Season 2012 MEDIA KIT Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Adelaide Symphony Orchestra announces 2012 Season 2012 concert season opened and closed by the ASO s Chief Conductor and Music Director, Arvo Volmer Heroes and anti-heroes in the orchestral repertoire including Beethoven s Eroica Symphony, Bruckner s Third Symphony, Schumann s Manfred, Berlioz s Waverley, Sibelius The Tempest and Second Symphony A new mini-series at St Peter s Cathedral, Icons in Sound, including Henryck Górecki s iconic Symphony of Sorrowful Songs with soprano Greta Bradman, and John Tavener s The Protecting Veil The ASO gives the World Premiere of Ross Edwards Full Moon Dances and the Australian Premiere of Brett Dean s Fire Music Collaborations with the Adelaide Festival of Arts and OzAsia Festival featuring the Australian Premiere of Chinese-American composer Tan Dun s innovative multi-media extravaganza Martial Arts Trilogy The ASO performs the complete cycle of Tchaikovsky concertos over three spectacular concerts Mahler Symphony Cycle continues with Das Lied von der Erde starring mezzo Katarina Karnéus and tenor Stuart Skelton Adelaide conductor debuts from Joseph Swensen, Brett Dean, Martyn Brabbins and Nicholas McGegan Great cast of international visiting soloists including world-class pianists Stephen Hough, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Behzod Abduraimov, violinist Nicola Benedetti, clarinettist Michael Collins, alongside young Australian talent, soprano Greta Bradman and saxophonist Amy Dickson Collaborations with the Adelaide Chamber Singers in Mozart s Requiem and the Adelaide Symphony Chorus in Last Night of the Proms A performance of The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring Peter Jackson s movie with live orchestral accompaniment Mini-residency in Goolwa as 2012 regional cultural centre for Country Arts SA led by young Australian conductor, Nicholas Carter
MEDIA RELEASE September 2011 I am delighted to present the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra s 2012 Season to you. It is a season inspired by great music, fine artists, and, of course, our city s wonderful Orchestra. Arvo Volmer ASO Chief Conductor and Music Director, Arvo Volmer, is proud to announce the Orchestra s inspirational 2012 Season, which features a stellar cast of international guest artists, including pianist Stephen Hough and British clarinettist Michael Collins, guest appearances by celebrity artists, The King s Singers, plus two audio-visual spectaculars and several Australian premiere performances including Brett Dean s powerful Fire Music. Arvo Volmer opens the Orchestra s 2012 Season alongside Concertmaster, Natsuko Yoshimoto in a night of orchestral favourites including Berlioz s Symphonie Fantastique. Volmer will see the continuation of the Mahler Symphony Cycle, with Das Lied von der Erde and Symphony No 7, the largest project the Orchestra has undertaken since Wagner s Ring Cycle in 2004. Master Series highlights for 2012 include a complete cycle of Tchaikovsky concertos, orchestral repertoire inspired by heroes and anti-heroes and the celebration of great symphonic masterworks Beethoven s Eroica Symphony, Dvořák s New World Symphony, Sibelius' Second Symphony and Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony. Are you inspired yet? ASO Chief Executive Barbara George says, We are not trying to be all things to all people, but have responded to requests by diverse audiences for programming that speaks directly to them. The Orchestra is delighted to welcome the world s most acclaimed vocal ensemble, The King s Singers for two standout concerts. In 2012, the Orchestra presents two audio-visual spectaculars The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, complete with full length motion picture movie and the highly anticipated Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy with full orchestra, choir and soloists. This season offers two not-to-be-missed concerts as the ASO showcases contemporary works inspired by one of Adelaide s most beautiful and intimate surroundings, St Peter s Cathedral. Icons in Sound feature Górecki s deeply moving Symphony of Sorrowful Songs with Greta Bradman, and John Tavener s The Protecting Veil with cellist Li-Wei. The ASO continues its commitment to new music with the World Premiere of Ross Edwards s Full Moon Dances and several Australian premieres including Brett Dean s major new orchestral work Fire Music, Tan Dun s innovative Martial Arts Trilogy, Julian Anderson s The Crazed Moon and Arvo Pärt s Adam s Lament. 2012 will see major collaborations with the OzAsia Festival for Tan Dun s Martial Arts Trilogy and the Adelaide Festival of Arts for the Australian premiere of Ennio Morricone Live and Mass by Leonard Bernstein. The ASO will also perform with the Adelaide Chamber Singers in Mozart s Requiem and the Adelaide Symphony Chorus for Last Night of the Proms with an Aussie flavour. Debut solo performances include violinist Nicola Benedetti, pianists Behzod Abduraimov, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet plus conductor debuts from Joseph Swensen, Brett Dean, Martyn Brabbins, Nicholas McGegan and Andrew Grams. The ASO is delighted to welcome back many virtuosos, including saxophonist Amy Dickson, cellist Jian Wang, pianist Stephen Hough and Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu. The ASO continues to engage the South Australian community with the popular Santos Symphony Under the Stars, delightful Tea and Symphony Matinee Series at the ASO s Grainger Studio and a wonderful range of education and learning experiences. In 2012, the ASO is inviting audiences to Be Inspired by its diverse and rewarding range of musical experiences and its musicians who work together to bring exceptional concerts each and every time.
