Maestro 2: Respighi, Higgins & Strauss

Season 2026 Subscriptions are on sale now. Individual concerts will go on sale to the general public on Monday, 17 November 2025 at 9am.

British composer Gavin Higgins places the trombone centre stage with an imaginative concerto, inspired by a recently unearthed 16th-century manuscript brimming with fantastical imagery and celestial visions. From soaring comets to mysterious beasts, these vivid scenes are brought to life by one of the world’s finest trombonists, Jörgen van Rijen. 

Guest Conductor Riccardo Minasi then takes Queensland Symphony Orchestra on a sonic journey with Richard Strauss’ Aus Italien. This picturesque tone poem evokes Italy’s sun-drenched landscapes, from the sparkling shores of Sorrento to the echoes of ancient Rome. The program also includes a rare treat: Respighi’s Trittico Botticelliano, a luminous evocation of Botticelli’s artistry. 

Travel through soundscapes shaped by history, culture, and imagination.