Canberra | Bowral | Sydney
20 June - 22 June

With Erin Helyard

  • “ Energetically conducted by Erin Helyard from the keyboard …and skilfully led by violinist Skye McIntosh, the Ensemble impresses with every note and every phrase….. It’s really quite astonishing, and the audience applauded enthusiastically whenever it got the chance.”

    by Kym Clayton, Barefoot Review - Adelaide Festival, 2022

  • “It was another example of fine playing by the Australian Haydn Ensemble, under the direction of Helyard. This group has set a new benchmark in Australia in the performance of music of the Classical era.”

    by Stephen Whittington, The Advertiser, Adelaide Festival, 2022

  • ★★★★ 1/2 “…AHE’s precise timing and intonation and spot-on ensemble playing were on display under Helyard’s firm but relaxed control. "

    Limelight, 2021

ARTISTS

ERIN HELYARD Fortepiano soloist
The Australian Haydn Ensemble

PROGRAM

MOZART
String Quintet No. 1 in B flat major K. 174

MOZART
Piano Concerto No. 11 in F major K. 413
(arr. Helyard )

MOZART
Piano Sonata in B flat major K. 333 Linz

MOZART
Symphony No. 36 in C major K. 425 Linz
(arr. Cimador)

CONCERT DURATION:
Approx 120 minutes with a 20 minute interval

ABOUT THIS CONCERT

The ensemble’s dear friend Erin Helyard returns to lead this beautiful all-Mozart program.
As composer and performer, Wolfgang was shaped by two Austrian cities: his birthplace, Salzburg, with which he had a love-hate relationship, and his chosen home of Vienna.

Between the two, the picturesque town (now city) of Linz was never more than a vacation stopover, but as you’ll hear, it was an especially fruitful ‘working holiday’ musically speaking.

Mozart was a violist and adding an extra viola to a quartet always brought out the best in him. His first quintet, in B flat major K. 174, dates from a time when for once Salzburg was not getting on his nerves: the family had just moved from their parsimonious one-bedroom flat to an 8-room apartment, replete with a little ballroom for entertaining and concerts, and a garden for shooting contests! Wolfgang, at 17, finally with his own “space”, was about to produce his amazing early symphonies in G minor and A major. This more modest piece still has a symphonic richness, owing to the complex inner parts and use of double bass. If it’s your first encounter, you’re in for a treat.

A decade on, having ditched Salzburg for cosmopolitan Vienna, Wolfgang’s ‘making an honest woman’ of his defacto Constanza Weber did little to un-sour relations with his sister and father. Journeying home from an abortive attempt at family reconciliation, the couple’s mini honeymoon in Linz was interrupted by Mozart’s having to whip up a little something for the local nobility: a thirty-five-minute Symphony, his No.36 K425, was written, printed and rehearsed in 5 days!

As base camp before ascending this symphonic peak, Erin has chosen one of Mozart’s earlier keyboard concertos, No. 11 K. 413 in F major and a familiar sonata with a misleading catalogue number. The concerto is rarely heard, so you’ll be lucky enough to encounter its beautiful slow movement, which looks ahead to one that’s heard very often indeed. The B flat sonata K. 333 was long thought to have been written in Paris in 1778. But forensic analysis of the unusual manuscript paper on which it was penned (!) has traced it to the very same spoiled honeymoon in Linz.

While sparing a thought for poor neglected Constanza, you will hear that, like the symphony, it brims with the warmth, playfulness and love that characterised the final intimate relationship of Mozart’s life.

PERFORMANCES & TICKETS

Fri 20 June 7pm

Gandel Hall, National Gallery of Australia
Canberra

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Sat 21 June 4pm

Bowral Memorial Hall,
Southern Highlands, NSW

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Sun 22 June 4pm

The Neilson, Pier 2 / 3
Dawes Point, Sydney

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A NEW AHE EXPERIENCE

Experience our new pre-event series of talks alongside your concert subscription.

Held on a different day to AHE’s Sydney concerts, these special, informative events are available as 3, 4, of 5 event subscription packages in Sydney - sold separately to your concert series subscription.

