Out West Piano Fest 2023
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Out West Piano Fest is a three day immersive event of music, food and wine, visual art and the natural environment.
You can buy a ticket to everything – all five concerts and all three food + wine experiences. Or, you can buy a ticket to just once concert.
All concerts have allocated seating, selected by you, the purchaser. Food + Wine Experiences are unallocated seating.
If you’re buying a ticket to a single concert, you can add a food + wine event after you’ve completed the purchase.
Everyone can add parking after buying tickets. To book an accessible car park, you will need to display Australian government issued accessible parking permit.
Various rates, including concessions, local and student tickets are available.
Package ticket prices include a copy of the souvenir program. If you’re buying a single concert ticket you can buy this with or without a souvenir program.
Blackdown Farm is a working farm. We have worked with the owners to harden high traffic areas, but the site does have uneven surfaces, steps and long distances between venues. . If you have mobility concerns, please contact the office (02 9241 3291) and we will see what we can do to help.
Tamara Anna Cislowska
Tamara Anna Cislowska is one of Australia’s most renowned, ARIA award-winning pianists, performing and recording in Australia and internationally to critical and public acclaim.
Andrey Gugnin
Andrey is the winner of the Ernest Hutcheson First Prize of the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition. He is also the winner of the Eileen Joyce Best Overall Concerto Prize, the Miriam Hyde Best 19th or 20th Century Concerto Prize, the Hephzibah Menuhin Best Violin and Piano Sonata Prize and the Roger Smalley Best Preliminaries Round 1 Recital Prize.
Clemens Leske
With a repertoire of thirty-five piano concerti, Clemens Leske has performed with all six Australian symphony orchestras and played in venues in Spain, the UK, the US, New Zealand, Singapore, Hungary and China.
Yanghee Kim
Yanghee Kim is a highly accomplished pianist, teacher and vocal coach with a rich background in music. Born in Korea, making her first public performance at 5, she spent her formative years in Sydney where her musical talent was evident, securing numerous awards in Australia’s major music competitions, notably, the ABC Young Performers’ Awards, the City of Sydney Eisteddfod Scholarship and the prestigious Landa Scholarship, as well as two Australia Council Grants and three successive BHP scholarships.
After a sell-out launch in 2022, Out West Piano Fest is back in October 2023. It will once again be held in the glorious regional setting of Blackdown Farm, just five minutes from the town centre of Bathurst NSW. A location steeped in pastoral heritage, art and culture; it was once home to the Australian artist Tim Storrier. The extensive gardens in full spring bloom will once again provide a stunning backdrop to sumptuous food and wine events. The providores of the central west will feature in a suite of gastronomic experiences over the weekend – an inspirational weekend celebrating the piano and four superb pianists, who will move and excite, educate and entertain you.
Festival Program
Friday 27 October
4pm to 5pm
Welcome Drinks
5pm to 7pm
Concert 1 – Music From the New World
7pm to 8.30pm
Food & Wine 1 – Dinner in the Olive Grove
Saturday 28 October
10am to 11am
Morning Tea
11am to 12pm
Concert 2 – Eastern Express
12.30pm to 2pm
Food & Wine 2 – Long Table Lunch
2.30pm to 4.30pm
Concert 3 – History of Love
Sunday 29 October
10am to 11am
Morning Tea
11am to 12pm
Concert 4 – Once Upon a Time…
12.30pm to 2pm
Food & Wine 3 – Farewell Lunch
2.30pm to 3.30pm
Concert 5 – Carnival
Friday 27 October
Welcome Drinks – 4pm to 5pm
Be greeted with the stunning views of the countryside, the warm, golden glow of the sun, slowly setting behind the horizon, and the gentle swaying of trees and the fragrant scent of blooming flowers carrying on the gentle breeze. Amidst the delightful surroundings and delicious refreshments, you will have the opportunity to connect with fellow music lovers and festival-goers, embracing new and old friendships alike. The spirited atmosphere will set the tone for a magical weekend of music at Blackdown Farm.
