Academy of Ancient Music with Sara Macliver
InReview

The world’s leading early music orchestra, London’s The Academy of Ancient Music (AAM) turns forty this year and to celebrate they’re preparing their famously delicate instruments for the long flight to Australia, for a national tour with soprano Sara Macliver.
From November 4, fifteen AAM musicians including Director Richard Egarr and Macliver will perform a series of highly anticipated concerts in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide in the orchestra’s first national tour since 1988.
“a band stuffed with superstars”
GLASGOW HERALD 2010
With their live performances described by the UK’s Financial Times as “transmitting the kick of an energy drink“, this is a rare opportunity for Australian audiences to hear the best tackle works by Locke, Purcell, Arne and Handel. Renowned for their fresh take on music from the Baroque period of Western music, the ensemble continue to bring new ideas to old works.
For this tour the group will be joined by Sara Macliver, one of Australia’s most versatile artists and one of the leading exponents of Baroque repertoire. A regular performer with all the Australian symphony orchestras as well as a number of international companies, she has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Western Australia for her services to singing.
“… Sara Macliver, as always, sang with a line of flowing gold.”
SMH 2013
Led by Richard Egarr who took over as AAM Director in 2006, the orchestra has developed an impressive CV, regularly performing around the world including the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations last year. Since their 1988 national tour the orchestra has been back just once: in 2011 to perform as part of the Perth Festival with Sara Macliver. The Festival partnership was such a success Musica Viva set about turning the collaboration into a national tour.
“To work with one of the best orchestras in the world was just an absolute dream come true – it was the gig of a lifetime,” Sara Macliver recollects of the Perth Festival collaboration. ” Richard Egarr was an absolute delight to work with, his knowledge is extraordinary and his playing is amazing.”

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For many Australian fans, this will be a rare chance to hear the world leaders in this repertoire, exploring the golden age of English composition with passion and skill.
“We’re constantly trying to learn new things about what we do with early music and also trying to find new repertoire,’’ says AAM Music Director Richard Egarr. “There’s still stuff to dig out of libraries, things are constantly changing; and so they should.”
“Most of us play modern instruments as well, but given the opportunity, we would rather investigate this music using the old tools rather than just on modern instruments because you find so much colour and interesting stuff that these instruments give you.”
ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC with SARA MACLIVER
Adelaide | Wednesday, 6 November 7.30pm
Adelaide Town Hall, 128 King William St, Adelaide
BOOKINGS
1800 688 482
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