Adelaide Symphony Orchestra 2015 program released

The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s 2015 calendar features a selection of acts and artists to suit both experts and beginners. From stage collaborations with the State Theatre Company of SA to the appearance of world-class violinist Sarah Chang and a family-friendly musical story about an adventurous dog and cat, the ASO has focussed their program on “accessibility”. “We have combined excellence with accessibility in a way I am confident will appeal equally to classical music buffs, the newly converted and those just putting their toe into the water,” says ASO Managing Director Vincent Ciccarello. This is compounded by The Beat of Your Feet, presented by composer Paul Rissmann. This concert is a family-friendly affair, based around Rissmann’s orchestral adaptation of a novel by Jason Chapman: Stan and Mabel. The story follows a dog and a cat on their journey to find the best orchestra in the world. The full Learning and Family program will be announced in November 2014. Another family-friendly staple, Symphony Under the Stars, has been moved from its traditional February date to later in the year. The free event welcomes around 15,000 people to Elder Park every year, with 2015 marking its 17th anniversary. For the more experienced orchestral enthusiast, the ASO’s Master Series is returning with nine concerts. Violinist Sarah Chang (March 20 and 21) will perform Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, the piece she played in her audition for The Julliard School when she was merely five years old. The former child prodigy (now 33) will also perform Ravel’s Tzigane, which Chang describes as “an explosive show piece, overflowing with flair and fireworks”. Also in the Master Series are Britons Lawrence Power (viola) and award-winning pianist Benjamin Grosvenor. On November 6 and 7, Grosvenor will join the ASO to perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20. Continuing the bill of world-class acts is soprano Christine Brewer (Saturday, June 27), who will perform Strauss’s Four Songs as part of the Great Classics program. “To attract performers of this quality is a real coup and testament to the quality, versitility and reputation of the ASO,” says Ciccarello. A shining example of community collaboration and artistry is the ASO’s joint effort with the State Theatre Company: Mendelssohn’s Dream. This semi-staging of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be complemented by performance of Mendelssohn’s incidental music, including the familiar Wedding March. “All of us at State Theatre Company are delighted to be collaborating with the ASO on this beautiful piece matching the genius of Mendelssohn to that of Shakespeare,” says Geordie Brookman, Artistic Director of the State Theatre Company. “Creative cross pollination like this can only serve to make Adelaide culturally richer.” Mendelssohn’s Dream will be led by Nicholas McGegan OBE, ASO’s Artist-In-Association, and will feature solo sopranos, a female chorus, a cast of Australian actors and, of course, the orchestra. The Classics Unwrapped concert series is a good introductory session, but also a fine example of old favourites well done. Three performances will showcase “light-hearted romp through some of classical music’s most famous and memorable tunes”, says Ciccarrello. The program for the final concert in this series will be determined by online vote, so the audience can have a say in which pieces they would like to hear performed. Subscriptions go on sale from tomorrow (Wednesday, September 17). Individual tickets will be available to purchase from Monday, December 1. For the full program, visit aso.com.au.

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