Like many ensembles in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Haydn Ensemble is offering a hybrid live and digital season in 2021, with concerts from its tours livestreamed on Melbourne Digital Concert Hall as well as producing its own concert films as part of a digital season.

Skye McIntoshAustralian Haydn Ensemble Artistic Director Sky McIntosh. Photo © Helen White

“2020 was a challenging year for AHE, as it was for everyone,” Artistic Director Skye McIntosh tells Limelight. “Almost all of our performances had to be cancelled, and there were many obstacles to overcome in an ever-changing landscape. Each day meant negotiating constant changes while trying to plan without knowing what was coming next. The uncertainty around when it might be possible to return to ‘regular’ performing amongst everything else was extremely taxing. I think the icing on the cake was being forced to cancel what was to be our ‘return’ concert at the City Recital Hall on the day of the Avalon cluster outbreak. That was hard. We did, however, feel so uplifted and encouraged by our friends and supporters who stayed with...