Congratulations to all involved in last night’s stunning performance of Antonio e Cleopatra in Mornington, which received a standing ovation and thunderous applause.

This weekend brings is more outstanding performances, starting with A Curious Accord at St Johns Flinders, featuring Laura Vaughan (viola da gamba) and Jamie Hey (cello). ARIA-award winning pianist Sally Whitwell takes to the stage in the afternoon, performing works by Philip Glass and Yann Tiersen.

Tonight sees the welcome return of Festival favourites Ironwood, featuring Neal Peres da Costa (piano), playing the perennially-popular Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor. Tickets are selling fast.

Ironwood will also perform an all-Mozart program - Mozart’s Children - on Sunday afternoon at St Johns Flinders.

Having heard violinist Patrick Savage and pianist Sally Whitwell in rehearsal yesterday, I urge you to book tickets to their recital - The Secret Life of Us - on Sunday morning at St Johns Flinders. Do not miss this opportunity to hear a musical collaboration of this calibre.

We cap off the weekend with Ein Deutsches Lied at Vines of Red Hill, featuring Simon Martyn-Ellis (lute, theorbo, guitar) and his fiancee, German alto Dorothee Merkel, and a second sold-out performance of Nuit d’amour at Main Ridge Estate.

Join us this weekend for a celebration of world-class music, food and wine that is at the heart of summer on the Mornington Peninsula – there’s certainly plenty to choose from!

Day 2 of Festival 2012 brought the glorious Abendmusik program to our audiences and the first of our “In Conversation” series.

A capacity crowd in St Peters Mornington were transported to 17th century Germany during the candlelit performance. Congratulations to our artists for such a glorious concert.

The first of our In Conversation series featured soprano Greta Bradman talking about psychology, performance practice and following one’s passion.

Tomorrow’s Conversation with the wonderful Sally Whitwell is sure to be highly entertaining, and the evening brings the first of two sold-out Nuit d’amour concerts at Main Ridge Estate.

A stunning sunset during the Gala Opening at Montalto

Last night the Festival kicked off in style with a wonderful sold out Gala Opening at Montalto.

Soprano Greta Bradman, Latitude 37 and guest artist Simon Martyn-Ellis captivated the crowd with their Spanish-inspired program, accompanied by a specially-designed menu prepared by Head Chef Barry Davis and his team. Thanks to our hosts John & Wendy Mitchell – we’ll be back again next Monday for some Twilight Jazz.

Tonight we revisit 17th century Germany with Abendmusik – one of our favourite programs, this year featuring the splendid voices of Siobhan Stagg & Lottie Betts-Dean (sopranos), German alto Dorothee Merkel, tenor Robert MacFarlane and bass-baritone Nick Dinopoulos.

This perenially-popular event is nearly sold out – sales close at noon today. Don’t miss out!

With only one day to go until our fifth festival kicks off, a lovely calm has descended on Festival HQ.

Trucks have been collected (it’s not a real festival without a truck!), shopping done, welcome packs of fresh fruit and local wine have been prepared for the artists, rehearsals have been held, babies fed & burped, itineraries distributed, volunteers organised, driving directions given and, at the end of it all, a champagne cork has been popped in anticipation of another wonderful festival.

Join us from tomorrow for a seven-day celebration of world-class music, food and wine that is at the heart of summer on the Mornington Peninsula.

Happy new year to everyone! Here at festival headquarters we’re counting down the days until festival number five ….

We’re a little bit excited about the coming festival. It’s always a fulfilling thing to see so many plans come to fruition, to catch up with old friends, meet new artists, enjoy some wonderful music and generally bask in the glory that is the Mornington Peninsula in summer.

To celebrate Festival Opus 5, we’ve got some terrific giveaways coming up – exclusively for our newsletter subscribers.

It’s not too late to join – simply follow the link on the right. You’ll receive regular news and updates, as well as the chance to win tickets, CDs and more!

We’re delighted to announce a second and final Nuit d’Amour performance at Main Ridge Estate, featuring violinist Patrick Savage (UK/Australia) and pianist Donald Nicolson (NZ/Australia) is now on sale and selling fast!

Enjoy refreshments on the verandah (right) with the artists after the performance.

Sally Whitwell, piano

Pianist, conductor, composer, arranger, singer (and occasional accordionist), Sally Whitwell has shot to fame with the release of her debut album Mad Rush. We caught up with Sally (briefly!) in between her many pre-Christmas performances.

1. What are your memories of the Mornington Peninsula?

The light!  Those lovely long summer days are so much lovelier and longer the further south one travels and I just love it.  I was so taken by the quality of light and must remember to bring a proper camera with me this time round.

2. What are you most looking forward to in this Festival?

I’m so looking forward to performing a recital with violinist Patrick Savage.  I love performing chamber music, accompanying and working in ensembles of all sizes.  Patrick and I have been thrown together by a musical matchmaker in the shape of the festival’s Artistic Director Julia Fredersdorff, and even though we’ve yet to meet (aside from Skype) I have a good feeling about it.  Gosh, it’s almost like a blind date!

