Selby & Friends unveils 2025 Concert Season
Old friends and new friends join Kathyrn Selby for a five-tour year of beloved classics and contemporary masterpieces.
South Australia’s Selby & Friends has announced its 2025 concert season – its 19th – a series of performances highlighting beloved classics and contemporary masterpieces.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director and pianist Kathryn Selby, the season will feature an impressive line-up of celebrated musicians and debut performances.
Kathryn Selby. Photo supplied
“The programs reflect the stunning collaborative effort of all involved and showcase our deep love of melody, innovation and inspiration,” said Selby of a season that honours the 150 years of composer Maurice Ravel’s birth, includes the Australian premiere of a work by the renowned Lera Auerbach, celebrates the masters of song Chopin and Schubert and pays tribute to Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn in a work by South Australian composer Anne Cawrse.
“Friends” is what Selby & Friends is all about and the 2025 season will see reunions with many of them, including violinists Natalie Chee, Daniel Dodds, Elizabeth Layton and Alexandra Osborne and the cellists Julian Smiles and Clancy Newman.
First-time players making their Selby & Friends debut include the virtuoso violinist Kristian Winther, SSO Principal Cellist Catherine Hewgill, rising-star cellist Benett Tsai and young Sydney violist Isabella Bignasca.
Kristian Winther. Photo © Anthony Browell.
“These outstanding artists bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and charisma to the series, but alongside these important attributes are joy, generosity of spirit and a comradeship and willingness to share with their younger colleagues that is unparalleled,” Selby said.
The 2025 season marks the 19th year of Kathryn Selby’s leadership, and it is set to be a special one, celebrating the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel’s birth alongside works by Viennese masters. The season comprises five distinct tours, each offering a rich tapestry of chamber music.
Tour 1: Joyeux Anniversaire (6 – 13 April)
The season opens in April with Joyeux Anniversaire, a tribute to Ravel that includes his atmospheric Piano Trio in A minor, Mozart’s Piano Trio No. 5 in C major, and Zemlinsky’s Piano Trio in D minor. The tour features violinist Daniel Dodds and cellist Julian Smiles, reuniting with Kathryn Selby for a season-opening tour that begins at Adelaide’s Elder Hall on 6 April.
Tour 2: This Mirror Has Three Faces (10 – 19 May)
In May, Selby & Friends will present the Australian premiere of Lera Auerbach’s Piano Trio No. 2 This Mirror Has Three Faces, alongside Schumann’s Piano Trio No. 3 and Smetana’s Piano Trio in G minor.
This tour features the Selby & Friends debut of violinist Kristian Winther and includes regular favourite, cellist Clancy Newman. The first concert takes place at Turramurra Uniting Church, New South Wales on 10 May.
Benett Tsai. Photo supplied
Tour 3: A Ghostly Afternoon (20 – 29 July)
The July tour, A Ghostly Afternoon, features an arrangement of Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, Beethoven’s “Ghost” Trio and Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2. Violinist Natalie Chee and cellist Benett Tsai feature in a string of performances that begin at St John’s Church, Halifax Street, Adelaide on 20 July.
Tour 4: Songs Without Words (12 – 21 September)
September’s Songs Without Words features compositions by Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, Chopin’s Piano Trio, and Schubert’s Piano Trio No. 2. This tour introduces SSO Principal Cellist Catherine Hewgill to the Selby & Friends stage and commences at the Fairfax Theatre, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra on 12 September.
Tour 5: Epic Diva (21 – 30 November)
Isabella Bignasca. Photo supplied
Selby & Friends finish 2025 on a high note with Epic Diva, featuring Brahms’ and Fauré’s piano quartets, and Australian composer Matthew Hindson’s Epic Diva. The tour welcomes violist Isabella Bignasca, alongside violinist Elizabeth Layton and cellist Julian Smiles. The tour begins in Canberra, again at the Fairfax Theatre, National Gallery of Australia, on 12 November.
Season subscriptions and single tickets for the 2025 season are available at Selby & Friends.