Two musicians with string instruments, a man with short hair and a beard on the left, and a woman with dark hair and a smile on the right.

Utzon Music 2026 Liam Byrne & Laura Vaughan

  • Classical Music
  • Utzon Room

Two viola da gambists perform music across time

Blending historical instruments with contemporary textures, two friends and colleagues from opposite sides of the world come together in a duo formed especially for the Utzon Music series.

This atmospheric performance draws threads across centuries. Berlin-based viola da gambist Liam Byrne is renowned for his interpretations of both early music and cutting-edge contemporary music. He joins versatile Australian gambist Laura Vaughan for a recital pairing Renaissance and Baroque works for this most poetic of instruments alongside the exciting new music of today. Hear Renaissance masters like Orlando Gibbons and William Byrd alongside contemporary composers including Hildur Guðnadóttir and Vaughan herself. This program also features premieres of works by Australian composers Alice Chance and Brooke Green that were commissioned especially for this concert.

Join these two remarkable musicians in the Utzon Room for a musical journey across the centuries.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body. 

Sydney Opera House thanks Event Partner Pommery, Idealist donors Ezekiel Solomon AM, Ingrid Kaiser, Sheli Lubowski, Dr Eileen Ong, and Patsy Crummer for their support of Utzon Music.

Presented by Sydney Opera House

Event details

Laura Vaughan’s viola da gamba was a crowning glory

Classic Melbourne

Byrne is an unassuming performer but his glee in the sonic potential of his instrument is infectious

The Guardian

Repertoire

Orlando Gibbons Fantasia a 2 No 5                                      

Alfonso Ferrabosco II Galliard & Corranto                

Hildur Guðnadóttir**
Stimm
Melody of Not Knowing                                                                        

Matthew Locke Suite in C from The Consort in Two Parts for Several Friends
Fantasia, Fantasia, Saraband

Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe (fl. 1670s) Concert III ‘Le Tendre’ from Concerts à deux violes esgales                                                                                            
[Ouverture] Le Tendre, Sarabande du Tendre, Gavote la Ferme, Menuet du Tendre

Laura Vaughan  The Velvet Deep

William Byrd Ne Irascaris

Brooke Green** Djeeban and the Moon

Tobias Hume The Virgin's Muse

Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe Concert XLIV ‘Les Regrets’ from Concerts à deux violes esgales                                                                                           
Tombeau Les Regrets, Quarillon, Les Pleurs, Joye des Elizées, Les Elizées      

Alice Chance** Dovetail - A Sonic Poem

**World Premiere

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Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Utzon Room

The Utzon Room is located on the Eastern side of the Opera House, in front of the Joan Sutherland Theatre. Best accessed through the Box Office Foyer or the Covered Concourse. All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators).

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