The TarraWarra Festival: Australian Chamber Orchestra 2026

The Australian Chamber Orchestra returns to TarraWarra Museum of Art for a weekend of music, art, wine and some of the most breathtaking views in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. 

The Festival consists of three concerts and an open workshop:

Saturday 28 February, 12.30pm: 1 hour concert
Saturday 28 February, 6pm: 90 minute concert
Sunday 1 March, 11am: 1 hour workshop
Sunday 1 March, 2.30pm: 1 hour concert

Tickets include food and wine from the cellar door.

Make the most of your weekend and enjoy the exhibition at TarraWarra Museum of Art during the festival, The City Wakes, The City Sleeps

Book early for this intimate and exclusive cultural weekend.

Program 1
Sat 28 Feb at 12.30pm
Richard Tognetti, director and violin
David Griffiths, clarinet
Australian Chamber Orchestra

JOHANNES BRAHMS Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op.115: I. Allegro
OSVALDO GOLIJOV K’vakarat
JOHN ADAMS Shaker Loops

Program 2
Sat 28 Feb at 6pm
Richard Tognetti, director and violin
Ike See, violin
Maxime Bibeau, double bass
Australian Chamber Orchestra

FRANZ SCHUBERT Quartettsatz in C minor, D.703
KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI Duo Concertante for Violin and Double Bass
BÉLA BARTÓK Divertimento for String Orchestra, Sz.113
FRANZ SCHUBERT (arr. Richard Tognetti) String Quartet No.14 in D minor, D.810 “Death and the Maiden”

Program 3
Sun 1 Mar at 2.30pm
Richard Tognetti, director and violin
David Griffiths, clarinet
Australian Chamber Orchestra
with musicians from the Australian National Academy of Music

HENRY PURCELL Fantazia upon One Note, Z.745
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (arr. Adam Johnson) The Lark Ascending
FRANZ SCHUBERT Quartettsatz in C minor, D.703
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (arr. strings) Clarinet Concerto in A major, K.622

About the Australian Chamber Orchestra

The Australian Chamber Orchestra with Richard Tognetti. Installation view,  Looking Glass: Judy Watson and Yhonnie Scarce curated by Hetti Perkins, TarraWarra Museum of Art. Photo: Samara Clifford

The Australian Chamber Orchestra lives and breathes music, making waves around the world for its explosive performances that redefine orchestral music. With its fearless leader of 35 years, Artistic Director Richard Tognetti, in 2025 the Orchestra celebrates 50 years of invention, disruption and unforgettable music-making.

The ACO performs more than 100 concerts each year, with programs that embrace celebrated classics alongside new commissions and ground-breaking collaborations, working with artists and musicians who share the Orchestra’s ideology: from Emmanuel Pahud, Steven Isserlis,

Polina Leschenko, Pekka Kuusisto, Nicolas Altstaedt and William Barton, to Jonny Greenwood, Neil Finn and Meow Meow; to visual artists and film makers such as Bill Henson, Shaun Tan, Jane Campion, and Jennifer Peedom, who co-create unique, hybrid productions for which the ACO has become renowned.

In addition to its national touring schedule, the ACO undertakes multiple international tours a year, regularly performing in cities including London, New York and Tokyo. Following the success of Richard Tognetti’s season as the Barbican’s first ever Artist-in-Residence at Milton Court Concert Hall, the Orchestra performed a three-year residency as International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court in partnership with London’s Barbican Centre from the 2018/19 season.

The ACO has a series of award-winning cinematic concert films, ACO StudioCasts, as well as an active recording program across vinyl, CD and digital. Its recordings of Bach’s violin works won two consecutive ARIA Awards. Recent releases include Beethoven & Brahms: Concertos for Violin and Orchestra, featuring Richard Tognetti as soloist, Water | Night Music, the first Australian produced classical vinyl for two decades, Beethoven 1, 2 & 3 Eroica and ARIA award-winning albums River and Indies & Idols.

In 2022 the ACO opened a new, world-class venue, ACO On The Pier, continuing the Orchestra’s dedication to creating and presenting transformative experiences for all music lovers.

Please Note: The Eva and Marc Besen Centre will be closed to the general public on 28 February & 1 March 2026 for this special event. However the Museum and current exhibition The City Wakes, The City Sleeps will be open all weekend.