OPENING GALA 3 & 4 February ASO Chief Conductor joins Concertmaster Natsuko Yoshimoto in a night of orchestral favourites including Berlioz s Symphonie Fantastique followed by the virtuosic violin concerto of Sibelius. The concert opens with Wagner s ever popular Prelude from Die Meistersinger. MASTER SERIES HIGHLIGHTS Master Series 1 (29, 30 & 31 March) 22 year-old up and coming pianist, Behzod Abduraimov debuts with the ASO for Tchaikovsky s much loved Piano Concerto No 1. Master Series 2 (27 & 28 April) French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet performs Bartók s Second Piano Concerto in his Adelaide debut. Master Series 3 (4 & 5 May) Australian composer Brett Dean conducts the Australian Premiere of his major new work Fire Music a powerful response to the devastating Victorian Black Saturday Fires in 2009. Master Series 4 (18 & 19 May) ASO Chief Conductor, Arvo Volmer conducts the 1873 version of Bruckner s Symphony No 3, a work of which the ASO gave the World Premiere in 1978. Master Series 5 (7, 8 & 9 June) Andrew Grams conducts Australian saxophonist, Amy Dickson, in the World Premiere of Ross Edwards Full Moon Dances. Master Series 6 (15 & 16 June) Music Director of San Francisco s Philharmonia Baroque, Nicholas McGegan makes his ASO conducting debut. Master Series 7 (7 & 8 September) World renowned pianist Stephen Hough returns to the ASO to perform Tchaikovsky s Second Piano Concerto in an all Tchaikovsky program. Master Series 8 (14 & 15 September) Martyn Brabbins leads the ASO in a British inspired repertoire including Anderson s The Crazed Moon and Elgar s Symphony No 1. Master Series 9 (28 & 29 September) British clarinettist Michael Collins debuts with the ASO in John Adams groovy and witty Gnarly Buttons. Master Series 10 (25, 26, 27 October) Winner of the 2004 BBC Young Musician of the Year, violinist Nicola Benedetti performs Tchaikovsky s much-loved Violin Concerto. Master Series 11 (16 & 17 November) In our major choral concert of the year, Arvo Volmer conducts atmospheric sacred music by his Estonian counterpart, Arvo Pärt in the Australian premiere of Adam s Lament. Master Series 12 (30 November & 1 December) Arvo Volmer closes the season conducting Sibelius popular and heroic Second Symphony. Natsuko Yoshimoto
MAHLER SYMPHONY CYCLE CONTINUTES WITH TWO ONE NIGHT SPECIAL EVENTS Mahler writes symphonies which contain an unprecedented combination of simple clarity and awesome complexity. Mahler s art is like a huge naive fresco which contains thousands of characters and tiny details, yet, stand back and look it tells a single story. Arvo Volmer Saturday 28 July Arvo Volmer Conductor Katarina Karnéus Mezzo Soprano Stuart Skelton Tenor In her ASO debut, Katarina Karnéus joins Stuart Skelton in one of Mahler s most personal works, his valedictory and heart wrenching song-symphony, Das Lied von der Erde. The concert opens with Schubert s good humoured Fifth Symphony. Arvo Volmer Saturday 11 August Arvo Volmer Conductor Arvo Volmer leads the Orchestra on a night time adventure of dreams, nightmares and magical serenades in Mahler s Seventh Symphony, sometimes called The Song of the Night. ICONS IN SOUND NEW SERIES The ASO will hold two concerts at St Peter s Cathedral in North Adelaide in 2012, celebrating the deeply compelling sound worlds of two of music s great spiritualists Henryk Górecki and John Tavener. Friday 11 May Arvo Volmer Conductor Greta Bradman Soprano Friday 9 November Benjamin Northey Conductor Li-Wei Cello Greta Bradman
