2026 | Black Session
Albury Chamber Music Festival ’26
“Ooh là là”
Bonjour mes amis,
This year, step into a world of French elegance, artistry and enchantment — a celebration inspired by the salons of Paris, the cafés of Montmartre and the rich artistic spirit of France.
This “Carnet” — modelled on the traditional booklet of Paris Métro tickets — grants access to eleven concerts and events across this immersive three-day celebration, set within our Paris-inspired venues and gardens: the Art Deco, heritage-listed Regent Cinema, our own elegant jewel-box Adamshurst Ballroom, and the soaring Gothic beauty of St Matthew’s (almost Notre-Dame). A magnificent three-course French-inspired dinner at the Albury Club’s Bleu Blanc Rouge Ball is also included in this “Carnet”.
Echoing the Parisian salons of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, our unique festival is designed as a meeting place for friends old and new — where music, conversation and artists come together.
Please bring your “Carnet” to all performances and ensure it is stamped each time to be in the draw for an exciting prize.
Bienvenue à Albury
Venues:
Adamshurst, 603 David St, Albury
Regent Cinemas, 456 Dean St, Albury
St Matthew’s Church, 516 Kiewa St, Albury
The Albury Club, 519 Kiewa St, Albury
Friday 6 November - BLACK
“Madeleine” Session BLACK, Performance 1, Fauré’s Requiem Opus 48
St Matthew’s Church
Friday, 6 November, 2:00pm–3:00pm
Greta Claringbould, soprano
Andrew Fysh, bass
Anna McMichael, violin
Ye Jin Min, violin
Dana Lee, viola
Catherine Turnbull, viola
Danny Neumann, viola
Molly Kadarauch, cello
Sarah Cuming, cello
Michael Fortescue, double bass
Sally Walker, flute
Natalia Edwards, french horn
Melanie Simpson, french horn
Gemma Tong, harp
Peter Guy, organ
Lux Alba and guest singers
Mario Dobernig, conductor
Star violinist Anna McMichael opens the festival with Bach’s monumental Chaconne (Ciaccona) in D minor, BWV 1004, the final movement of his Partita No. 2 for Solo Violin.
Gabriel Fauré was known as “the quiet architect of French music”, and his Requiem is one of the most beloved works in the choral repertoire. It is unusually gentle for a Requiem Mass, and he described it as a “lullaby of death” — an aspiration towards heavenly happiness.
In our chamber version, the delicacy of his writing is revealed, from the serenity of the “Pie Jesu” to the quiet transcendence of “In Paradisum”. Its first performance took place in 1888 at the Église de la Madeleine in Paris.
FUN FACT — Le Chat (“the cat”) was Fauré’s nickname among his contemporaries, used to describe his sleek, graceful manner and subtle sensuality — essentially, his elegant cat-like poise.
This performance is dedicated to the memory of our principal violist Simon Oswell (1954-2026).
“MOULIN ROUGE” Session BLACK, Performance 2, BLEU BLANC ROUGE GALA BALL
The Albury Club
Friday, 6 November, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Our legendary “Gala Dinner” where anything goes!
Expect the unexpected!
Come dressed as Napoleon, Asterix, Marie Antoinette, Cyrano de Bergerac, or simply in red, white and blue.
Always a load of fun, this much-loved event combines a three-course French-inspired meal at the beautiful Albury Club with the fabulous French cabaret chanteuse Louise Blackwell and her French Set.
Louise Blackwell, chanteuse
Mark Ferguson, piano
Dan Witton, double bass
Michael Evans-Barker, drums
Rod Lara
Harleigh-Rose Byrne
Estelle O’Keefe
Cameron Wenn, présentateur
Please note: Entry to the Albury Club is via the rose garden at the back of the club (Stanley Street via Commercial Club carpark). Entry via Kiewa Street (front door) is not possible.
“PALAIS ROYAL” Session BLACK, Performance 3, Friday Late-Night Soirée,
Cellist Molly Kadarauch
St Matthew’s Church
Friday, 6 November, 9:30pm
Stunning cellist Molly Kadarauch performs solo cello works by candlelight, serenading you into the night in the closing event of Day One of the festival.