3. What have you got going on between now and the Festival?

At the moment, I’m working on putting together my second solo album.  It’s a cinematically themed offering entitled The Good, the Bad and the Awkward (make of that what you will… I’ll leave it your imagination).  I’ll be playing some of the repertoire from the album at my solo recital, the piano suite from the film Amelie  by Yann Tiersen.  For me, every December also means Gondwana Voices and Sydney Children’s Choir Christmas concert Voices of Angels.  There will be lots of Latin American Christmas music of offer this year.  Such fun, I’m really looking forward to it.

4.  How will you be preparing for the Festival?

Making sure I have a few days of holiday?!  I’ll be practising and rehearsing in my shopfront studio, trying to keep my youngest kitty from playing piano duets with me.  She is particularly fond of the music of Joseph Haydn and Elena Kats Chernin.  Such eclectic tastes!  I like to think she takes after me.

5.  What are you listening to right now?

I love Christmas so much, so I’m listening to Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols.  It’s such a wonderful thing, so full of wide eyed wonder.  This kind of repertoire is why I love working with Gondwana Choirs.  Is there anything happier than young people singing beautifully?  Nothing, except the Peninsula Summer Music Festival!

Sally will perform two programs in the 2012 Festival – a solo recital and The Secret Life of Us with violinist Patrick Savage. She also appears in our new “In Conversation with…” series.

Visit Sally’s page in our 2012 Artists section for some excellent YouTube clips of her work.

Patrick Savage, violin

London-based Australian violinist Patrick Savage returns in January for a rare Australian appearance.

Until recently, Patrick was Principal First Violin in London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. While studying at the Victorian College of the Arts, he was the recipient of several awards including a scholarship to the Tanglewood Music Center, Massachusetts, and a fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. He graduated from the Royal College of Music in London with many accolades including the inaugural Yehudi Menuhin Award.

Among the major orchestras he has guest-lead are the Liverpool Philharmonic, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and, most recently, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and in recordings for Chandos.  He has appeared as soloist with many orchestras in the UK including the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Young Musicians’ Symphony Orchestra, the RCM Symphony, the London Soloists Chamber Orchestra and the English Soloists Ensemble.

For the 2012 festival, Patrick will perform Nuit d’amour with Donald Nicolson on piano. This is a fabulous opportunity to hear the talents of a world-class violinist showcased in the intimate surrounds of the Main Ridge Estate cellar door.

Patrick also has multiple credits as a composer for feature films, in collaboration with French composer, Holeg Spies. He teams up with pianist and fellow composer Sally Whitwell for The Secret Life of Us, a fascinating insight into the world of composition for stage and screen. Seating is limited for both performances so we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

We caught up with Patrick as he prepares for his long-awaited Australian performances.

1. What are your memories/perceptions of the Mornington Peninsula and what are you looking forward to discovering?

This will be my first time visiting the Mornington Peninsula, so I’m looking forward to several glasses of local wine and the famously beautiful coastline.

2. What are you most looking forward to in this Festival?

Wonderful music, much of it little known or neglected, spending time with old friends and collaborating with some very talented people.

3. What have you got going on between now and the Festival?

From now until January there are some chamber concerts happening for me and I’ll be doing preparatory work for two upcoming feature film scores with my co-composer Holeg Spies. I’ll also spend my first Christmas with family in Australia since 1993.

4. How will you be preparing for the Festival?

Right now I’m working hard to play in a brand new violin by the very talented, Manhattan-based luthier Shan Jiang, aiming to have it in fine voice by January.

5. What are you listening to right now?

I’m listening to a lot of electronica in preparation for a film score, especially music by Juno Reactor and Recoil.

Sally Whitwell, piano

Sydney-based pianist Sally Whitwell is one of the hottest properties on Australia’s classical music scene right now. Her 2011 debut album Mad Rush has deservedly won widespread acclaim, including the ARIA for Best Classical Album – a remarkable accolade for a first release.

Sally’s blog for Limelight Magazine tracks the process of preparing for her second album – which includes a sneak preview performance at the 2012 Peninsula Summer Music Festival. Sally’s recital will feature works from Mad Rush alongside works flagged for inclusion on her second album, including compositions by Yann  Tiersen, perhaps best known for the soundtrack to the 2001 feature film Amélie, featuring Audrey Tautou.

Sally is also a talented composer – she teams up with violinist and fellow composer Patrick Savage for The Secret Life of Us, a fascinating insight into the world of composition for stage and screen.

Seating is limited for both recitals so we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

Our exciting 2012 lineup is now on sale. For our fifth festival we are bringing together some old favourites and new voices, with opera, jazz, baroque and chamber music performed by superb Australian and international artists and accompanied by the best food and wine that the region has to offer.

Join us between January 3-9 for a celebration of world-class music, food and wine that is at the heart of summer on the Mornington Peninsula.