Concert 1 – Music From the New World – 5pm to 7pm
Throughout musical history composers and artists have pushed and pulled at the boundaries of music. The world has become smaller and exciting works continue to emerge from outside the traditional boundaries of Europe. In this program the ‘new world’ takes centre stage bringing infectious rhythms from Latin America, jazz inspired sounds from the USA and the mastery of one of Australia’s prolific composers. Settle in for an evening of vivid energy and lift to start the festival.
Click here to return to the program overview
John Adams:
Hallelujah Junction
Clemens Leske & Yanghee Kim
Alberto Ginastera:
Suite de Danzas Criollas Op.15
I. Adagietto pianissimo
II. Allegro rustico
III. Allegretto cantabile
IV. Calmo e poetico
V. Scherzando – Coda: Presto ed energico
Tamara Anna Cislowska
Carl Vine:
from Piano Sonata No.1
II. Leggiero e legato
Clemens Leske
– interval –
Carl Vine:
Piano Sonata No.2
I.
II. Legato, senza pedale
Andrey Gugnin
George Gershwin:
Rhapsody in Blue
Tamara Anna Cislowska & Yanghee Kim
Food & Wine 1 – Dinner in the Olive Grove – 7pm to 8.30pm
Nestled in the heart of the olive grove with twinkling lights creating a magical ambiance, be carried on a warm breeze with the fragrant aroma of freshly picked olives and herbs for the first dining event of the weekend. Tonight’s meal draws inspiration by blending Australian and New World influences and highlighting the rich flavours of the central west region. Click here to see the full menu.
Saturday 28 October
Morning Tea – 10am to 11am
Begin the morning by being transported to an Eastern European café, sipping freshly brewed coffee and snacking on warm sweet pastries.
Concert 2 – Eastern Express – 11am to 12 pm
All aboard the Eastern Express. The journey begins in Czechoslovakia and meanders through the vast expanse of culture and rich tapestry of central Europe. Some stops on the journey will be familiar welcome haunts while some will illicit wildly new experiences from intricate melodies to complex harmonies. Whipping you up and along through Romania, Croatia, Ukraine and Latvia, you will be fulfilled when the Eastern Express reaches its destination of Poland.
Click here to return to the program overview
Antonín Dvořák:
from Slavonic Dances Op.46
No.1 Furiant
No.3 Polka
Tamara Anna Cislowska & Yanghee Kim
George Enescu:
Variations Op.5
Tamara Anna Cislowska & Andrey Gugnin
Boris Papandopulo:
from ‘Horoscope’ Suite Op.52
IV. Gemini
XIII. Pisces
Andrey Gugnin & Clemens Leske
Arno Babajanian:
Armenian Rhapsody
Andrey Gugnin & Yanghee Kim
Valentin Silvestrov:
3 Bagatelles Op.1
I. Allegretto
II. Moderato
III. Moderato
Andrey Gugnin
Pēteris Vasks:
Toccata
Tamara Anna Cislowska & Andrey Gugnin
Witold Lutosławski:
Variations on a Theme of Paganini
Theme. Allegro capriccioso
Variation I
Variation II. Meno mosso
Variation III
Variation IV
Variation V
Variation VI. Poco lento
Variation VII. Allegro molto
Variation VIII
Variation IX
Variation X
Variation XI. Più mosso
Variation XI. Ancora più mosso
Tamara Anna Cislowska & Clemens Leske
Food & Wine 2 – Long Table Lunch 12.30pm – 2pm
Like showers of pink and white rain, the delicate blossoms of the Crabapple Trees illicit a fairy-tale emotion. Enveloped by the glossy green leaves that sway gently in the breeze it will not be hard to feel a sense romance filling the air. The meal itself is inspired by the journey just enjoyed through eastern Europe and with each dish being crafted with affection will spark feelings of passion, joy and love. Click here to see the full menu.
Concert 3 – History of Love – 2.30pm to 4.30pm
A deliciously decadent feast awaits to arouse the senses, pulling at the heartstrings of even the most jaded of lovers. A simple flight of fancy is grounded through the celebration of love and heightened romantic emotions are expressed through rich musical forms. A pathway of fancy brings many undone, but the ultimate desire continues to drive them forward. The four artists exude poetic yearning and desire to share their love of music with you, the audience. If music be the food of love, play on.
