ACO Up Close: Lawrence Power & Garth Knox
Two of the greatest violists of our generation – and long-time friends – join forces to showcase the chameleon of string instruments.
ACO Up Close: Lawrence Power & Garth Knox
12 June 2026
New South Wales
ACO On The Pier - The Neilson
Fri 12 Jun, 7:00pm
ACO On The Pier - The Neilson
Change VenueCharacter. Charisma. Collaboration.
Lawrence Power and Garth Knox are champions of their instrument, Power as a soloist and champion of new music, and Knox as a composer, performer and educator. Their friendship has inspired groundbreaking new viola repertoire, and both performers love to push their instruments to the limits. In this special concert, ACO Principal Viola Stefanie Farrands, ACO Viola Elizabeth Woolnough, and ACO Principal Cello Timo-Veikko Valve join the friends to form an intimate chamber ensemble.
Beginning in the Baroque with the poignant notes of Marais’ Les Voix Humaines and Westhoff’s Imitation of the Bells, the program features Satie’s evocative Gnossienne No.1 and the Australian Premiere of Turkish composer Fazıl Say’s Sonata for Viola, a piece that ranges from mysterious to fevered in 15 gorgeous minutes. Interspersed with three of Knox’s original compositions, and York Bowen’s colourful Fantasia for Four Violas, you’ll hear repertoire ranging four centuries and exploring the many moods of the viola.
Expect an extraordinary display of collaboration, improvisation, camaraderie and joy in this revealing celebration of the viola.
Beginning in the Baroque with the poignant notes of Marais’ Les Voix Humaines and Westhoff’s Imitation of the Bells, the program features Satie’s evocative Gnossienne No.1 and the Australian Premiere of Turkish composer Fazıl Say’s Sonata for Viola, a piece that ranges from mysterious to fevered in 15 gorgeous minutes. Interspersed with three of Knox’s original compositions, and York Bowen’s colourful Fantasia for Four Violas, you’ll hear repertoire ranging four centuries and exploring the many moods of the viola.
Expect an extraordinary display of collaboration, improvisation, camaraderie and joy in this revealing celebration of the viola.
PROGRAM
ARTISTS
LOCATION
MARIN MARAIS Les Voix Humaines
GARTH KNOX Stranger
JOHANN PAUL VON WESTHOFF Sonata No.3 in D minor: III. Imitation of the Bells
FAZIL SAY Ruşen Güneş Anısına: Sonata for Viola Solo (Australian premiere)
GARTH KNOX Still Points: Harmonic Fantasy on a Theme by Tallis
ERIK SATIE (arr. Garth Knox) Gnossienne No.1
HEINRICH IGNAZ FRANZ BIBER Partita No.7 for Two Violas d’Amore
YORK BOWEN Fantasia for Four Violas, Op.41, No.1
GARTH KNOX Marin Marais Variations
GARTH KNOX Stranger
JOHANN PAUL VON WESTHOFF Sonata No.3 in D minor: III. Imitation of the Bells
FAZIL SAY Ruşen Güneş Anısına: Sonata for Viola Solo (Australian premiere)
GARTH KNOX Still Points: Harmonic Fantasy on a Theme by Tallis
ERIK SATIE (arr. Garth Knox) Gnossienne No.1
HEINRICH IGNAZ FRANZ BIBER Partita No.7 for Two Violas d’Amore
YORK BOWEN Fantasia for Four Violas, Op.41, No.1
GARTH KNOX Marin Marais Variations
ARTISTS
Lawrence Power viola and viola d’amore
Garth Knox viola
Garth Knox viola
Stefanie Farrands viola
Elizabeth Woolnough viola
Elizabeth Woolnough viola
Timo-Veikko Valve cello
LOCATION
The Neilson, ACO On The Pier
Pier 2/3, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct
13A Hickson Road
Dawes Point NSW 2000
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ABOUT ACO UP CLOSE
Step into The Neilson at ACO On The Pier and enter a temple of sound. Let music speak in its own clear voice — curious, crafted, and deeply human. The ACO is thrilled to present an exceptional gathering of musicians carefully curated to reflect and extend the dynamic and explosive vision of the ACO, and to shape a musical conversation between tradition and bold imagination. Discover the full 2026 program.
Open in Google Maps
ABOUT ACO UP CLOSE
Step into The Neilson at ACO On The Pier and enter a temple of sound. Let music speak in its own clear voice — curious, crafted, and deeply human. The ACO is thrilled to present an exceptional gathering of musicians carefully curated to reflect and extend the dynamic and explosive vision of the ACO, and to shape a musical conversation between tradition and bold imagination. Discover the full 2026 program.
- CONCERT duration
- 75 minutes (no interval)
