Duo Mimesi: Gioia Barbara and Federico Bucauoni (image supplied)

by David McIntosh, Director Glebe Music Festival, from Bulletin 5/2026 (July)

Special Concert

On Friday 24 July, a Special Glebe Music Festival Concert will feature pianists Duo Mimesi at 7 pm at Margaretta Cottage in Leichhardt Street, Glebe. Bookings and more details through TryBooking.

Annual Festival Concerts 2 and 3: Lace: A micro opera

 The 37th Annual Glebe Music Festival will run from 6 to 22 November 2026 with a series of six concerts at several venues in Glebe. See details at glebemusicfestival.com.

When: Saturday 7 November 7 pm and Sunday 8 November 3 pm.

Tickets: Only available through TryBooking. Saturday (including light supper and drinks): $40, concessions $20. Sunday (including afternoon tea): $20.

Esther Abrahams (source: National Museum of Australia)

Where: Margaretta Cottage, 6 Leichhardt Street, Glebe (disabled access at 18A Cook Street).

Performers: Steve Machamer (percussion), Hester Wilson (soprano), Tara Hashambhoy (violin) and Diana Weston (harpsichord).

Program: Lace: A micro opera. Music by Diana Blom.

In 1788, a young woman of just 20 named Esther Abrahams stole some lace and that act transformed her life. She was caught, tried, convicted and transported. Esther was a young mother when she arrived at Sydney Cove as a convict. Little did she expect to survive the hardships of an unknown landscape, starvation and isolation.

She not only survived, she thrived. Within 20 years, she was the proud owner of land, a substantial home with surrounding productive gardens, and married to Lieutenant Governor George Johnston. However, it was not to last. Accused of madness, she was stripped of all she had made, her purpose and her independence.

Esther’s ‘substantial home’ was Annandale House, on land that became the suburb Annandale. (Image: Annandale House by J.C. Hoyte, undated, SLNSW_FL3263812)