Peter Sculthorpe Threnody
John Tavener Threnos
György Kurtág Signs, Games and Messages
Pilinszky János: Gérard de Nerval
Népdal-féle: Im Volkston
Socrates’ Farewell
Schatten
Johann Sebastian Bach Suite 5 in C minor: Prelude and Fugue
Ross Edwards Water Spirit Song
Svante Henryson Green Song
Édith Piaf La Vie en rose
Saturday 7 November - BLACK
“SAINT-SULPICE” Session BLACK, Performance 4, Peter Guy, organ
St Matthew’s Church
Saturday, 7 November, 9:00am–10:00am
A celebration of the French Romantic organ tradition, featuring music by Saint-Saëns, Batiste, Franck and Vierne. Experience the majestic French-Canadian Orgue Létourneau at St Matthew’s, a refined, warm and atmospheric instrument ideally suited to this repertoire.
Johann Sebastian Bach Wir danken dir (arr. Alexandre Guilmant)
Camille Saint-Saëns Le Cygne(arr. Alexandre Guilmant)
Camille Saint-Saëns Improvisation No. 7
Édouard Batiste Andante in G (Pilgrim’s Song of Hope)
César Franck Choral No. 2 in B minor
Louis Vierne Adagio and Allegro from Symphony No. 3 for Organ, Op. 28
Peter Guy, organ
“RIVIERA OF THE CÔTE D’AZUR” Session BLACK, Performance 5,
Living Legend – Director Stuart Maunder
Regent Cinemas Albury
Saturday, 7 November, 10:45am–11:45am
Time for a boat ride along the Riviera of the Côte d’Azur to take in the splendour of the Théâtre Lumière in Cannes (aka Regent Cinemas Albury). Living legend Stuart Maunder regales us with tales of the operatic stage, its performers, and the role of the director within it!
Stuart Maunder, living legend
Sally-Anne Russell and Mario Dobernig, interviewers
“NEARLY FRENCH” Session BLACK, Performance 6, Daniel de Borah, piano
St Matthew’s Church
Saturday, 7 November, 1:00pm–2:00pm
Though neither Frédéric Chopin nor César Franck was French by birth, these works were composed during their years in France. From Chopin’s mazurkas and the sweeping Ballade No. 4 to the late Polonaise-Fantaisie, written during his years between Paris and Nohant, and Franck’s Prélude, Choral et Fugue, the program reflects the rich artistic world of nineteenth-century France in which both composers flourished.
Frédéric Chopin Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61
Frédéric Chopin Three Mazurkas:
Op. 56 No. 2 in C major,
Op. 17 No. 4 in A minor,
Op. 68 No. 4 in F minor
Frédéric Chopin Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
César Franck Prélude, Choral et Fugue
Daniel de Borah, piano
“PONT NEUF” Session BLACK, Performance 7, G and S
Adamshurst Ballroom
Saturday, 7 November, 5:00pm–6:00pm
And now for a short detour, let’s jump on the Eurostar, “take the Chunnel” across to the land of Gilbert and Sullivan. Arrive at St Pancras Station, or take the ferry from Calais to Dover if you prefer, but we’ll all convene at the Savoy Theatre on the Strand — a short walk from Covent Garden — for a delightful hour with Stuart Maunder, accompanied by the illustrious Anne-Maree McDonald: a cabaret extravaganza celebrating the songs, stories and world of Gilbert and Sullivan.
Stuart Maunder, storyteller and singer
Anne-Maree McDonald, piano
“LE MARAIS” Session BLACK, Performance 8, Saturday Late-Night Soirée
The Psalm Project – Meditations on a Psalm
St Matthew’s Church
Saturday, 7 November, 9:30pm
Jazz pianist and composer Mark Ferguson set himself a challenge: to write a psalm a day for an entire year. You hear a selection of these improvised psalms, interspersed with readings by Peter Macleod-Miller, all by candlelight.
