Blue skies, warming sun, a gentle breeze and the chiming of bellbirds blended wonderfully with the sweet sounds of piano, strings and wind instruments in Nature’s Concert Hall on Saturday.
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The Four Winds Festival returned to its Barragga Bay bush venue over the Easter weekend for its 18th manifestation.
Organisers reported it as the biggest ever, with 4300 people attending across the 21 festival events.
Some in Saturday’s audience were applauded for having been to every Four Winds since its inception 25 years ago.
In introducing several of the morning performances, Carrillo Gantner admitted he had missed one of the now biennial event.
However, he was enthusiastic about the festival’s renowned ability to bring music and nature together.
“For those of us around at the beginning, the facilities here now are incredible,” Mr Gantner, who is the son of Four Winds founder Neilma Gantner, said.
“In the new Windsong Pavilion, some say we have the best acoustics in the country.
“And while the festival is held every second year, it is now a major cornerstone for a program of events year-round.”
Mr Gantner also espoused the establishment of a native species arboretum with around 1000 trees in already and plans for several thousand more in years to come.
That natural landscape of an outdoor amphitheatre with dam backdrop surrounded by countless native flora and fauna once again played host to an array of world-class musicians over three days.
Performances of Dvorak, Ravel, Mendelssohn and Gershwin delighted classical lovers from across the country, with artistic director Paul Dean folding in some rap (courtesy of Warren Foster Jr and Radical Son), operatic tenor, spoken word and taiko drumming for good measure.
Four Winds committee chairwoman Sheena Boughen said the overall impression from audience feedback was that people loved the music, “some of which was challenging, some surprising, and some overwhelmingly beautiful”.
The food tents showcasing local produce such as Wapengo Oysters and Cobargo Home Made Ice-cream were very well attended, and the children’s tent, offering free childcare and activities was at times at capacity.
A major fundraiser to buy a $100,00 concert grand piano, sold by the piano key (of which there are 88) has had an encouraging start.
Meanwhile, this Sunday, April 3, the Sydney Youth Orchestra presents Mozart by the Sea in the Four Winds Sound Shell at 2pm. Tickets are $10 (under 16s free) and are available at the gate.
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