Described as a “virtuoso, scholar, [and] presenter … of rare charm and lucidity” by the press, recorder player Brendan O’Donnell is dedicated to bringing early and contemporary music to life for the audiences of today. He has earned a reputation for direct communication and thoughtful programming, inviting listeners to experience music they might otherwise never encounter.
Performing in churches and cabaret clubs, in concert halls and on dingy stages normally reserved for DJs or late-night comedy, Brendan regularly aims events at young adult audiences, foregoing traditional concert venues in favour of settings that encourage intimacy, interaction, and dynamic presentation
Brendan is a regular performer with Adelaide Baroque and Adelaide Cantata Band and has taken part in the Adelaide Fringe Festival and the acclaimed Woodend Winter Arts Festival. For several years he performed with Munich-based Ensemble Raccanto in locations such as the Bach Museum in Leipzig and the Barocksaal in Benediktbauern Abbey. He was also chosen to present his solo program “Seeking Australia” as a part of the European Recorder Players’ Society conference in Bolzano, Italy in 2019.
After first completing a degree in political science, Brendan went on to study recorder at a tertiary level: first in New Zealand with Kamala Bain, later in Salzburg with Dorothee Oberlinger, where he completed a master’s degree in 2013. He returned to Adelaide in 2021, where he lives with his partner and their two children.
Delve into the Baroque’s fascination with emulating the human voice as Hannah Lane (baroque harp) and Brendan O'Donnell (recorders) transport you to a time when instruments spoke the language of the heart. From spellbinding diminutions on 16th century madrigals to emotive and melodic 17th century arias, their performance recreates the rich tapestry of vocal expression. Be enchanted by the beauty and emotional depth of music by D’India, Rognoni, Caccini and others, as harp and recorder weave harmonious tales of love, longing, and pure artistry.
The Passion of Christ has inspired composers for centuries and we start the 2023 Adelaide Baroque Orchestral series delving into some of the riches of the Baroque period including selections from Scarlatti’s Stabat Meter and Handel’s Brockes-Passion.
Delve into the Baroque’s fascination with emulating the human voice as Hannah Lane (baroque harp) and Brendan O'Donnell (recorders) transport you to a time when instruments spoke the language of the heart. From spellbinding diminutions on 16th century madrigals to emotive and melodic 17th century arias, their performance recreates the rich tapestry of vocal expression. Be enchanted by the beauty and emotional depth of music by D’India, Rognoni, Caccini and others, as harp and recorder weave harmonious tales of love, longing, and pure artistry.
The Passion of Christ has inspired composers for centuries and we start the 2023 Adelaide Baroque Orchestral series delving into some of the riches of the Baroque period including selections from Scarlatti’s Stabat Meter and Handel’s Brockes-Passion.
Recorded with Robert Schröter (Harpsichord and Virginal) at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München. Recording and production by Paul Solecki.
I have been teaching recorder for almost 20 years, with experience teaching beginners through to advanced pupils up to university level, in both English and German. As a private teacher I can provide:
If you are interested in private recorder tuition at my home in Magill, or would like to book me for a masterclass, workshop, or course, please contact me via the form below.
