Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Announces Celebrazione! with Stefano Montarini

In 2010, a motorbike pulled up outside the café where Paul Dyer, the Brandenburg's Artistic Director, was enjoying a morning coffee in Bergamo, a medievAl Hilltop town 40kms northeast of Milan.

"CIAO Paul, Ciao!" With a beaming smile, the leather-clad Italian virtuoso baroque violinist Stefano Montanari climbed from his motorbike and enthusiastically shook Paul's hand.

"Stefano and I had an instant rapport," says Paul. "We got louder and louder - and extremely animated - as we talked about the exciting music we wanted to make together. We both wanted to present a concert that really celebrates what is excellent about baroque music. We arranged a program for the Celebrazione! series right there and then. This will be a concert experience born from a passionate conversation - and un buono caffè!"

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra's CELEBRAZIONE! with Guest Director on baroque violin Stefano Montanari will have performances in both Sydney and Melbourne.

SYDNEY - City Recital Hall Angel Place
Evenings: Wed 17, Fri 19, Sat 20, Wed 24, Fri 26 July, all at 7pm
Matinee: Sat 20 July at 2pm

BOOKINGS: City Recital Hall Angel Place (02) 8256 2222 or www.cityrecitalhall.com
Brandenburg (02) 9328 7581 or www.brandenburg.com.au
Tickets range from $65 to $154 (Concessions/Under 30 available). Booking fees apply.

MELBOURNE - Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre
Sat 27 July at 7pm & Sun 28 July at 5pm

BOOKINGS: Melbourne Recital Centre (03) 9699 3333 or www.melbournerecital.com.au
Brandenburg 1300 782 856 or www.brandenburg.com.au
Tickets range from $60 to $140 (Concessions/Under 30 available). Booking fees apply.

Stefano and Paul have chosen gems by Italian baroque masters Veracini, Geminiani and Brescianello: "This is music of Stefano's heritage - brilliant, fiery and passionate, just like him. It is a perfect way to introduce the character of this charismatic Italian maestro to the Australian public."

They also decided upon a virtuosic concerto grosso by Handel and a double concerto for flute and violin by Telemann, which will see Stefano perform alongside the Brandenburg's exquisite Principal Baroque Flute Melissa Farrow.

Stefano is an in-demand soloist, leader and conductor. He has led the Italian early music group Accademia Bizantina since 1995 and together they have toured the world. As a recording artist he is highly esteemed, having won the prestigious Diapason d'Or and Midem Classical Awards. O Solitude, a disc he recorded with Andreas Scholl, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2012.

"There is so much to love about instrumental baroque music and Stefano embodies its vigor and vibrancy," says Paul. "I'm so happy that this stellar Italian maestro will be at the helm of the Brandenburg for Celebrazione!. He is a musician that pushes himself and his musicians right to The Edge, which is a thrilling ride for the audience and orchestra alike."

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