DETAILS OF EACH EVENT BELOW

DEEP DIVE INTO THE PROGRAM

Learn more about the Composers and Music in this performance from the following links:

AHE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Listen to further selections from the program on our spotify playlist.

CONCERTS 101: WHAT TO EXPECT

First time attending a concert and not sure what to expect? Don’t worry! Scroll down to find out about attending an AHE concert. If you have questions that you don’t see the answer to here, send us an email and we’d be happy to help. Contact one of our friendly team at: info@australianhaydn.com.au

  • Firstly, you should know there are no rules. Going to a concert can be a great time to glam it up. If that feels right, then go ahead – there’ll almost certainly be plenty of others dressing up.

    It’s also totally fine to come in jeans – and plenty of people do. The only real “rule” is to wear something that’s comfortable.

  • Don’t worry – nobody is going to get into trouble for clapping in the “wrong” place. The only real rule is not to clap while the musicians are actually playing (as other people can’t hear them).

    The thing to know is that applause conventions have changed over time. People used to talk all the way through the opera in the 1700s, and we don’t tend to do that now!

    At AHE, the music we play will often come to the end of a section (known as a movement) with what feels like a ‘big finish’. It’s like the composer is begging you to respond. And in days of old, they may well have shouted or clapped or cheered at that point!

    When that happens, and you “accidentally” clap and not many others do, you have done nothing wrong! Just sit back and let it all sink in. You may still feel the vibration of the music in the air, and it can be quite a magical moment.

    The performers will be getting ready for the next movement, which may have a very different feel to it. That’s all part of the journey of the piece as a whole.

    Think of it like a book, with each movement like a chapter. You save your Goodreads five-star review for the end – and that has now become the convention for clapping at concerts.

    At the end of the work, there will once again be a lovely pause while the final notes die away.

    Watch for the body language of the players and let that be your guide. The majority of people around you may also start clapping too – so that’s always a good sign to let go and express yourself.

    You don’t have to hold back at all now! Feel free to clap as loud and long as you like, cheer or you can even stamp your feet on the floor while you are still seated if you really loved it!

    Sometimes you’ll see people standing up and clapping too (called a standing ovation). You don’t have to do this, but when and if you do, just know that it’s the highest honour an audience can give the musicians and a sign of maximum appreciation.

    Most of all – listen and enjoy!

  • Each performance has a detailed concert program that explains the history of the composers, the music and provides information about the musicians.

    You can pick up a concert program at the performance or read it online a few weeks before the concert. Once, available, we upload it to our Concert Programs page and include it on the event page (above)

    We also try to provide information about the music in the lead up to a concert on our website, social channels and via emails.

    In our ‘Deep Dive’ section (also on this page for each concert), you will find links to various background information pages that will help to give you more insight into the works and composers on the program.

    Be sure you have opted in to receive emails so that you get all the info.

  • Yes, depending on the venue. The availability of refreshments varies from venue to venue and changes from time to time.

    Below is information about what is currently available at our own venues.

    BERRY: In Berry, we have community-led catering which usually includes tea and coffee, wine, cakes and snacks served by our wonderful local supporters.

    BOWRAL MEMORIAL HALL: Delicious pre-concert and interval homemade treats are provided by the CWA. Alcohol is not currently available. There are gluten-free options and you can pay by cash or card.

    BURRAWANG, SCHOOL OF ARTS: In Burrawang, we have gorgeous community-led catering which usually includes tea and coffee, wine and snacks served by the wonderful hall committee.

    CANBERRA: Wesley Music Centre. Interval tea and coffee is on the cards for this venue in the future!

    CITY RECITAL HALL: In Sydney, the City Recital Hall operates a full service bar before the concert and at interval. You can even take your drink inside the concert! Note that the City Recital Hall is a cashless bar. More information on all the dining options and bars is available here.

    LAKE MACQUARIE: Tea and coffee, wine and snacks available.

    PORT MACQUARE: Tea, coffee and wine available.

  • Between pieces definitely. Our instruments aren’t amplified so we ask you to respect everyone’s experience and that you don’t talk whilst the musicians are playing.

  • Photos are fine between pieces and when the musicians are bowing at the end of pieces, provided the flash is off.

    Our musicians are concentrating hard whilst they are performing though, so we ask that your phone is off and away during the performance itself.