ANNA Goldsworthy’s final year as artistic director of the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival has been a successful one, with the event breaking attendance records.
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Goldsworthy will hand the metaphorical conductor’s baton over to cellist/composer Iain Grandage for next year, content in the knowledge that the classically focused festival is in good shape.
“It’s definitely looking like we’ve broken our record,” Goldsworthy said of audience numbers.
“I feel very happy and just delighted at the way this year’s one has unfolded, and the five years before it.”
While she is likely to return as a performer in future years, Goldsworthy said there was a hint of sadness in stepping down from the festival’s top job.
“I will miss the excitement of the festival itself and the warmth of the audience (and) I will miss the town itself – I love Port Fairy, and me and my family will find lots of reasons to come back here.”
Goldsworthy said she was proud of the way the festival interacted with the community this year, noting the pop-up performances around the town outside the main venues, as well as the ever-popular Sing Your Own Musical concert.
With about 25 per cent of tickets being sold locally, she said it was “lovely to know we’re getting support from the community”.
Festival chair Penny Hutchinson said a number of concerts had sold out quickly and many were close to capacity.
She said highlights included a tribute to Dame Nellie Melba written by former festival director Stephen McIntyre, Robyn Archer’s presentation of “The (Other) Great American Songbook”, the opening night’s Beethoven concert, and Saturday night’s gala concert which featured Goldsworthy, fellow pianist Konstantin Shamray, guitarist Slava Grigoryan, the Arcadia Wind Quintet and the Orava Quartet.
“One thing we did for the first time was schedule three concerts simultaneously on Saturday night and they all sold really well,” Ms Hutchinson said.
Long time festival board member Jennifer Whitehead said Port Fairy café The Hub served as a relaxed impromptu concert venue over the weekend and drew a great response from audience and artists alike.
“The artists had so much fun,” Ms Whitehead said.
“These are world-class artists and they really enjoyed playing in The Hub.
“It’s extraordinarily informal and relaxed. It’s such an open environment with no pressure.”
She said that relaxed vibe extended across the entire festival.
“We’ve never had an artist go away unhappy, so we must be doing something right.”
