“For me, it is the best festival this year, of the 22 years.”
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sergio de Pieri is fighting off a little bronchitis, but he is a happy man. The numbers for the Organs of the Ballarat Goldfields Festival have been strong, and while the final figures won’t be collated for a while, he feels as though this year’s program has reflected the growing regard that the festival has nationally and internationally.
“I dont think there is any other city, any other country to be honest, that is having this festival,” Mr de Pieri said.
“Not in Italy, not in Germany, not in America – because we have American people here telling us that – it’s unique.”
There were too many outstanding performances to pick out a single highlight in the nine days of the festival, says Mr de Pieri, but among his favourites were the performance of Handel’s Acis and Galatea at Loreto, the opening concert featuring the work of Rameau at St Patrick’s and Genevieve Lacey’s performance of the German High Baroque.
The festival closed on Sunday night with Anguish of Hell and Peace of Soul.