Mark Ferguson, piano
Fr Peter Macleod-Miller, reader
Sunday 8 November - BLACK
“NOTRE DAME” Session BLACK, Performance 9, Festival Service
St Matthew’s Church
Sunday, 8 November, 9:00am–10:30am
Fr Peter Macleod-Miller, le recteur d’Albury
Sally-Anne Russell, mezzo-soprano
The Soloist Quartet from the Canberra Bach Ensemble
Greta Claringbould, soprano
Maartje Sevenster, alto
Tim Reynolds, tenor
Andrew Fysh, bass
Peter Guy, organ
Daniel de Borah, piano
Charlie Wu, piano
Lux Alba, chamber choir
St Matthew’s Choir
Composers
Ross Fiddes The loving tree
Danilo Karim Kaddouri Un sogno di Paul Éluard (world premiere)
Michael Lampard Sanctus (world premiere)
John Ross For the fallen
Paul Tasker Miss me, but let me go
Louis Vierne Final from Symphony No. 1
“AUVERGNE” Session BLACK, Performance 10, Canteloube’s Chants d’Auvergne
Adamshurst Ballroom
Sunday, 8 November, 12:00pm–1:00pm
Joseph Canteloube’s Songs of the Auvergne (Chants d’Auvergne) is a lush, vibrant collection of French folk songs arranged especially in a new edition for mezzo-soprano Sally-Anne Russell and chamber orchestra. Written between 1923 and 1930, these evocative works combine traditional melodies in the regional Occitan dialect with rich, impressionistic orchestrations that capture the rustic beauty of rural France, bringing to life the daily routines of shepherds, farmers, cheesemakers, and rural lovers. Interspersed throughout are instrumental interludes by Canteloube for oboe and clarinet, together with Elena Kats-Chernin’s The Mystery of the Pine Cone for flute.
Translations are provided.
Sally-Anne Russell, mezzo-soprano
Anna McMichael, violin 1
Ye Jin Min, violin 2
Dana Lee, viola
Molly Kadarauch, cello
Michael Fortescue, double bass
Sally Walker, flute
Scott Marshall, oboe
Andrew Boyle, clarinet
Daniel de Borah, piano
Mario Dobernig, conductor
“JARDIN DU LUXEMBOURG” Session BLACK, Apéritif in the Adamshurst Gardens
Adamshurst Gardens
Sunday, 8 November, 1:00pm–1:30pm
Join us for treats in the Adamshurst Gardens, moving to the Adamshurst Carriageway in inclement weather.
“Wu là là” Session BLACK, Bonus Performance, Charlie Wu, piano
Adamshurst Ballroom
Sunday, 8 November, 1:30pm–2:00pm
After the apéritif, venture to the ballroom for a glimpse of Australia’s future generation of concert pianists. Already representing Australia on the international stage, pianist extraordinaire Charlie Wu — a prize-winner in Moscow and beyond — presents a captivating 20-minute recital.
Franz Liszt Transcendental Etude No 4 “Mazeppa”
Réminiscences de Don Juan
“MONTMARTRE” Session BLACK, Performance 11, Baroque Extravaganza
St Matthew’s Church
Sunday, 8 November, 3:00pm–4:00pm
Canberra Baroque specialists Limestone Consort bring us a captivating journey through secular French Baroque cantatas, combining ornate vocal storytelling with florid obbligato instrumental accompaniment.
François Couperin La Paix du Parnasse from L’Apothéose de Lully
Nicolas Bernier Le Café
André Campra La dispute de l’amour et de l’Hymen
André Campra Les Femmes
Jean-Philippe Rameau Dansons tous, dansons, chantons ! from Les Fêtes d’Hébé
Limestone Consort
Greta Claringbould, soprano
Maartje Sevenster, alto
Andrew Fysh, bass
Lauren Davis, violin
Clara Teniswood, cello
Aaron Reichelt, oboe
Ariana Odermatt, harpsichord
Shaun Ng, theorbo
Check out last year’s gallery of gorgeous photographs including many captured by Kosta from ‘Living Imagery’ in our 2025 photo galleries.
