Barossa Klassik


BAROSSA KLASSIK is the initiative of TORBRECK VINTNERS together with bassoonist Jane Gower to establish a regular classical music presence in the Barossa, in keeping with the Valley’s strong historical and cultural roots. As well as its splendid wineries, the region boasts many historical churches ideal for the performance of fine chamber music. To complement the region’s position as a premium destination for fine wine and cuisine, Barossa Klassik will present international ensembles of the highest quality and repute.

In January 2010 TORBRECK hosted the inaugural season of Barossa Klassik featuring «island», in residence for two exclusive concerts in the Torbreck Barrel Hall.

Island in performanceisland performs with Alice Evans in the Torbreck Barrel Hall on January 24, 2010

Saturday, 23 January, 6PM Tafelmusik
This was the opening gala event in the Torbreck Barrel Hall; a three-course dinner accompanied by the wines of Torbreck Vintners. Musical interludes from «island». Full programmme details

Sunday, 24 January, 2.30PM Das Konzert
The Barrel Hall was transformed into a concert venue for a full-length appearance of «island» performing highlights from its repertoire. Following in the winery grounds, a selection of supper platters and the fine wines of Torbreck. Full programme details

The concerts were met with an ecstatic reception and an immediate and overwhelming desire to hear more from Barossa Klassik. Fiona Sheppard and all of the Torbreck crew did a magnificent job transforming the Barrel Hall into the most gorgeous, atmospheric and intimate dinner venue for Tafelmusik. The event was run seamlessly, with delicious food, incomparable wines, and not to forget infectious and breathtaking music making from «island».

The next day the Barrel Hall went on further to prove its merits, acoustically and aesthetically, as a concert venue for Das Konzert. ABC Radio recorded the concert for subsequent broadcast; check here later for broadcast details. The audience thrilled to the unique sonorities and skills of composers formerly unknown to them, as well as to the virtuosity but most of all the obvious delight in musical communication displayed by the members of «island». A new musical tradition in the Barossa has clearly been born!

Gruenberg Church, venue for the Reicha recording.

Following the concerts at Torbreck, «island» spent four hot and intense days in the beautiful Gruenberg Church near Moculta, recording its fourth CD of quintets by Anton Reicha. «island’s» recording engineer Guido Tichelman flew out especially from The Netherlands to produce this recording. Many thanks are due to Ray Thomas and Les Peters for their unflagging assistance with the project, as well as the use of recording equipment. The Reicha CD is to be released on the prestigious German label ARS and is exclusively sponsored by Torbreck.

Planning for next year’s Barossa Klassik is already underway, with exact times, musicians and programmes to be announced shortly. Future seasons will concentrate on early romantic music for winds, strings and fortepiano - chamber music of composers such as Schubert, Beethoven and Hummel - performed on authentic instruments. This represents a niche seldom explored elsewhere in Australia. Following the same philosophy of «island» itself, Barossa Klassik will present expat Australian musicians following highly successful specialists careers abroad with the opportunity to return home to share their experience and skills.

The partnership of Torbreck with «island» promises to be a unique and fruitful one, between a prestigious, highly esteemed winery with a prominent international repute and an elite classical music ensemble whose members and activities span the globe. We hope to enhance and support each other’s profiles and standing in Australia and abroad through our common interests. Tools of the trade

Updated February 22nd 2010 (c) Jane Gower