A five day feast of top class music that could so easily never have happened has defied the odds to become a stunning success. Only 12 of the 150 subscribers to this year’s Bendigo Chamber Music Festival stayed away while co-directors Chris Howlett and Howard Penny negotiated COVID restrictions, injured or unwell musicians and last-minute ring-arounds and changes of program to bring 17 concerts and 20 musicians to a live audience.

And thanks to the Australian Digital Concert Hall the festival reached in real time an online audience around the country.

Here’s a roundup of what was on offer after the Gala Concert launched the festival on Wednesday night.

Eleven musicians stand in a line on a stage at the end of a performance. A light brown wooden harpsichord sits in the middle of the stage.

The musicians of the 2022 Bendigo Chamber Music Festival. Image © Australian Digital Concert Hall.


Thursday

Up and coming 19-year-old cellist Charlotte Miles put on a splendid recital showcasing her skills which have been developed by Penny, who is head of strings at ANAM. She has been selected as an emerging artist for the Australian Chamber...