Bach's Universe

Ahead of the largest ever Brandenburg production, Notre-Dame, join host Hugh Ronzani and esteemed guest Dr Alan Maddox to explore over 800 years of spellbinding music history, including both an Australian première and a World première, spanning the construction of Notre-Dame de Paris to the present day.

After three years of trying, Leila Schayegh has finally reached Australian shores to Brandenburg concert goers’ and musicians’ delight!  Join host Hugh Ronzani to get to know more about the “poet” behind Poet of the Violin and the music of Biber, Bach and Leclair.

Leila Schayegh has finally arrived in Sydney and opening for Poet of the Violin is fast approaching! Host Hugh Ronzani shares the microphone once more with Dr Alan Maddox to discuss violins, violinists, and seminal violin and Baroque orchestral repertoire — but this time not Vivaldi. Hear more about this wonderful program featuring Johann Sebastian Bach, but also the music of Jean-Marie Leclair, Zelenka and Handel.

Who is The Lover?  Ahead of opening night and Théotime Langlois de Swarte’s Australian debut — where all will finally be revealed — Hugh Ronzani is joined by Dr Alan Maddox to explore the history and music that features in this spellbinding program of English and Italian music from around the turn of the 17th century.

Ottoman Baroque is a celebration of culture and music and will be a unique concert experience, but most of the music has never been heard or recorded before. Host Hugh Ronzani (also responsible for composing music for much of the program) is joined by Dr Alan Maddox to discuss Rumi, mysticism, Ottoman instruments, setting poetry to music, and Ali Ufki — a key musical figure of the Baroque period who bridged the gap between West and East. 

A familiar face and a phenomenal presence on stage, Concertmaster Shaun Lee-Chen joins host Hugh Ronzani to share some thoughts about JS Bach, his various roles with Brandenburg, inspirations, and his new interpretation Antonio Vivaldi’s iconic Four Seasons.

As opening night approaches for Gloria & The Four Seasons, Alan is in Europe!?!  Host Hugh Ronzani is joined online by Dr Alan Maddox for a very fresh account of Baroque vestiges in the floating city that Antonio Vivaldi called home, as well as a broad discussion about two of the Venetian composer’s most-loved works today.

Guest soloist Elinor Frey has come to Australian shores from Montreal for the first time with not one, but two cellos.  She joins host Hugh Ronzani to share her passion for lesser-known Italian and French cello music, her tips for writing cadenzas, and how all roads lead to Giovanni Battista Sammartini.

As the musicians rehearse Spanish Steps with guest soloist Elinor Frey ahead of opening night, host Hugh Ronzani is joined by Dr Alan Maddox for an in-depth discussion revolving around cellos, the Galant period, and two iconic composers and paragons during their respective lifetimes—Luigi Boccherini and Giovanni Battista Sammartini.