of Joseph Haydn, the father of the string quartet. Anchored by his famous “Joke” Quartet — a work full of playful surprises — this concert celebrates Classical elegance and invention. Featuring quartets by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, this joyful program reveals the humour and heart at the core of chamber music.

Internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Helen Sherman joins the Australian Haydn Ensemble for a powerful program of Baroque drama and beauty, featuring the sublime vocal music of George Frideric Handel and the vivid, expressive writing of Antonio Vivaldi.

From the aching stillness of “Lascia ch’io pianga” and the haunting beauty of “Scherza infida” to the stormy brilliance of Vivaldi’s concerti and the rarely performed motet “In turbato mare irato”, this program brings together passion, grief, tenderness and triumph in equal measure. Handel’s operatic masterpieces are given new life through Sherman’s glowing voice, while Vivaldi’s instrumental works ignite with colour and energy.

Travel back to the salons of early 19th-century Vienna, where Beethoven’s music brought refinement and revolution. At the centre of this program is a rarely heard string version of Beethoven’s beloved Septet — a work full of charm, grace, and subtle grandeur. Surrounding it are pieces that capture the intimate, expressive sound world of Vienna’s golden age.

Much more than a lieder recital, this rare and beautiful concert features some of Schubert’s most darkly-hued songs, superbly delivered by David Greco’s mahogany bass-baritone, and intensified by rich and expressive string quartet accompaniments.