What are the sonic possibilities when the oldest wind instrument in the world – the digeridoo – teams up with instruments that found their final form only two centuries ago?

And who better than distinguished artist William Barton, award-winning clarinetist and composer Paul Dean, plus the stellar line-up of Ensemble Q, to explore that question? 

Ensemble Q is a group powered by the passion and fizz of curiosity and underpinned by the virtuosic integrity of some of Australia’s finest musicians. It might just be the perfect playground for making music. Their ear-catching program includes new works from William Barton and Paul Dean alongside hand-picked masterpieces by Brahms and Ligeti which promise to wrap audiences in a multi-faceted kaleidoscope of sound.  

“[Ensemble Q was] quite possibly the best performance I’ve seen all year, and an astonishing feat of music-making.. frankly, this was a jaw-dropping performance."

Limelight

“The possibilities are extraordinary. [William Barton] is a great man. He radiates.”

Sir Simon Rattle, Artistic Director, Berlin Philharmonic 

• Program

  William Barton

  New work (2024)* 

  Brahms

  Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38 (arr. Breuer)

  Ligeti

  Six Bagatelles

  Paul Dean

  Concerto for Cello and Wind Quintet

  *World premiere performances. Commissioned by Musica Viva Australia with the support of the Hon Anthe Philippides SC’
  
  

• Artists

  Ensemble Q 

  Alison Mitchell

  Flute

  Huw Jones

  Oboe

  Paul Dean

  Co-Artistic Director and clarinet

  David Mitchell

  Bassoon

  Peter Luff

  Horn

  Trish Dean

  Co-Artistic Director and cello

  Phoebe Russell

  Double Bass

  William Barton

  Didgeridoo / composer

  Alison Mitchell, Huw Jones, David Mitchell and Phoebe Russell appear courtesy of Queensland Symphony Orchestra