Gloria! - Festival Opening Concert

The Ballarat Organs and Fine Music Festival opens in a blaze of joyful sound with Gloria! — a celebration of radiant polychoral music from the golden age of the early Baroque. In this exhilarating program, vocal ensemble the Consort of Melbourne, directed by Steven Hodgson, joins Consortium Viols and the curtal consort Unholy Rackett, supported by a rich continuo of organ, harpsichord, and theorbo. Together they fill the space with luminous harmony, dancing rhythms, and the glorious interplay of voices and instruments.

Featuring music by Heinrich Schütz, Hans Leo Hassler, and Michael Praetorius, Gloria! revels in the splendour of seventeenth-century sound — choirs calling to one another in cascades of echo and colour, expressing joy, devotion, and human connection.

From stately grandeur to radiant exuberance, Gloria! invites audiences to share in the warmth and optimism of this timeless music — a jubilant opening to the festival and a true feast of harmony and celebration.

Join us for a celebratory supper in the Church Hall after the concert. Entrance to the supper can be prepurchased along with your ticket by choosing the 'Concert Plus Supper' ticket type when booking. Or you can choose to purchase 'Supper' separately.

Ballarat Organs and Fine Music Festival Performance #1