Spotlight: Chad Kelly

The Harpsichord in London

Sydney-based British keyboardist and conductor Chad Kelly could ‘justifiably be added to the pantheon of Masters of the Baroque,’ according to Limelight.

Here he leads the Sydney Symphony on a journey through a vivid portrait of London in the 1700s, with the refined sparkle of the harpsichord running throughout.

Written when he was a teenager, Mozart’s Keyboard Concerto in D is an arrangement of music by JC Bach (the so-called ‘London Bach’) turned into something Mozart could perform at court. His melodic elegance and inventiveness shine through every phrase.

Orlando Gibbons sets a more sacred tone in his In Nomine a 5: five intertwining lines weaving a melody that balances deep reverence with quiet joy. Haydn’s Symphony No.102, one of twelve he wrote during his celebrated London years, traverses a wide emotional landscape – alive with invention, mischief and warmth.

From the Renaissance to the Classical era, Chad Kelly guides us through old London Town.

This performance is currently available as part of a Sydney Symphony Orchestra 2027 Season Subscription.