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

MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
The Trumpet Shall Sound from the Oratorio Messiah, HWV 56

Antonio Diana (1815-1876), trans. William Thomas Best (1826-1897)
Sonata (in one movement) in D minor, Organ solo

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
‘Largo’ [Aria: “Ombra mai fu”] from the Opera ‘Xerxes’

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), transcribed by Thomas Heywood (b.1974)
Ouverture [Larghetto] from Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351, Organ solo

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Concerto for Two Trumpets in C major, RV 537
i. Allegro
ii. Largo
iii. Allegro

Felix-Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911)
Andante [2nd mvt] from Sonata No. 4 in D minor, Op. 61, Organ solo

Gordon Young (1919-1998)
Contempora Suite

Alfred Hollins (1865-1942)
Spring Song, Organ solo

Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Sound the Trumpet from Come, ye sons of art

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826), trans. William Thomas Best (1826-1897)
March from the Piano Duets, Op. 3 No. 5, Book 1, Organ solo

Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704)
Prelude (Marche en rondeau) from Te Deum in D major, H.146

MORE KEYS OF GOLD CONCERTS

MORE ABOUT TODAY'S ARTISTS
THOMAS HEYWOOD
JACQUELINE VINE
KAID NORMINGTON

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.