The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra has today announced its 2026 season, a dynamic program of six live concerts to be performed at Sydney’s City Recital Hall and Melbourne Recital Centre.
In 2026, the Brandenburg will present the world premiere of a newly unearthed Classical concerto by Austrian composer Ignaz Joseph Pleyel previously lost to time, alongside the Australian premiere of a Sinfonia by Antonio Salieri. Acclaimed American violinist Augusta McKay Lodge has her Australian debut, and celebrated Italian baritone Renato Dolcini returns for a journey through the heart of Baroque Italy.
“Since our very first concert, we’ve been driven by a belief in the power of live performance to move, uplift, and connect,” said Co-Founder and Artistic Director Paul Dyer. “It is a celebration of creativity, shared experience, and the moments that linger long after the final note. In 2026, we invite you to experience a season that brings this vision to life with fresh energy and unforgettable artistry.”
“From Augusta McKay Lodge’s illumination of Anna Maria della Pietà’s unsung brilliance in her Australian debut, to the world premiere of Pleyel’s rediscovered concerto alongside Mozart and Salieri, this exciting season champions the renewal and enduring significance of Baroque music,” said Dyer.
“This is a season shaped by bold contrasts and remarkable voices,” said Co-Founder and Managing Director Bruce Applebaum. “You’ll be drawn into the drama of the Italian Baroque through the commanding presence of Renato Dolcini, and later experience our orchestra and choir in music that ranges from the radiant joy of Bach to the sparkling invention of Telemann.”
“It all builds to a final chorus that promises to lift your spirits. From the shimmer of solo brilliance to the sweep of the orchestra in full flight, every concert offers its own universe of sound,” said Applebaum.
The 2026 season will open in February with Baroque Masters – a vibrant tribute to the composers who rest at the centre of the Brandenburg’s musical identity: George Frideric Handel, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Pachelbel and Antonio Vivaldi.
Bringing together all the ‘greats’ in one must-see program led by Artistic Director Paul Dyer, this concert celebrates the music that eternally inspires the Brandenburg. Showcasing the full range of their artistry from the grandeur of Handel’s Concerto Grosso in G major, Op. 6 No. 1 to the timeless elegance of Pachelbel’s Canon, this program represents and reflects the essence of the Brandenburg.
For the second concert series, the Brandenburg Choir and Orchestra will join forces in April for Choral Splendour – a concert series showcasing the invention, expressive depth, and majesty of the Baroque. Bach’s celebrated cantatas are the centrepiece of this series alongside his highly regarded Double Violin Concerto to be performed by Brandenburg’s Concertmaster and Baroque Violin, Shaun Lee-Chen and Principal Second Baroque Violin, Ben Dollman. With the Choir diving into Handel’s regal anthems, such as Zadok the Priest and The King Shall Rejoice, this series will fill the performance halls with dazzling harmonies and vocal performances.
In June, audiences will step into the world of high style and high emotion as Italian baritone Renato Dolcini returns to the Brandenburg stage for a journey through the heart of Baroque Italy. From Naples to Rome, Venice to Florence, Italian Serenatas highlights the music of each Italian city and its unique artistry in a celebration of past and present. Blurring the line between concert and opera, Milan-born Dolcini’s acclaimed voice and charismatic presence will capture the spirit of the golden age of Italian Baroque music.
Acclaimed Paris-based violinist Augusta McKay Lodge makes her Australian debut as soloist and Guest Director, shining a light on one of Baroque music’s most fascinating and overlooked figures, Anna Maria della Pietà. An intimate and poetic program, Vivaldi’s Legacy will highlight this virtuoso who lived and performed at the Venetian orphanage where Vivaldi taught, inspiring some of his finest and most demanding works.
More than just his student, della Pietà was celebrated in her time, played multiple instruments with extraordinary skill, and had music written specifically for her by composers across Europe. Led with elegance and insight by Lodge, this refined program offers a rare glimpse into the sonic world of della Pietà through solo and chamber works.
In October, Mozart, Salieri & Pleyel will see the world premiere of a recently unearthed Classical concerto by Austrian composer Ignaz Joseph Pleyel, discovered through scribal profiling by Germany-based musicologist and double bassist Darija Andzakovic.
The concerto will be played by Brandenburg Principal Bass Robert Nairn as part of a concert with music by fellow 18th century Vienna composers Mozart and Salieri. With an expanded orchestral palette including full winds, brass, timpani, and a 19-piece string section, this concert offers a bold and resonant sound that fills the hall with drama, elegance, and power.
Anchored by Mozart’s Symphony No. 39, one of his most majestic and emotionally charged works, the program additionally features the Australian premiere of a Sinfonia from Cublai, gran kan de‘Tartari by Antonio Salieri.
To close the year, the Brandenburg’s much-loved annual favourite Noël! Noël! is a cherished tradition, reimagined each time with flair. More than just a Christmas concert, Noël! Noël! is where centuries-old carols and festive gems meet bold new interpretations.
Led by Paul Dyer and performed by the radiant Brandenburg Choir and Orchestra, this is music that celebrates joy, beauty, and the magic of the unexpected. From soaring choral works to intimate instrumentals, and festive favourites dressed in new colours, this series signals the year’s end with an unapologetically Australian take on a Christmas tradition.
Subscriber tickets are on sale now and single tickets will be on sale from 19 November 2025. For more information about the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra 2026 Season, visit: www.brandenburg.com.au for details.
Image: Australian Brandenburg Orchestra – photo by Keith Saunders