Christ Church Daylesford continues its tradition of bringing world-class chamber music to the region with a powerful and intimate concert on Saturday, November 8 at 2.30 pm. The acclaimed ensemble Genesis Baroque will perform Death and the Maiden, an afternoon of exquisite music exploring beauty, mortality, and the vibrancy of the human spirit.
Founded in 2017, Genesis Baroque unites some of Australia’s leading historically informed musicians – artists who play on period instruments using techniques that bring audiences closer to the sound world composers originally imagined. For this performance, the ensemble will present Franz Schubert’s String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, famously known as Death and the Maiden, alongside Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet Opus 18, No. 1 in F Major.
Schubert’s quartet, written in 1824 when he was gravely ill and confronting his own mortality, is one of the most deeply emotional works of the 19th century. The music alternates between defiance and tenderness, a vivid portrayal of the struggle between life and death. Performed on gut strings, audiences will hear the music as Schubert intended: rich, raw, and profoundly human.
Beethoven’s quartet, composed more than two decades earlier, provides a striking contrast. Its lyrical second movement is said to depict the vault scene from Romeo and Juliet, another meditation on love, fate, and loss. Together, these works promise an unforgettable afternoon of music that spans despair, passion, and transcendence.
The quartet brings together four exceptional artists: Anna McMichael (violin), Jennifer Kirsner (violin), Meg Cohen (viola), and Josephine Vains (cello) each with distinguished international and Australian careers.
Anna McMichael, who grew up in South Australia, returned home after 17 years performing and leading major ensembles in Europe, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Netherlands Opera. She now heads the strings program at Monash University and performs with leading Australian ensembles such as Pinchgut Opera and Ironwood.
Jennifer Kirsner, a Melbourne-based early music specialist, has worked with top orchestras and ensembles across Australia and Europe. With degrees in both music and psychology, her unique perspective on performance has led to published research on music performance anxiety and a deep understanding of the emotional world behind every note.
Violist Meg Cohen is a versatile performer, artistic director, and founder of the Sydney Baroque Music Festival. Her work champions inclusive and engaging approaches to classical music, while cellist Josephine Vains, a familiar name to Daylesford audiences, brings warmth and technical brilliance to every performance.
The concert will be held at Christ Church, 54 Central Springs Road, Daylesford, a venue known for its superb acoustics and serene atmosphere. Tickets are available via TryBooking
For further information contact Frank Page at frank@pagebell.com or 0417 010 081.
With its combination of masterful musicianship, historic instruments, and deeply moving repertoire, Death and the Maiden promises to be one of the most memorable concerts in Daylesford this year, a rare chance to experience timeless music brought vividly to life.
