Keys of Gold - A Rare Pair

Bendigo’s Keys of Gold Classical Music Festival is so called as the festival not only features keyboard instruments at every concert, but also features the rich heritage of glorious buildings, grand public spaces and elegant streetscapes all made possible through the discovery of gold in 1851. 

Inspired by the vision of the great Victorian architect William Vahland to make Bendigo the ‘Vienna of the South’, the festival will bring Bendigo and surrounds’ multi-million dollar unique heritage of spectacular pipe organs to life, together with the Steinway concert grand piano selected by Vladimir Ashkenazy himself for the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall and much more. There are 16 concerts across Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in July 2025 - in 11 venues in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Inglewood and Maldon, with 27 instruments and 45 performers.

PROGRAM

Gaspar Cassadó (1897-1966) 

Toccata in the Style of Frescobaldi

Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911)

Marche de Procession, Op. 41 No. 5, Organ solo

Jules Massenet (1842-1912)

Méditation from Thaïs

Jean Baptiste Lulli (1632-1687), transcribed by W.T. Best (1826-1897)

Rigaudon from the Collection of Airs composed for the Band of Louis XIV, Organ solo

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

Prière, Op. 158

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), trans. Leonard Fullard (1907-1988)

Church Sonata in D, K. 144, Organ solo

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), trans. W.T. Best (1826-1897)

March from the Opera Scipio, HWV 20, Organ solo

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

Le Cygne [The Swan] from Le carnaval des animaux [The Carnival of the Animals]

Francis Edward Bache (1833-1858), edited by W.T. Best (1826-1897)

Introduction and Allegro in Ancient Style [in D major] from Three Movements for Organ, Organ solo

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Cello Sonata in E minor, RV 40
i.  Largo
ii.  Allegro
iii. Largo
iv. Allegro

BACK TO FULL KEYS OF GOLD PROGRAM

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
YELIAN HE
THOMAS HEYWOOD

Keys of Gold is presented by Bendigo Fine Music. BFM is a registered charity led by a team of people living in and around this beautiful city, aspiring to enrich lives for the good of the wider community through world-class fine music experiences in Bendigo’s unique performance spaces, unparalleled in regional Australia.