ABOUT THE MUSIC OHLSSON PLAYS BRAHMS /IN CONCERT NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 OHLSSON PLAYS BRAHMS 23–26 NOVEMBER BRAHMS QUINTET 27 NOVEMBER EARS WIDE OPEN: INTRODUCING MOZART’S SYMPHONY NO.40 28 NOVEMBER IAN BOSTRIDGE SINGS MOZART AND SCHUBERT 6–8 DECember MEET YOUR MSO MUSICIANS: CRAIG HILL AND ANDREW MOON GARRICK OHLSSON ON BRAHMS A SCHUBERT TIMELINE ANNOUNCING THE BESEN FAMILY CHAIR twitter.com/melbsymphony facebook.com/melbournesymphony Download our free app 1 from the MSO website. www.mso.com.au/msolearn THE SPONSORS PRINCIPAL PARTNER MSO AMBASSADOR Geoffrey Rush GOVERNMENT PARTNERS MAESTRO PARTNER CONCERTMASTER PARTNERS MSO POPS SERIES REGIONAL TOURING PRESENTING PARTNER PARTNER ASSOCIATE PARTNERS SUPPORTING PARTNERS MONASH SERIES PARTNER SUPPLIERS Kent Moving and Storage Quince’s Scenicruisers Melbourne Brass and Woodwind Nose to Tail WElcOME Davis, a musician of tremendous There are of course many skill and panache. The Orchestra opportunities for us to explore has recently moved back into its in the coming months and years; main performance home, the first and foremost, we need to newly refurbished Hamer Hall; it continue to find new ways to has a large, loyal base of subscriber engage new audiences of all ages support from the communities of while continuing to serve our Melbourne and Geelong, a new dedicated supporters. website, a new integrated database to Of course, our passion for the ensure improved customer service, music will not change, nor our an ever-growing Education and dedication to developing great Community Outreach program and © LUCAS dawson Australian talent, and our steadfast a fine Chorus. All of this in one of commitment to serving people of the world’s most liveable cities...how Until very recently, I was President all ages in Melbourne and Victoria. could I not be attracted to the MSO? and CEO of the New Jersey All of these remain constant, at Symphony Orchestra, an Orchestra Integral to the Orchestra’s recent every venue in which we perform. success is a ‘can do’ approach that of which I am very proud. My I look forward to seeing you at has led to the success of events family and I have come to forthcoming MSO events, and as diverse as the ‘pop up’ Secret Melbourne because, as Benjamin wish you all the best for the Symphony performances, the Northey said in his introduction festive season. to the previous issue of In Concert, Romeo and Juliet concerts with Bell ‘this is a truly a special time in the Shakespeare and the attendant With thanks for your support and history of the MSO.’ Romeo & Juliet project which patronage. involved young artists from all over You can imagine my first impression: Melbourne, and the massive screen here is a fine orchestra, with an and symphony events – Lord of the international reputation, which has Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and just appointed a wonderful new André Gremillet West Side Story – which represent a Chief Conductor in Sir Andrew Managing Director new form of concert presentation. THE MSO WELCOMES THE EMIRATES A380 Following a plethora of Airbus A380 route additions to the Emirates Airline network in 2012, Melbourne welcomes the arrival of the daily Emirates A380 service from Dubai and onto Auckland, further demonstrating its commitment to the Australian market and allowing local travellers more opportunities to fly the state-of-the-art aircraft. The new Emirates A380 service allows travellers to experience the aircraft for the first time on short haul flights across the Tasman to Auckland, as well as enjoy a seamless A380 experience from Auckland/ Melbourne to Dubai, and onwards to 18 Emirates A380 destinations, including London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Manchester, Paris, and Rome, allowing everyone from Melbourne the opportunity to access the best international music on the largest European airline network. In 2013 Emirates will celebrate ten years as Principal Partner of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. To find out more about Emirates, the A380 and the MSO, visit the Principal Partner page at mso.com.au. 3 ABOUT THE ARTISTS THEIAN BOSTRIDGEORCHESTRA SINGS MOZART AND SCHUBERT on WS A S D A C U © L THE MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Harold Mitchell AC The MSO performs extensively Each year the Orchestra performs Chairman with its own choir, the Melbourne to more than 200,000 people, at Symphony Orchestra Chorus, events ranging from the Sidney André Gremillet directed by chorus master Myer Free Concerts in the Sidney Managing Director Jonathan Grieves-Smith. Recent Myer Music Bowl to the series of Sir Andrew Davis performances together include Classic Kids concerts for young Chief Conductor Designate Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast under children. The MSO reaches Tadaaki Otaka Bramwell Tovey, Mahler’s an even larger audience across Principal Guest Conductor Symphony No. 3 under Markus Australia through its regular Stenz, music of Percy Grainger concert broadcasts on ABC Classic Benjamin Northey under Sir Andrew Davis and, FM. The Orchestra’s considerable Patricia Riordan Associate as