The pandemic has forced arts organisations to re-think how they present music to their subscribers and the past year has seen a massive increase in the use of digital platforms – virtual concerts and live-streamed performances are fast becoming the norm. In line with this the Australian Haydn Ensemble has gone a step further by making a series of one-hour films featuring real time performance interspersed with contributions from some of Australia’s film-makers.

Celeste Lazarenko in the Australian Haydn Ensemble's Sacro AmorSoprano Celeste Lazarenko in the Australian Haydn Ensemble’s concert film Sacro Amor. Image courtesy of AHE.

The dreamchild of Artistic Director Skye McIntosh, the AHE is launching their new digital home, AHE Player, on 14 May with Sacro Amor, a concert of Vivaldi and Hasse featuring seven core members with soprano Celeste Larazenko and flutist Melissa Farrow.

Filmed in wide screen by Oliver Miller and Wooden Picket Productions in Sydney’s St Stephen’s Church, Newtown, and Camperdown Cemetery, it contains some atmospheric black and white footage beautifully captured by director of photography David Tran.

The performances are gorgeous, with the bright opening of Vivaldi’s Concerto for Strings in F Major RV 136 nicely contrasted by scenes...