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

OSVALDO GOLIJOV The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind
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
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL Concerto Grosso in A major, Op.6 No.11, HWV329
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (arr. strings) Clarinet Concerto in A major, K.622
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (arr. Adam Johnson) The Lark Ascending

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

Founded by cellist John Painter in November 1975, the ACO has travelled a remarkable road to become one of Australia’s most dynamic performing arts organisations.

Since taking up the leadership of the ACO in 1990, Artistic Director Richard Tognetti has transformed the Orchestra into a major cultural export, performing over 100 times per year in concert halls around Australia and the world. Whether performing in Manhattan, New York, or Wollongong, NSW, the ACO’s commitment to creating transformative musical experiences is unwavering.

In 2007, ACO Principal Violin Helena Rathbone opened a new ACO chapter with the creation of ACO Collective, then known as A_CO². Made up of ACO musicians mentoring some of Australia’s best young string players, ACO Collective was founded to increase access to world class music for Australians living outside metro hubs, while supporting the development of the next generation of string musicians.

Both the ACO and ACO Collective regularly collaborate with international guests and artists who share their ideology, and maintain an intense schedule of rehearsal, touring and performance throughout the year.

In addition to this busy schedule, the ACO regularly record and release music across CD, vinyl and digital formats. Recent releases include Water | Night Music, the first Australian-produced classical vinyl for two decades, Heroines, recorded with Australian soprano Nicole Car, and the soundtrack to the Orchestra’s acclaimed cinematic collaboration Mountain.

The ACO is known around the world for dynamic, wide-reaching programming that explores the links between old and new worlds. This commitment to exploration coupled with a focus on commissioning new music, representing Australian music internationally and taking on daring collaborations keeps us moving forward.

Please Note: The Eva and Marc Besen Centre will be closed to the general public on 1 & 2 March 2025 for this special event. However the Museum and current exhibition The City Wakes, The City Sleeps will be open all weekend.