Click here to return to the program overview
Richard Wagner:
Excerpts from Tristan and Isolde
Tamara Anna Cislowska & Yanghee Kim
Enrique Granados:
from Goyescas
No.5 Love and Death: A Ballad
Andrey Gugnin
Sergei Rachmaninoff/Fritz Kreisler:
from 3 Old Viennese Dances
No.2 Liebesleid
No.1 Liebesfreud
Clemens Leske
Edvard Grieg:
from Lyric Pieces Op.65
No.6 Wedding Day at Troldhaugen
Tamara Anna Cislowska, Yanghee Kim, Andrey Gugnin & Clemens Leske
– interval –
Sergey Prokofiev:
Excerpts from Romeo and Juliet
I. Introduction
II. Scene
III. Juliet as a Young Girl
IV. Masks
V. Romeo Bids Juliet Farewell
Andrey Gugnin & Clemens Leske
Sergei Rachmaninoff:
from Suite No.1 Op.5
No.2 Oh Night, Oh Love
Andrey Gugnin & Clemens Leske
George Crumb:
from Makrokosmos Volume I
No.11 Dream Images (Love – Death Music)
Yanghee Kim
Sergei Rachmaninoff:
from 2 Pieces for 6 Hands
No.2 Romance
Tamara Anna Cislowska, Yanghee Kim & Clemens Leske
Sunday 29 October
Morning Tea – 10am to 11am
Start the final day of the festival with magic and whimsy and a bolstering dark brew of coffee or tea.
Concert 4 – Once upon a time… – 11am to 12pm
Let us share a secret with you. If you are very lucky, at the bottom of the garden of Blackdown Farm, right at the point where the trees meet the babbling brook, there is a world of imagination, a little bit of fairy tale magic, just waiting to happen. You’ll find a Sugar-Plum Fairy just waiting to twirl and swirl her way to the grandest of Hall of the Mountain King. And no tale of timeless fantasy is complete without a dashing Knight on his white steed. Loose yourself in your imagination as fairy tale music cascades over you.
Click here to return to the program overview
Pyotr Tchaikovsky/Mikhail Pletnev:
Excerpts from The Nutcracker Suite
I. March
II. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
III. A pine forest in winter
IV. Pas de deux
Andrey Gugnin
Franz Liszt:
Die Loreley S.273
Tamara Anna Cislowska
Nikolay Medtner:
from 2 Tales Op.20
No.1 in B♭ minor ‘Fairy Tales’
from 3 Tales Op.42
No.2 in C minor
from 2 Tales Op.20
No.2 in B minor
Clemens Leske
Nikolay Medtner:
2 Pieces Op.58
No.1 Russian Round Dance (A Tale)
No.2 Knight errant
Tamara Anna Cislowska & Andrey Gugnin
Maurice Ravel
Mother Goose Suite
I. Pavane of Sleeping Beauty
II. Little Tom Thumb
III. Little Ugly Girl, Empress of the Pagodas
IV. Conversation of Beauty and the Beast
V. The Fairy Garden
Clemens Leske & Yanghee Kim
Edvard Grieg:
Excerpts from Peer Gynt Suite No.1 Op.46
I. Morning Mood
II. Death of Åse
III. Anitra’s Dance
IV. In the Hall of the Mountain King
Tamara Anna Cislowska, Yanghee Kim, Andrey Gugnin & Clemens Leske
Food & Wine 3 – Farewell Lunch – 12:30pm to 2pm
Under the ‘big tent’ the final food & wine event erupts in vibrant colour and flavour, with dishes that perfectly capture the essence of a carnival. Savour each morsal and indulge in the tastes and textures from the central west that we truly tantalize your taste buds, leaving you feeling both satisfied and ready for the carnival ahead. Click here to see the full menu.
