Australian Haydn Ensemble
with vocal soloists David Greco & Chloe Lankshear
Renowned Australian soloists David Greco, Baritone and Chloe Lankshear, Soprano join forces with with leading period instrument group the Australian Haydn Ensemble for a stunning program woven from a selection of late baroque works by Purcell and Handel.
The first half of the program features a selection of arias, duets and instrumental favourites from Purcell’s supremely joyful works, The Fairy Queen and King Arthur, including ‘If loves a sweet passion’, Now the night is chas’d away and ‘the Cold Song’.
The second half of the program is a tour de force of Handel’s best-loved operas including Agrippina, Giulius Cesare, Jeptha, Xerses, and Rodrigo.
Founded and led by Artistic Director Skye McIntosh ( Lead Violin) The Australian Haydn Ensemble is a leading period instrument Ensemble that brings together Australia’s best historically informed musicians from around the country and the world. Having recently made their Adelaide Festival and Canberra International Music Festival debuts with 5 star reviews, AHE continue their stellar 10th anniversary year with this delightful concert.
Internationally regarded for his interpretations of Schubert lieder and works of J.S Bach, ARIA Award-nominated baritone David Greco has sung on some of the finest stages across Europe, and has appeared as a principal in the world’s most exciting opera festivals including Festival Aix-en Provence and Glyndebourne Festival Opera. In 2014, he became the first Australian appointed to a position with the Sistine Chapel Choir in the Vatican, Rome.
David regularly appears as a soloist with Australia’s pre-eminent ensembles and orchestras, such as the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra and most recently with the Sydney Symphony in their Helpmann Award-winning concerts of Bach’s cantata for bass, Ich habe genug. In 2017, he was a principal artist with Opera Australia, appearing in The Eighth Wonder and The Love of Three Oranges, and his appearance as Seneca in Pinchgut Opera’s production of The Coronation of Poppea received critical acclaim.
Australian soprano Chloe Lankshear is a rising star - currently the Inaugural 'Taryn Fiebig Scholar' with Pinchgut Opera for 2021-23. she has performed with State Opera South Australia and Pinchgut Opera, and has been a featured soloist with Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Bach Akademie Australia. She is also a Principal artist with The Song Company. Chloe has performed alongside some of Australia's best including David Greco, Andrew Goodwin, Taryn Fiebig and Anna Dowsley. In 2018 she was a featured soloist with National Capital Orchestra for their performance of R. V. William's work A Sea Symphony, under the direction of prominent young conductor Leonard Weiss.
Her debut lead operatic role was in Ensemble Polypheme's production of Acis and Galatea in 2019, alongside star tenor Nathan Bryon and rich Baritone Andrew O'Connor.
In 2020 Chloe was an artist in Pinchgut Opera’s film A Delicate Fire’, as well as their mini-series of recorded madrigals, and recorded a Behind Doors concert with duo partner Heathcliffe Auchinachie at Phoenix Central Park Studio. In more recent times Chloe has performed as soprano soloist for the premiere of Paul Stanhope's Requiem at City Recital Hall, and Pinchgut Opera's program Monteverdi's Vespers. In June 2021 Chloe was engaged as a soloist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Richard Tognetti for their program Baroque Revelry. Chloe is an enthusiastic chamber musician and has enjoyed collaborations with some of Australia's finest musicians including Matt Greco, Anthea Cottee, and Francis Greep.