Rolf Binder @ Veritas Winery played host to the Tanunda Town Band on Saturday night, with a program covering some of the best of the classics of Russian composers.

Over 200 guests were armed with a glass of pre-concert bubbles upon arrival, where they mingled in the Tasting Room. A trio of strings entertained the crowd prior to the main performance. Rebecca Hahn on violin, Sophie Radke on cello, and Faith Music Teacher Alexandra Peters on viola, performed classics from Handel, Offenbach, Horner, and Bach, warming up the guests and setting the mood. The Barrel Hall was lit up with red and gold lighting and the seating was arranged close to the stage, creating an intimate atmosphere.

Nigel Davies was the Master of Ceremonies, and his intimate knowledge of the composers and the music made the performances all the more interesting. Musical Director David Polain led the band through a compilation of classics, from Prokofiev, Mussorsky, Rachmaninov, and Khachaturian, with the climax of the evening being the all powerful 1812 Overture by Tschaikovsy.

A short interlude in the second act saw a group of Russian dancers lift the flavour of the mood. Bright colourful floral skirts spun to the rousing beats of the traditional Romany Gypsy music, and the only male in the group, Stefan, kicked his heels high in a wild Cossack dance. The crowd loved the whole performance, and spent the next hour after the show enjoying a cuppa and a piece of cake, discussing the highlights of the evening. It was a fantastic night, and one that should not be missed the next time the Tanunda Town Band come together to entertain the Barossa.