Following on from the travails of COVID which led to the cancellation of the Coriole Music Festival in 2020, Artistic Director Anna Goldsworthy has proved an admirable administrator, calling upon wide ranging expertise as a pianist, chamber musician, writer and public speaker to get things back on track, with invaluable help from private supporters. This year there were late changes to the advertised program following the withdrawal of cellist Tim Nankervis on serious medical grounds. Adelaide Symphony Orchestra cellist Simon Cobcroft gallantly came on board to fill the void; however this happened at such a late date that it necessitated the cancellation of Brett Dean’s Imaginary Ballet and Fanny Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio, which were replaced by a Haydn trio and a series of short works for solo violin written for Sydney Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Andrew Haveron by his late teacher Tim Stevenson.

Helen Ayres, Anna Goldsworthy and Simon Cobscroft perform at the 2022 Coriole Music Festival. © Photos by Jamois.

This year’s programming was focussed on ‘last songs’ stretching from Haydn and Mozart, through...