Romantic composers take centre stage

Pacific Chamber Players will open its 2026 concert season with A Romantic Rendezvous, a program celebrating the music of female Romantic composers.

The concerts will feature works by Louise Farrenc, Cécile Chaminade and Clara Schumann, whose compositions brought emotional depth, inventive harmonies and rich textures to Romantic music.

The program will open with Clara Schumann’s lyrical Piano Trio in G minor, performed by violin, cello and piano. It will also include Claude Arrieu’s Suite en Trio for clarinet, oboe and bassoon.

Louise Farrenc will be represented by the second movement of her Piano and Winds Sextet Op 40 and the substantial Nonet Op 38. Scored for violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon, the Nonet is noted for its rich textures and intricate scoring.

Cécile Chaminade’s Flute Concertino, performed by flute and piano, will explore the instrument’s subtle tonal qualities.

Pacific Chamber Players said the program would take audiences into a delicate and expressive musical world while shining a light on composers whose works made an important contribution to the Romantic repertoire.

The first performance will be held at Caloundra Uniting Church at 2.30pm on Saturday, August 15. The program will be repeated at Cooroy Memorial Hall at 2.30pm on Sunday, August 16.

Tickets are $35 for adults, $33 concession and $12 for school students. They are available online at www.pacificchamberplayers.com or may be purchased with cash at the door.

Pacific Chamber Players musicians Sue Hunkin, oboe; Christy Dykes, clarinet; Neil Heymink, bassoon; Sharelle Guest, flute; and Janet Brewer, piano, will perform in A Romantic Rendezvous.