Who We Are

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra is Australia’s national Baroque music flagship and one of the world’s leading period instrument ensembles, celebrated for bringing the music of the past vividly to life for audiences today.

Founded by Artistic Director Paul Dyer and Bruce Applebaum, the Brandenburg made its debut at the Sydney Opera House in 1990. More than three decades later, it has become one of Australia’s most distinctive performing arts companies, renowned for its exceptional musicianship, adventurous programming and unmistakable energy on stage.

At the heart of the Brandenburg is a commitment to historically informed performance. Its musicians are among Australia’s finest specialists in early music, performing on rare and original instruments of the period and drawing on historical sources to explore how music of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries may first have sounded. Yet tradition is only the beginning. Each performance seeks to make this music immediate, expressive and alive, revealing why composers such as Bach, Vivaldi, Handel and Mozart continue to speak so powerfully to contemporary audiences.

Under Paul Dyer’s artistic leadership, the Brandenburg has developed a reputation for reimagining the concert experience. Collaborations with artists and creators from across Australia and around the world bring early music into conversation with theatre, movement, visual design and other art forms. From Circa Contemporary Circus and the Whirling Dervishes of Konya to acclaimed international soloists and emerging artists, these collaborations continually expand the possibilities of what a period orchestra can be.

The Brandenburg Choir has been an integral part of this story since its debut in 1999. Renowned for its extraordinary blend, technical virtuosity and expressive power, the Choir performs repertoire ranging from intimate sacred works to some of the great choral masterpieces, and is at the heart of the Brandenburg’s much-loved annual Noël! Noël! tradition.

The Brandenburg’s legacy also extends beyond the concert hall. As an incubator for generations of Australian period musicians, it has played an influential role in the growth of early music across the country. Its performances reach audiences throughout Australia, while Brandenburg One, its digital streaming platform, connects the Orchestra with a growing audience around the world.

The Orchestra’s extensive recording catalogue includes 20 albums with ABC Classic, five recognised with ARIA Awards for Best Classical Album. Its musicians have also contributed to major screen projects, including the international documentary Mozart’s Sister.

More than 35 years after its first performance, the Brandenburg remains driven by the same spirit of curiosity and discovery: honouring the past, embracing the unexpected, and ensuring this extraordinary music continues to live, evolve and inspire.