GUEST CONDUCTORS AND SOLOISTS 2012 *ASO debut CONDUCTORS SOLOISTS Arvo Volmer 3, 4 Feb 27, 28 April 11, 18, 19 May 28 July 11 Aug 16, 17, 30 Nov 1 December VIOLINISTS Jun Yi Ma* Nicola Benedetti* CELLISTS Jian Wang Li-Wei 18, 19 May 25, 26, 27 Oct 14, 15 Sept 22, 23 Sept I 9 Nov Brett Kelly Olliver-Philippe Cuneo Guy Noble Marc Taddei Ennio Morricone* Kristjan Järvi Nicholas Carter Joseph Swensen* David Sharp Brett Dean* Andrew Grams* Nicholas McGegan* Nathan Aspinall Martyn Brabbins* Tan Dun* Hannu Lintu Garry Walker* Erik Ochsner* Benjamin Northey Arnie Roth* Martin Herman ASO SOLOISTS VIOLIN Natsuko Yoshimoto VIOLA Imants Larsens OBOE Celia Craig TRUMPET Matt Dempsey TROMBONE Cameron Malouf 28 Jan 10, 11 Feb 17, 18 Feb / 13 April 2, 3, 4 Aug 25 Feb 3 March 9, 10 March 23 March 29, 30, 31 March 4 April / 17 Oct 4, 5 May 7, 8, 9 June 15, 16 June 29 Aug 7, 8, 14, 15 Sept 22, 23 Sept 28, 29 Sept 25, 26, 27 Oct 3 Nov 20, 21 June / 9 Nov 24 Nov 7, 8 Dec 3, 4 Feb / 24 March 11 July / 22, 23 Sept 17 Oct 24 March 4 April / 30 Nov / 1 Dec 29 Aug CLARINET Michael Collins* SAXOPHONE Amy Dickson PIANISTS Behzod Abduraimov* Jean-Efflam Bavouzet* Stephen Hough Jiayi Sun* Steven Osborne* CLASSICAL ACCORDION James Crabb* GUQIN Zhao Xiaoxia* SINGERS The King s Singers* Jo Lawry Antoinette Halloran, soprano Adelaide Festival Chorus Jubilant Sykes, baritone* Andrew Goodwin, tenor* Greta Bradman, soprano Andrew Foster-Williams, baritone* Katarina Karnéus, mezzo soprano* Stuart Skelton, tenor José Carbó, baritone Adelaide Symphony Chorus Sally-Anne Russell, mezzo soprano Paul McMahon, tenor Stephen Bennett, bass Adelaide Chamber Singers Young Adelaide Voices Jim Owen, Tony Kishman, John Brosnan & Chris Camilleri Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus BAND Absolute Trio 28, 29 Sept 7, 8, 9 June 29, 30, 31 March 27, 28 April 7, 8 Sept 22, 23 Sept 30 Nov / 1 Dec 28 Jan 22, 23 Sept 10, 11 Feb 17, 18 Feb 25 Feb 3, 9, 10 March 9, 10 March 23 March 11 May / 16, 17 Nov 15, 16 June 28 July 28 July 2, 3 4 Aug 2, 3, 4 Aug / 3 Nov 16, 17 Nov 16, 17 Nov 16, 17 Nov 16, 17 Nov 3 Nov 7, 8 Dec 24 Nov 9, 10 March
CELEBRITY CONCERTS Symphony at the Movies presented by Michael Parkinson Australian tour Friday 17 & Saturday 18 February Arguably the world s most loved TV talk-show host, Sir Michael Parkinson, brings a touch of true celebrity to the stage when he teams up with the ASO in a tribute to music in the movies. Sharing his love of the silver screen and the stars that make it shine, Parky adds his own unique brand of wit, charm and banter to the lineup of music from film classics including Casablanca, Ben-Hur, The Magnificent Seven, Mission Impossible, The Godfather and many more. Movie music has the power to move us and conjure images and times in our lives like no other artform, said Parkinson. Joining Parky on stage will be Adelaide-born vocalist Jo Lawry, most recently seen by hundreds of thousands of fans across Australia and New Zealand when she shared the stage with Sting on his recent tour. Sir Michael Parkinson The King s Singers Friday 10 & Saturday 11 February Grammy award winning British vocal ensemble, The King s Singers, have gained world-wide critical acclaim boasting a discography of well over 150 recordings and a performance history from Gesualdo and György Ligeti to Michael Bublé. They join the ASO for two standout performances, showcasing a program of classical, jazz and pop favourites accompanied by their charm and trademark British wit. Ollivier-Philippe Cuneo Conductor David Hurley Countertenor Timothy Wayne-Wright Countertenor Paul Phoenix Tenor Christopher Gabbitas Baritone Jonathan Howard Bass...the superlative vocal sextet BBC Music Magazine The King s Singers
