Presented by Music in the Regions and Snowy Monaro Arts Council, Baroque Passions is a beautiful music program performed by eclectic ensemble The Muffat Collective that takes audiences on an historic musical journey through 18th Century Europe. Influenced by Italian cathedrals, French salons and German coffee houses, Baroque Passions sees The Muffat Collective performing on original instruments from the baroque era, including the baroque violin, harpsichord and fascinating viola da gamba.

At its core, Baroque music is a shared experience where the pieces played are designed to dazzle the senses and impact audiences with the full range of emotional states, called affects in the 17th and 18th century. Featuring music by Antonio Vivaldi and his contemporaries, Baroque Passions is full of rarely performed works that flirt with the limits of human desire, frenetically exchanging hate for love or despair for joy.

The Muffat Collective are:

Matthew Greco – Baroque Violin
Anton Baba – Viola da Gamba and Baroque Cello
Anthony Abouhamad - Harpsichord

About The Muffat Collective:
The Muffat Collective specialises in the historical performance of Baroque music, 17th and 18th Century music that is full of passion, vitality and energy. The word Baroque is taken from the nineteenth-century Portuguese ‘barocco’ meaning ‘misshapen pearl’ - a critique of the highly ornamented and decorated art and music of the past. The Muffat Collective aims to capture all the facets of this misshapen pearl and captivate audiences with every story, every intricacy, every note and every detail that defines Baroque music for all of us today. For more information visit www.themuffatcollective.com.au

About Music in the Regions:
Music in the Regions (MitR) is an independent touring organisation established in 2022 to connect classical musicians with regional audiences and facilitate transformative musical experiences across New South Wales. These musicians will perform in regions not traditionally visited, reinvigorating regional venues into concert venues, and fostering a vibrant, world-class New South Wales classical music industry. MitR is supported by the NSW Government via Create NSW, and through private philanthropy. For more information visit www.musicintheregions.com

About Snowy Monaro Arts Council:
Snowy Monaro Arts Council Inc. (SMAC) presents quality performances to Cooma audiences several times each year. It is one of the Monaro’s many volunteer, ampoule not-for-profit, non-political organisations. Under the umbrella of Regional Arts NSW and in association with South East Arts and other providers, SMAC assist with and promote arts and cultural activities, celebrating local, national and international performers and artists.