limelight at the orange chamber music festival

• Delight in performances by leading chamber musicians: harpist Alice Giles, violinist Emma McGrath, the Orava Quartet, Arcadia Winds and the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra

• Experience a fine range of venues, from a restored shearing shed to the Orange Civic Theatre

• Benefit from Limelight’s connoisseurship, with an insider’s perspective and private opportunities to meet Festival artists

• Enjoy a night in Sydney and attend The Magic Flute, directed by Sir Thomas Allen for Opera Australia

• Admire the onset of autumnal foliage in cool-climate Orange, one of the Central Tablelands’ most vibrant regional centres

• Savour the gastronomy of a well-known wine region, with select dining experiences and wine tastings

WEDNESDAY 10 MARCH 2027 – ARRIVAL (D)

Check-in at our hotel opens at 3.00pm, and we meet in the lobby at 4.30pm for an informal tour briefing over a drink together. We then walk to a nearby restaurant for an early welcome dinner in one of Sydney’s excellent restaurants, an opportunity to get to know one another. Afterwards, we continue to the Sydney Opera House for the first performance of our tour, Mozart’s inventive Magic Flute. Overnight Sydney. Please note that no arrival transfers are included in the cost of the tour; contact us if you would like to speak to one of our trusted travel partners about your arrangements, including flights.

Performance #1
Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Program: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Magic Flute
Performers: Chad Kelly (conductor), Sir Thomas Allen (director), Gemma Nha (Pamina), Nicholas Jones (Tamino)

THURSDAY 11 MARCH 2027 – TO ORANGE (B, D)

We check out of our hotel this morning for the journey to Orange by private coach. As we cross the iconic Blue Mountains we make a few brief stops, and break our journey in Bathurst for lunch at leisure in a country pub. Continuing to Orange, there is the opportunity to pick up breakfast supplies at a local supermarket before we check in to our hotel; while the well-sized apartment-style accommodation that we have selected does not offer breakfast, it is in an excellent location for our itinerary and ensures our proximity to Festival artists for the duration of the program. After check-in, there is a private opportunity to meet one of the internationally-acclaimed Australian artists performing at the Festival and to enjoy a simple dinner in the hotel restaurant. At the opening night reception in our hotel, there are drinks and a recital by Festival artists. Afterwards, we walk to the nearby venue for the Festival’s opening night performance. Overnight Orange.

Performance #2
Venue: TBA
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

Performance #3
Venue: TBA
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

FRIDAY 12 MARCH 2027 – CHAMBER MUSIC & THE CELLAR DOOR (L)

After we enjoy individual breakfasts in our rooms, we meet for a private transfer to our first performance of the day, a recital by Festival soloists on violin and piano. Afterwards, we continue to Swinging Bridge winery for a gourmet lunch with matching wines. This award-winning family-owned estate is situated at a high altitude on Gaanha Bula-Mount Canobolas. The “two shoulders” of the mountain’s Wiradjuri name refer to its iconic profile, and the volcanic slopes ensure good drainage and resilience for the vines grown here. Afterwards, we continue by private coach to the venue for our next performance, an afternoon feature. There is time for a light dinner before we walk to the nearby Orange Civic Centre for the evening’s performance, an international gala. Overnight Orange.

Performance #4
Venue: TBA
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

Performance #5
Venue: TBA
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

Performance #6
Venue: Orange Civic Centre
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

SATURDAY 13 MARCH 2027 – A DAY IN THE COUNTRY

This morning we have a private transfer to a historic estate that lies just outside Orange. The grazing land in this area was highly prized by nineteenth-century colonists – long before the town of Orange was itself established – and the sheep that run on this property trace their ancestry to those of Reverend Samuel Marsden’s own flock! From 1847, the property and homestead were in the hands of one family, but it was sold in recent years to a well-known family of philanthropists and art collectors with strong roots in the region. We enjoy a performance and morning tea at their estate, before continuing into nearby Molong. This small country town was a centre for the local agricultural industry and a base for Cobb & Co coaches, and its heritage-listed main street still boasts well-preserved colonial buildings. There is time for lunch at leisure in one of the town’s cafes, bakeries or pubs, before we gather for our next performance in Molong’s Cabonne Community Centre. It and a number of other local buildings were rebuilt by donation following a devastating flash flood in November 2022. Returning to Orange, there is time for dinner at leisure before the final performance of our tour at the Civic Centre. Overnight Orange.

Performance #7
Venue: private estate outside Orange, at Borenore
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

Performance #8
Venue: Cabonne Community Centre, Molong
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

Performance #9
Venue: Orange Civic Centre
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

SUNDAY 14 MARCH 2027 – DEPARTURE (L)

We check out of our hotel this morning and travel by private coach back to Sydney. As we cross the Blue Mountains, we stop in pleasant Blackheath for a farewell lunch at a well-regarded local restaurant. Once a quiet holiday town known for its panoramic views and its apple orchard at Logan Brae, the village is increasingly considered a foodie destination. Continuing to Sydney, we anticipate arriving at The Fullerton hotel in Martin Place at approximately 5.00pm. Tour arrangements conclude upon arrival at the hotel, but our travel partners would be pleased to assist with any arrangements, including post-tour accommodation, flights or transfers to the airport in time for evening departures.

The Fullerton Sydney 5*, 1 night

https://www.fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney

A perfectly located 5* hotel in Sydney, occupying the grand GPO Building in Martin Place. We have selected Tower Superior rooms, which average 33-50 sqm.

Quest Apartments Orange 4*, 3 nights

https://www.questapartments.com.au/properties/nsw/orange/quest-orange

We have selected Studio Apartments at this serviced apartment hotel. They are well-sized, at an average of 30sqm, have kitchenette facilities for simple meals such as breakfast, and can be converted into twin occupancy on request. The hotel is within walking distance of our evening venues in Orange, and close to shops, supermarkets and cafes. As a partner hotel of the Festival, it is also where the performing artists are themselves accommodated. Please note that breakfast is not provided at Quest Orange, but our program allows time to pick up supplies at a local supermarket before we check in.

NB: hotels of a similar standard may be substituted.

• 1 night at a 5* hotel in central Sydney

• 3 nights’ accommodation at a 4* serviced apartment hotel in Orange

• 1 breakfast at The Fullerton Hotel, Sydney (please note that the Quest Orange does not provide breakfast)

• 4 lunches or dinners, including drinks

• Post-performance drinks, where local schedules permit

• All ground transport, guided tours and entrance fees to sites as mentioned in the itinerary, and tipping

• Please note that no transfers to or from The Fullerton Sydney are included in the tour price

• B Reserve ticket to The Magic Flute and Diamond Pass category tickets to all OCMF performances

• Performance commentary by an Australian tour leader

• Services of an Australian tour manager throughout

A $2,000pp deposit is required at the time of booking to hold your place on tour.

We will invoice you for final payment for the tour, due on 21 December 2026.

When you book on one of tours, we ask you to accept our terms and conditions. You can read our terms and conditions here.