"As Cherubino Hannah Fraser showed an earthy vocal quality in her two arias especially in “Voi Che Sapete,” where voice relished in the long lines Mozart gives this character. She played the character with a timidity and it almost seemed as her Cherubino was always uncomfortable. Of course, there was a flirtatious nature as Fraser’s constantly gave winks toward the Countess and Susanna"
- OPERAWIRE, Prague
Wed, 16 Sept
|St James' Church, Sydney
Van Diemen's Band - Symphoniae Sacrae
Time & Location
16 Sept 2026, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
St James' Church, Sydney, 173 King St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
About the event
Revel in the uplifting sounds of massed voices and orchestra as Van Diemen's Band - replete with brass - six vocal soloists and the Choir of St James' showcase some of the most sublime repertoire ever written, alongside new works by Alice Chance and Brooke Shelley.
These sacred symphonies - a collection of vocal and instrumental works based on religious texts and designed to be performed in the church - follow a path from Venice to northern Germany during the tumultuous and heart-rending times of the Thirty Years War.
Featuring works by Gabrieli, Cavalli, Schütz and Schop, and selections from Monteverdi's Selva morale e spirituale, this stunning program explores how the Venetian musical tradition paved the way for the golden era of northern German Baroque composition - ultimately leading to JS Bach himself.
Connecting this music to the present day, two extraordinary Australian composers have created contemporary responses to this baroque repertoire - Brooke Shelley's Et Versa Est Victoria and Alice Chance's Au Nord - works that reimagine and recontextualize this rich musical heritage.