The Art of Wonder and Consolation Music Festival
11
Sep
A Feast of Musical Storytelling
Presented by Murray River Fine Music
Murray River Fine Music presents a feast of music from childhood games and fairytales to the brilliant invention of Bach and the deeply moving music of Nigel Westlake and Lior. The festival also features a solo piano recital by pianist Stefan Cassamenos who will be on the border adjudicating the Geoffrey McFerran Young Regional Victorian Piano Competition.
This special weekend brings together some of the finest musicians from around Australia, in collaboration with our local region's very best performers, performing an outstanding range of music for all ages, featuring the talented students from the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.
Access all shows with the Music Festival Value Pass to enjoy priority seating and other VIP benefits across the weekend. Alternatively, you may select to book individual shows of your choice in general admission.
Music Festival Value Pass
Download Program
The Art of Fugue
By Inventi Ensemble
Friday, September 11, 7.30pm
Bach’s final masterpiece, The Art of Fugue is an incredible and intricate work. In this performance, his music undergoes the Inventi treatment where it is arranged for flute, oboe, violin, viola and cello. Bach didn’t live to complete the piece, so for this concert Inventi have commissioned Geelong-based composer Kym Dillon to compose the completed chorale in a new and fascinating way.
Each movement contains the theme of the piece, but each time it is flipped on its head, turned backwards, transposed into different keys, bring together Bach's amazing and playful creativity with mathematical precision. Inventi will lead you through Bach’s inexhaustible development in a glorious celebration of this great composer’s work.
General Admission
Children's Games and Mother Goose
By MRFM Duo: Grace Kernaghan and Miriam Briggs featuring the Flying Fruit Fly Circus
Saturday, September 12, 2pm
The magic continues at The Cube Wodonga, as audiences are entertained by a truly home-grown production and collaboration. The concert features Bizet's Children Games and Ravel's Mother Goose suite which will be brought to life as a piano duet by The MRFM Duo: Grace Kernaghan and Miriam Briggs.
This wonderful collaboration features students from the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, under the direction of Seth Scheuner, bringing a fresh interpretation to two timeless works inspired by childhood.
General Admission
The Art of the Piano
A recital by Stefan Cassomenos
Saturday, September 12, 7.30pm
Melbourne pianist and composer Stefan Cassomenos is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most vibrant and versatile musicians. Performing internationally since the age of ten, and with more than two decades representing Australia on the world stage, he has established himself as one of the nation’s leading pianists. An accomplished chamber musician, he has also served as Artistic Co-director of the Port Fairy Spring Festival. Murray River Fine Music is honoured to welcome him as adjudicator for the 2026 Geoffrey McFerran Young Victorian Regional Piano Competition and is delighted to present this brilliant pianist in recital.
Stefan will perform five pieces:
Franz LISZT / Richard WAGNER
Isolde’s Liebestod (1859 / 1867)
Carl VINE
Toccatissimo (2011)
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
Sonata Op 27 No 2, “Moonlight” (1801)
Caroline SHAW
Gustave Le Gray (2012)
after Frederic Chopin’s Mazurka Op 17 No 4 (1833)
Franz LISZT / Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
Symphony No 5, Op 67 (1808 / 1837)
General Admission
Compassion
(Westlake/Lior) Performed by Lior and the MRFM Ensemble
Sunday, September 13, 2pm
A song cycle composed by Nigel Westlake and Lior that blends the richness of ancient Arabic and Hebrew texts to present a collection of profound and poetic messages surrounding the idea of compassion between human beings. It unites different musical voices and influences from the diverse backgrounds of the two creators, and shares with us insights into the wisdom of compassion gained from poems, proverbs and songs. Music that nourishes the soul.
Accompanying Lior on vocals, the Murray River Fine Music Ensemble comprises the following talented musicians:
- Kaori Sparks - violin
- Yuhka Nagai - violin
- William Vyvyan Murray - viola
- Charlotte Jacke - cello
- Michael Fortescue - double bass
- Helena Kernaghan - piano
- Steve Falk – percussion
Introducing the complete Compassion program:
- Sim Shalom - Grant Peace
- Eize Hu Chacham? - Who is Wise?
- La Yu'minu - Until You Love Your Brother
- Inna Rifqa - The Beauty Within
- Al Takshu L'vavchem - Don't Harden Your Hearts
- Ma Wadani Ahadun - Until the End of Time
- Avinu Malkeinu - Hymn of Compassion
General Admission