Brisbane secures Australia’s only Baroque festival

Queensland will stage a leading national cultural festival under a new three-year agreement.

The Baroque festival, the only one of its kind in Australia, will form part of a series of exclusive cultural events staged in Brisbane in April.

Announcing the aquistion of the event, which was previously hosted in Hobart, Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) Chief Executive Leanne Coddington stated “the nine-day Brisbane Baroque, artistically directed by art impresario Leo Schofield AM, is the only one of its kind dedicated to this art form in Australia.

“Cultural tourism is a significant contributor to the economy and vibrant events such as Brisbane Baroque are an important lure in attracting more visitors to Queensland.

“We anticipate that this event will generate more than 36,000 visitor nights and $9 million in visitor spending through until 2017.

Brisbane Baroque will be a cultural celebration of late 17th and early 18th century music, which will be staged at venues such as the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (pictured above), Brisbane City Hall, the Queensland Conservatorium Theatre, and select churches throughout Brisbane.

Brisbane Baroque will feature an exclusive Australian-first production of Faramondo, a rare opera by George Frideric Handel, one of the most prolific composers of the Baroque era. 

Coddington added “with continued growth, TEQ expects the event to compete globally with other major international Baroque festivals such as the Valletta International Baroque in Malta, the Boston Early Music Festival in the USA, and the Göttingen International Handel Festival in Germany.

“Brisbane Baroque will be promoted as part of It’s Live! In Queensland, an initiative which highlights the perfect union of world-class events and destinations.”

Brisbane Baroque Artistic Director, Leo Schofield, said he was delighted the event was making its way to Queensland’s capital city in 2015.

Schofield stated “this city aspires to be the cultural capital of Australia and in recent years has made huge strides towards that goal.

“Queenslanders certainly understand the value of cultural tourism which is why a unique festival of early music has such appeal.”

Hobart's loss of the Festival was heavily criticised by Hobart Lord Mayor Damon Thomas when its was announced last year

The Festival, which attracted 1,000 interstate visitors when it was held in March and April 2014, picked up a 2014 Helpmann Award for best individual classical performance.

Brisbane Baroque will not only feature leading overseas artists, but will also provide an opportunity to showcase the talents of young Australian and Queensland musicians.

Brisbane Baroque is being held from 10th to 18th April.

For more information go to www.brisbanebaroque.com.au

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