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

Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)

Six Duos for Piano and Harmonium, Op. 3

i. Canzona in E-flat major

ii. Allegro cantabile in B minor

iii. Nocturne in E-flat major

iv. Allegro vivace in D major

v. Sérénade in G major

vi. Variations in B-flat major

César Franck (1822-1890)

Prélude, Fugue et Variation from Six Pieces for Grand Organ – No. 3, Op. 18

Arranged for Harmonium and Piano Duet by the composer.

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

Five movements from Six Duos for Harmonium and Piano, Op. 8

i. Fantasia and Fugue in C major (No. 1)

ii. Cavatina in D major (No. 2)

iii. Capriccio in A major (No. 4)

iv. Scherzo in F-sharp minor (No. 5)

v. Finale in C major (No. 6)

BACK TO FULL KEYS OF GOLD PROGRAM

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

THOMAS HEYWOOD

YASMIN ROWE

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.