"Oh, what a wonderful concert this evening… thank you for the exquisite music!"
“... devestatingly capable players.”
"Thanks for such a vibrant performance. Loved the dance, the background info, and the banter!"
"Splendid show... vigorous, sparkling and full of character! Much enjoyed."
"This was so much fun – I didn’t expect to laugh out loud. Thank you for that!"
"...the joy is contagious!"
"...for the music lovers who had come to listen to Apeiron, there was plenty to delight"
"Thank you for a truly FANTASTIC concert!! The dancing was lovely, & the music went from touchingly poignant to hair-raisingly exciting!!"
"Congratulations for infusing such warmth, humour and wit bringing the freshness of the new to this ‘old’ musical form."
"The performance blended musical scholarship with joy, and was a rich reminder of how vibrant, varied and downright fun historically informed performance can be... more of this, please!"
"...entertaing introductions to works... humourous anecdotes in a friendly and relaxing style."
"...wonderful rhythmic precision... a most enjoyable concert"
"The concert was a real delight... a wonderful mix of energy and lightness and joy."
"Apeiron is a very exciting development in Canberra"
"The concept worked brilliantly, and the playing was absolutely exquisite."
"Apeiron Baroque opened their 2025 season with just the right balance between the scholarly and the cheeky"
"The performance blended musical scholarship with joy, and was a rich reminder of how vibrant, varied and downright fun historically informed performance can be."
"These pieces, dusty in the archives but brought vividly to life, felt like gifts, and the musicians’ delight in unearthing and sharing them was infectious."
"There is something essential, and joyful, about hearing music live, in a room designed to carry sound, from musicians willing to share not only their skill but their stories. More of this, please."
"A jaunty movement from a Buxtehude sonata to finish sent the near capacity audience on its way with a collective smile on their faces."
"...animated and joyous way... surprisingly tempestuous... plenty of drama and assuredness"
"... this was a highly entertaining and informative concert of the baroque world’s lesser-known composers"
"...a joy of baroque historical overview... just glorious music..."
"As we have come to expect from Apeiron Baroque, this was a cleverly programmed and very well played concert of baroque music... a most satisfying concert"
"..it was clear that Ma and Searles were having immense fun with this music..."
"sweet and longing in minor mode... complete with a final mischievous, improvised flourish"
"The irrepressible John Ma and his ensemble Apeiron Baroque has built up quite a following since its 2022 inception, reflected in the solid turnout for this concert."
"...a concert of dedicated scholarship and highly skilled playing. It was cleverly programmed and, as usual, entertainingly introduced."
"This was a gig of great quality and energy and aptness and humour and just a huge pleasure."
"You can always rely on Apeiron Baroque to pair unlikely and interesting combinations of topics and music."
"The Apeiron Baroque concert... was a corker."
"...tour through the Baroque era with these composers was a thoughtfully devised and entertaining program... given well-earned applause by the near capacity audience."
.jpg?etag=%222f045-66d16483%22&sourceContentType=image%2Fjpeg&ignoreAspectRatio&resize=325%2B244&extract=0%2B0%2B325%2B231&quality=85)
Awarded to Apeiron Baroque for:
"... an innovative, edgy approach to programming and performance of baroque music of the highest quality..."
"...devastatingly capable players."
"...energetically and finely played, bringing this very enjoyable concert to a close."
...performing fine music on period instruments... relaxed, informative concerts..."
"...for the music lovers who had come to listen to Apeiron, there was plenty to delight."
Canberra Symphony Orchestra "Rest" Magazine
JOHN MA PLAYS THE VIOLIN, VIOLA AND VIOLA D’AMORE, SPECIALISING IN EARLY MUSIC
As well as the Canberra Symphony, John has performed with leading Australian and international ensembles, including Pinchgut Opera, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Australian Bach Akademie, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Academia Montis Regalis.
Together with his wife, pianist Marie Searles, John recently launched Canberra-based Early Music ensemble Apeiron Baroque. Outside of music, John is an avid gamer, amateur horticulturalist, comic book enthusiast and self-identified tech-nerd....
Writer:; Photo: Martin Ollman
CSO Rest Magazine (21st June 2023)
"This was a most impressive first concert for this duo. This might well be the start of some very interesting music making in Canberra and I look forward to hearing what they do next."
"...the understanding and connection with the works were a pleasure and clearly evident and his patter was informative, even educational"
"AFTER nearly 17 years performing in Europe, two former ANU students, now a husband-and-wife duo, have returned to live and work in Canberra."
"Big visions with a long-time frame..."
Writer: Helen Musa; Photo: Graham McDonald
CBR CityNews (19th March 2023)
Copyright Apeiron Baroque 2025
© All Rights Reserved
