Vivaldi Four Seasons Festival Cairns 2007

Carnegie Hall comes to Cairns!

Paradise Concerts is international classical chamber music at its very best. Now in our 5th Season, we are presenting repertoire that audiences love, and world-class soloists that rouse the audience to cheering standing ovations time after time. Paradise Concerts is renowned for the intimate musical atmosphere  at our recitals. We are re-creating the soirees of bygone times, and presenting them with flair and passion. The greatest works of classical composers for this genre are programmed, including  music by the musical greats-Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Vivaldi, Schubert, Dvorak, and Mendelssohn. In addition, Paradise Concerts' recitals  champion musical innovation and challenge, by composers  such as  Bartok,  Kodaly,  Grappelli,  Schostakovich, Gershwin, Copeland, Ravel,  Britten,  and Franck. The concert recitals are illuminated by stories and background into the lives of each composer and their composition. This gives the audience a colourful backdrop with which to listen and savour each piece.  The music literally comes alive, truly chamber music at its most exciting.

A Paradise Concert is unique and memorable. We are passionate about the musical journey of each concert's programme and cordially invite you to indulge in a concert experience. 

Carnegie Hall is right here!

UPCOMING CONCERTS 2010

Cairns Civic Theatre

In partnership with

Paradise Concerts International Chamber Music Series

 and Cairns Concert Orchestra 

 presents

THE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS

Sunday August 29^th, 2010     5:00pm   Cairns Civic Theatre

PASCAL ROGÉ, piano, AMI ROGÉ, piano and harpsichord

JANE RUTTER, flute, KIRTLEY LEIGH PAINE, Artistic Director and Violin,

and LILLIAN CROMBIE, Actress/Narrator with

THE CAIRNS CONCERT ORCHESTRA

In a classical extravaganza featuring the music of

 Bach, Poulenc, Fauré, Ibert and Saint-Saens

This concert is part of Cairns Festival and the performance will be opened by Mayor Val Schier

 Two world-renowned concert pianists, 2 grand pianos, a flute queen, a film star, a violinist, a harpsichord, and our very own Cairns Concert Orchestra will come together to perform for  Cairns Festival- here in a musical extravaganza on the same stage for the very first time!

 The Carnival of the Animals is a concert of rare proportions- ranging from the intimacy and delicacy of Bach in his vivacious 5^th Brandenburg Concerto for harpsichord, violin, flute and Chamber Orchestra, featuring some of  the most exciting  harpsichord music ever written,  to the romantic charms of international flute sensation, Jane Rutter, in French repertoire of Ibert, Faure and Poulenc,  and then reaching the culmination of this performance- a special treat for classical music lovers of all ages- Saint-Saens’ exuberant work,  The Carnival of The Animals for Orchestra, 2 piano soloists, and narrator.

In this music, performed by the Cairns Concert Orchestra and star piano soloists, Pascal and Ami Roge, wit and wry humour prevail. Acclaimed actress, Lillian Crombie, from the epic film Australia , joins the entire company on stage. Lillian narrates the poetry of Ogden Nash that accompanies 14 musical portraits of a menagerie of critters.

Through the music and poetry, we march with regal lions, swim with dolphins, and laugh at donkeys braying.  No Australian performance would be complete without kangaroos, and of course, the beloved solo cello makes a spotlight appearance, as the stately swan. Musical jokes abound!

We celebrate with the two international piano soloists, Pascal and Ami Roge throughout - including a bravura movement filled with mimicry- the most flamboyant animals of all are practicing scales at the Conservatory- pianists!  In The Carnival of the Animals the musicians can enjoy a joke too.

Join Paradise Concerts’ Artistic Director Kirtley Leigh Paine, Paradise Concerts, and the dedicated local talents of our Cairns Concert Orchestra, for an evening of true entertainment. This is classical music at its best: international stars, immortal music, high drama, passion and humour. Now that’s a CARNIVAL!

                                               The Eight Seasons- Trio Tangos by Piazzolla 2007                             Melvyn Tan, Leigh and Mark Paine 2008 Gala Spectacular

Transport yourself to the magic of Classical Music...

...Here in Paradise

Pascal Roge, Ami Hakuno, Kirtley Leigh Paine From Paris to Paradise 2006

Passion in Paradise, 2007

Proudly supported  by our two new venue partners for 2009   

                                             Cairns                                  Port Douglas

Pearls of the Baroque 2007