Concert 5 – Carnival – 2.30pm to 3.30pm
The sounds of celebration and farewell simultaneously fill the air. Let the music fill your soul and top off the festival weekend with a carnival-themed program! A combination of a buoyant festive atmosphere, intertwined with timeless melody and masterful playing – what better way to farewell the carnival from town. Until we see you next time, when the carnival returns!
Click here to return to the program overview
Modest Mussorgsky:
‘Coronation Scene’ from Boris Godunov
Tamara Anna Cislowska & Andrey Gugnin
Franz Liszt:
Valse de l’opéra Faust S.407 (after Charles Gounod)
Tamara Anna Cislowska
Edvard Grieg:
from Scenes of Country Life Op.19
No.3 Carnival Scene
Andrey Gugnin
Alexander Tsfasman:
Snowflakes
Tamara Anna Cislowska & Andrey Gugnin
Darius Milhaud:
‘Scaramouche’ Op.165b
Clemens Leske & Yanghee Kim
Albert Lavignac:
Galope-marche
Tamara Anna Cislowska, Yanghee Kim, Andrey Gugnin
Food & Wine
Each food experience has been thematically curated by Margot Burke Catering to match the piano performances, with substantial meals crafted from locally sourced ingredients, serving as a testament to the Central West region’s exceptional producers. Likewise, the local wines provided by Renzaglia Wines, Rock Forest Vineyard and Vale Creek wines have been carefully chosen to provide a perfect blend of flavors and quality.
Click here to return to the program overview
Friday 27 October
Dinner in the Olive Grove
7pm to 8.30pm
Main
Argentinian Slow Roasted Beef with smashed potatoes & bright chimichurri
Mexican Spiced Chicken with fragrant rice and picante salsa
Dessert
Churros with a rich chocolate sauce made from Bathurst’s ‘Dead Man’s Drop’ dark rum
Wines from Vale Creek
Vale Creek Vermentino 2022
Aromas of fresh honeydew and lime zest with subtle floral notes. The palate is bright with grapefruit, green apple and some savoury interest.
Vale Creek Barbera 2022
Dense black currant aromas with a hint of crushed fennel seed. The palate is bright and luscious with subtle oak and chocolatey tannins.
Saturday 28 October
Long Table Lunch
12.30pm to 2pm
Arrival
Stuffed Mushroom Russian-style
Potato blini with sour cream and salmon
Entrée
Potato and caramelised onion layered tart, topped with beetroot and radish
Main
Paprika glazed Chicken with a rich blackened pepper sauce
Herb crusted salmon fillet over Latvian potato and lentil.
Sides
Salad of halloumi, rocket and local berries
Crisp green salad pickled vegetables
Dessert
Dessert to be served at interval during History of Love Concert
Rosewater meringue with Turkish delight and chocolate drizzle garnishes
Wine Pairings from Renzaglia Wines
(Entrée and Main)
2023 Cobbers Sparkling Chardonnay
The most recent batch of Bathurst’s very own celebratory drop made in parternship with Vale Creek Wines and Grass Parrot Vineyard.
2021 Renzaglia Sauvignon Blanc
Rich and refreshing, the instense citrus flavours are balanced by bread dough and cooking spice texture.
2022 Renzaglia Sangiovese
An enticing orange-ruby color and a complex aroma with sour cherry, raspberry, earthy notes, and spicy/ savory flavors. Joyful and versatile.
(Dessert)
Sweet Renzano served with ice and a slice of orange
A local vermouth with amaro flavours
Sunday 29 October
Farewell Lunch
12.30pm to 2pm
Main
Cowra mint marinated spring Lamb served with potato gratin
Trunkey Creek Pork medallions with apple mustard and local cider sauce and potato gratin
Sides
Whipped fetta, roasted carrots with honey and thyme.
Seasonal garden salad with mini flowers
Dessert
Dessert to be served at interval during Carnival performance
Festival inspired parfait topped with fairy floss fairy dust
Wines from Rock Forest Vineyard
2023 Rock Forest Chardonnay
Eliciting tones of harvested hay, golden and mature, with a grace and Itelligence beyond its youth.
