The Castlemaine State Festival is presenting an extraordinary evening of classical music featuring two Australian musical virtuosos, Richard Tognetti and Konstantin Shamray, on Friday, July 4.
The program will span works by Bach, Schubert, Ravel and Brahms, promising a whirlwind of virtuosity and emotional depth.
This event marks the festival’s third and final classical performance for the year, concluding an exceptional year of renewal for the Castlemaine State Festival, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in March 2026.
Richard Tognetti, the visionary artistic director and lead violinist of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, will perform on his legendary 1743 Guarneri del Gesù, an instrument once played by Paganini.
“It’s our job to bring the listener in through our portal—a numinous moment when, hopefully, we can make time stand still,” he said.
Tognetti’s performance marks a return to Castlemaine Town Hall where he performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in the 1992 Castlemaine State Festival soon after joining the orchestra as their new Artistic Director.
In this July’s performance, Tognetti will be joined by Russian-born Konstantin Shamray, the only pianist in the history of the Sydney International Piano Competition to win both first prize and people’s choice.
Shamray is renowned for his fearless command of the keyboard. Together, Tognetti and Shamray guarantee an unforgettable evening of virtuosity and musical brilliance.What makes these concerts truly unforgettable is their informal, immersive and deeply human format, thanks largely to the collaboration with Vienna-based promoter Vladimir Fanshil and his innovative concert series, Live at Yours.
Castlemaine State Festival co-director Linda Sproul said the concert embodied the spirit of the 2026 festival.
“Extraordinary artists in beautiful settings that create authentic inspiring and memorable experiences,” she said.
Tickets for this extraordinary event are expected to sell quickly. Don’t miss the chance to be part of a night that promises to be one of Castlemaine’s cultural highlights of the year.
For bookings and more information, visit castlemainefestival.com.au