part of the 2011 Beethoven ceremonial role in Victoria has Conductor Chair Festival, Beethoven’s Ninth included participation in the Symphony under Douglas Boyd. opening ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, in the Key musical figures in the With a reputation for excellence, 2009 bushfire memorial service Orchestra’s history include versatility and innovation, Together for Victoria, the Prime Hiroyuki Iwaki – who was Chief the internationally acclaimed Minister’s Olympic Dinner and the Conductor and then Conductor Melbourne Symphony Orchestra 2010 and 2011 AFL Grand Final. is Australia’s oldest orchestra, Laureate, between 1974 and his established in 1906. death in 2006 – and Markus Stenz, The MSO’s extensive education who was Chief Conductor and and community outreach activities This fine Orchestra is renowned Artistic Director from 1998 until include the Meet the Orchestra, for its performances of the 2004. Oleg Caetani was the MSO’s Meet the Music and Up Close great symphonic masterworks Chief Conductor and Artistic and Musical programs, designed with leading international and Director from 2005 to 2009. In specifically for schools. In 2011 Australian artists including Maxim June 2012 the MSO announced the the MSO launched an educational Vengerov, John Williams, Osmo appointment of Sir Andrew Davis iPhone and iPad app designed to Vänskä, Charles Dutoit, Yan Pascal as Chief Conductor, from the teach children about the inner Tortelier, Donald Runnicles, Jean- 2013 season. workings of an orchestra. Yves Thibaudet, Yvonne Kenny, Edo de Waart, Lang Lang, Nigel The MSO, the first Australian The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is Kennedy, Jeffrey Tate, Midori, symphony orchestra to tour funded principally by the Australian Christine Brewer, Richard Tognetti, abroad, has received widespread Government through the Australia Emma Matthews and Teddy Tahu international recognition in tours Council, its arts funding and advisory Rhodes. It has also enjoyed hugely to the USA, Canada, Japan, Korea, body, and is generously supported by successful performances with Europe, China and St Petersburg, the Victorian Government through Arts such artists as Sir Elton John, John Russia. In addition, the Orchestra Victoria, Department of Premier and Farnham, Harry Connick, Jr., Ben tours annually throughout Cabinet. The MSO is also funded by Folds, KISS, Burt Bacharach, The regional Victoria, including a the City of Melbourne, its Principal Whitlams, Human Nature, Sting concert season in Geelong. Partner, Emirates, and individual and and Tim Minchin. corporate sponsors and donors. 4 CONTENTS The Sponsors 2 PROGRAM Welcome – André Gremillet 3 INFORMATION CONCert GUIDES Melbourne Symphony Orchestra programs can be read on-line or Ohlsson Plays Brahms 6 downloaded up to a week before Brahms Quintet 17 each concert, from mso.com.au Ears Wide Open: Mozart 40 26 If you do not need this printed program after your concert, we Ian Bostridge Sings Mozart and Schubert 34 encourage you to return it to a member of staff. Garrick Ohlsson on Brahms 8 Meet Your MSO musician: Craig Hill 14 The Besen Family Chair 16 The Orchestra 22 The Donors 23 Meet Your MSO musician: Andrew Moon 32 A Schubert Timeline 38 COVer image: The ORChestra in the new Hamer Hall MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS BRING A PICNIC! Wednesday 13 Saturday 16 Wednesday 20 Saturday 23 February ALL CONCERTS START AT 7PM GATES OPEN FROM 4PM MSO.COM.AU Conditions of entry & all other information available online IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE 5 Friday 23 November at 8pm Costa Hall, Deakin University, Geelong Saturday 24 November at 2pm Monday 26 November at 6.30pm Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall Tadaaki Otaka conductor Garrick Ohlsson piano Brahms Piano Concerto No.2 INTERVAL 20 MINUTES Strauss Don Juan Strauss Death and Transfiguration Mr. Ohlsson will be signing CDs during the interval This concert has a duration of approximately two hours, including one interval of 20 minutes. Saturday afternoon’s performance will be recorded for later broadcast around Australia on ABC Classic FM (on analogue and digital radio), and streamed on its website. Please turn off your mobile phone and all other electronic devices before the performance commences. BEYOND THE STAGE Learn more about the music in these free events. OHLSSON PLAYS BRAHMS TALK Friday 23 November at 7pm Costa Hall, Deakin University, Geelong Saturday 24 November at 1pm Monday 26 November after 8.30pm (post-concert event) Stalls Foyer, Hamer Hall Writer and arts administrator Robert Murray will present a talk on the concert’s artists, and the works by Brahms and Richard Strauss featured in the program. 6 ABOUT THE ARTISTS OHLSSON PLAYS BRAHMS TadaaKI OtaKA conductor GarricK Ohlsson piano Tadaaki Otaka has been Principal Guest Conductor Since his triumph at the 1970 Chopin International of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 2010, Piano Competition, Garrick Ohlsson has established when he also became Artistic Director of the New himself worldwide as a musician of magisterial National Theatre in Tokyo.