Scottish-born Sydney-based classical accordionist James Crabb was appointed as Artistic Director of Four Winds in October 2016. Tomorrow his first Four Winds Easter Festival will get underway at Barragga Bay, nine kilometres south of Bermagui on the Sapphire Coast of southern NSW.

Four Winds Festival Artistic Director James Crabb. Photograph © Chris Sheedy

The popular Festival is renowned for its unique setting, with the majority of the performances happening on a purpose-built open-air sound stage designed by architect Philip Cox  – the 2000-seat Sound Shell amphitheatre – surrounded by 30 acres of stunningly beautiful open bushland.

The Festival also stages performances at the more intimate Windsong Pavilion and will once again present a series of concerts in local private residences. Over the five days 60 artists and 10 ensembles will give 26 performances. The line-up includes British violinist Jack Liebeck and Israeli flautist Ariel Zuckermann as well as a strong Australian contingent, among them soprano Emma Pearson, pianists Tamara-Anna Cislowska and Ian Munro, harpist Alice Giles, and guitarist Aleksandr Tsiboulski. Ensembles performing there include the Goldner String Quartet, The Song Company, Speak Percussion and the Australian Brass Quintet.

The music ranges from Arvo Pärt and...