2021 Rock Forest Shiraz
A cold climate medium intensity red with rich plum and peppered spice married together.
Parking
Parking is FREE at Blackdown Farm but you must register your vehicle.
If you have bought a full festival package, complete the first option only. This will book you a carpark for all three days. DO NOT select individual concerts or food + wine experiences.
For single ticket buyers, you need to book a carpark for every concert and/or food + wine experience you are attending. This gives you parking for half an hour either side of your single concert or food + wine experience.
To book an accessible car park, you will need to display Australian government issued accessible parking permit. If you have mobility concerns but do not have an Australian government issued accessible parking permit, please contact the office (02 9241 3291) and we will see what we can do to help.
You will be emailed a parking pass with a QR Code. Please bring this with you as we will scan it each time you come through the gate to Blackdown Farm. You can print it or have it on your mobile device.
Please click here to secure your free Out West Piano Fest parking
Education Program
In partnership with Mitchell Conservatorium (including Lithgow and Forbes satellite schools) a suite of learning opportunities for younger to adult learners from the region will be delivered as part of Out West Piano Fest. These include masterclasses, one-to-one teaching, high school incursions, and teach the teacher workshops. Piano+ has developed a strong partnership with the Conservatorium having previously toured laureates giving public concerts and masterclasses. We are delighted to bring world renowned pianists to Regional NSW and give piano students of the area a one-in-a-lifetime educational experience.
Travel and Accommodation
Organised Tour
Long time travel partners of Piano+, Renaissance Tours have put together a special tour package which takes all the hassle out of planning your travel and comes with some special value-add options, including an exclusive welcome dinner with all the artists of Out West Piano Fest. For further information and bookings visit their website or phone 1300 727 095.
Accommodation Options
The beautiful Central Tableands district has countless accommodation options to suit every preference and price bracket. You can check out the Bathurst Tourism Centre’s accommodation guide here as a starting point.
Local Tourism
The Bathurst Tourism Centre has also partnered with Out West Piano Fest to ensure that all guests have a wonderful visit to the region. If you are coming a few days earlier, or staying a few days after the festival the Bathurst Tourism Centre is your first stop. Check their comprehensive guides to what’s happening and things to do here.
About Blackdown Farm
Blackdown Farm is home to the Out West Piano Fest and is regarded as one of NSW’s most significant properties and one of the finest examples of Australian Heritage Architecture. The homestead is surrounded by 17 acres of beautifully maintained gardens and fields.
It dates back to April 1822 when Thomas Hawkins, a naval officer and pioneer settler, was appointed the commissarial storekeeper at Bathurst, travelling from Sydney to Bathurst selecting a 2000-acre land parcel which he called Blackdown. Accompanied by his wife, seven children and nine convicts, the original homestead was built by Hawkins in 1823-1824 and it remains part of the main homestead residence today. Additional outbuildings were constructed over time, including a mill, stables, coach house and servants’ quarters.
In approximately 1836, Blackdown became the site of the first vineyard west of the Blue Mountains and around the same time, many of the trees were planted, including the entrance avenue of English elms and Atlantic cedars. Over the course of time, with different owners the gardens were expanded.
In 1989 the owners at the time undertook a major restoration of the homestead, returning Blackdown to its near original condition, and planned and laid out the extensive Georgian gardens. The most recent restoration of the property was in 2008 by renowned architects Clive Lucas Stapleton and Partners of Sydney when it was owned by Australian artist Tim Storrier. The cavernous artist studio will be the sole venue for all concerts in the Out West Piano Fest.
One of the most beautiful features of Blackdown is the extensive gardens within 17 hectares of planted and maintained parkland. The Out Fest Piano Fest will stage a long table lunch under the crab-apple tree walkway linking the homestead to the in-ground pool and clay tennis court. The organic vegetable garden is filled with raspberries, strawberries, artichokes, asparagus and rhubarb and adjoined by a fruit orchard with a mix of seasonal fruit, including apricots, nectarines, quince and feijoa. The olive grove of almost 650 mature olive trees will provide another outdoor stage for the Out Fest Piano Fest.