SPECTACLE The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in concert Saturday 3 November The ASO presents a special one night only performance of Peter Jackson s move, live with music from Howard Shore, performed on stage. Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy Saturday 24 November The Lord of the Rings The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra presents the highlight anticipated audio visual concert experience, Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy. With composer Nobuo Uematsu in attendance, the Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena will swell with music from the Final Fantasy series and video games performed by a full orchestra, choir and soloists, with sequences and stills from the series and games shown on a big screen. NOSTALGIA Titanic Anniversary Friday 13 April To commemorate the sinking of the Titanic 100 years ago, the ASO will relive the sounds and emotions of the fated ship s tragic voyage through narrative and music by Edward Elgar, Benjamin Britten and Franz Lehár. Last Night of the (Aussie) Proms Thursday 2, Friday 3 & Saturday 4 August Guy Noble joins the ASO for a spectacular night of flag-waving, song and orchestral favourites as we recreate this great British tradition but with an Australian twist. Guy Noble Conductor José Carbó Baritone Adelaide Symphony Chorus ASO Plays The Beatles Friday 7 & Saturday 8 December The ASO performs the favourite Beatles songs, including Penny Lane, Yesterday and Sgt Pepper s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Martin Herman Conductor Jim Owen as John Lennon Tony Kishman as Paul McCartney John Brosnan as George Harrison Chris Camilleri as Ringo Starr ASO Plays The Beatles
2012 LEARNING PROGRAM The ASO s 2012 ETSA Utilities Education Program offers an exciting range of learning experiences, designed inspire children of all ages. Electranet Touring ensembles The ASO presents a new work adapted from Sheena Knowles book Edward and Edwina Emu for strings, wind and percussion with music by Peter Webb. The Miss Lily string quartet also continues into its sixth year. Performances at Grainger Studio In 2012, the ASO presents Soundscapes, a concert performance inspired by the natural world and our environment as well as classic favourite, Toe Tapping Toddlers. Open rehearsals The ASO opens three of its rehearsals to the public, providing opportunities to see the Orchestra at work. COMMUNITY EVENTS Inspired by the Sea Alfresco Saturday 28 January This fun family concert in the beautiful Mount Lofty Botanic Garden includes a special children s section featuring Juanita the Spanish Lobster by David Haslam narrated by Adam Goodburn. Santos Symphony Under the Stars FREE EVENT Saturday 25 February Attracting over 15,000 annually, Santos Symphony Under the Stars is the ASO s biggest alfresco event of the year. Witness conductor Marc Taddei and one of Australia s best-loved sopranos, Antoinette Halloran, in an unforgettable night of popular classics. Tea and Symphony Matinee Series Santos Symphony Under the Stars 2012 offers a special opportunity to hear ASO musicians as soloists for all Tea and Symphony concerts. The muchloved series presents a program of light classics at the ASO s home, Grainger Studio. Subscription packages from just 3 concerts are available. Call the ASO on (08) 8233 6233 to request a brochure or subscribe online at www.aso.com.au Single tickets are on sale through BASS 131 246 www.bass.net.au from 1 December 2011 For further media information about the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra s 2012 Season: MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Kate Sewell, Publicist 08 8233 6205/0431 228 859/sewellk@aso.com.au