The much-anticipated Christ Church Concerts return in 2025 for their fourth year, offering an eclectic selection of chamber music performances in support of the historic Christ Church Daylesford. This year’s series features an expanded focus on early music and vocal performances, with a mix of returning and new artists. Held in the acoustically rich settings of Christ Church and W.E. Stanbridge Hall, the concerts promise an intimate and immersive musical experience.
Saturday 8 March – The Mad Lover
Kate Macfarlane (soprano) and Hannah Lane (baroque harp) will present a program blending 17th-century English “mad songs” with traditional folk melodies. Featuring works by Henry Purcell, John Eccles, Benjamin Britten, and Kate Moore, this concert explores themes of love, longing, and madness.
Saturday 10 May – O Sweet Woods
Renowned lutenist Rosemary Hodgson will be joined by vocalists Kate Macfarlane, Christopher Roache, Timothy Reynolds, and Matthew Champion to present a program inspired by Renaissance composer John Dowland. Featuring intricate vocal harmonies and poetic lyricism, this concert celebrates love and nature through timeless songs.
Saturday 5 July – Unholy Rackett + Ensemble 642
This unique collaboration will bring together Unholy Rackett, a period woodwind ensemble, and Ensemble 642, specialists in basso continuo. Their program showcases early baroque compositions from Italy, Iberia, and Germany, with a special focus on the expressive capabilities of the curtal, an early form of the bassoon.
Saturday 18 October – The Tudor Choristers
One of Melbourne’s most esteemed a cappella choirs, The Tudor Choristers, led by Carlos Del Cueto, commemorate the 500th anniversary of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Their performance will feature Palestrina’s sacred choral works alongside English Renaissance compositions, offering an evocative journey into the golden age of choral music.
Saturday 8 November – Genesis Baroque: Death and the Maiden
Genesis Baroque presents a profound and moving performance featuring Schubert’s Death and the Maiden quartet, a work of haunting beauty written in the face of the composer’s declining health. Paired with Beethoven’s Opus 18, No.1, which reflects the tragic intensity of Romeo and Juliet, this concert promises an emotionally powerful experience.
All concerts commence at 2:30 PM, with performances held at Christ Church Daylesford, except for O Sweet Woods and The Tudor Choristers, which will take place at W.E. Stanbridge Hall.
For bookings and more information, visit the Christ Church Concerts Facebook page or the TryBooking link: https://www.trybooking.com/eventlist/christchurchconcerts.
Christ Church Concerts are proudly supported by Community Bank Daylesford District, Biggin Scott, Baxter & Stubbs, and The Magic Pudding.
For enquiries, contact Frank Page at frank@pagebell.com or 0417 010 817.
