CSO 2020 New Spaces Canberra 02 —— 03 CONTACT THE CSO CSO BOARD & Symphony ADMINISTRATION Orchestra 2020 Level One CSO Board of Directors 11 London Circuit (entrance off Farrell Place) Chair Canberra City Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus GPO Box 1919 Houston AK, AFC (Ret’d) Canberra ACT 2601 Deputy Chair Melanie Kontze CSO Direct (ticketing) Company Secretary 02 6262 6772 Bob Clark weekdays Chris Faulks Lucille Halloran Administration Robyn Holmes 02 6247 9191 | cso.org.au John Kalokerinos Paul Lindwall Your feedback is always Annabelle Pegrum AM welcome Christine Worth Please find us on social CSO Artistic media or send an email: [email protected] Chief Conductor & Artistic Director Facebook — Dr Nicholas Milton AM /canberrasymphonyorchestra Australian Series Curator Instagram — Prof Matthew Hindson AM /canberrasymphonyorchestra Twitter — CSO Administration /@cbrsymphony Chief Executive Officer Rachel Thomas Communications Coordinator Jacqui Douglas Ensembles Coordinator* Eloise Fisher Ticketing Manager* David Flynn External Relations Manager* Diana Forrester Orchestra Manager Andrew Heron Finance Manager* Lou Malfone Residents Coordinator* The CSO would like to thank: Lindy Reksten Finance Assistant* Art Direction/Concept/Design Martine Parsons DAMS Events Manager* Photography Julie Seaton Martin Ollman Administrative Assistant Printing Louis Sharpe Greg Hewitson | Qote (*part-time) CSO musicians featured CSO Volunteers in this brochure Alison Gates Kyle Ramsay-Daniel Dianna Laska Louis Sharpe Anne & John Rundle Kiri Sollis Gail Tregear Pip Thompson Tim Wickham Alina Zamfir Canberra 04 —— 05 2020 ARTIST Symphony IN FOCUS Orchestra SEASON 2020 HIGHLIGHTS MESSAGE FROM THE UMBERTO CLERICI CHIEF CONDUCTOR AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR It gives me great pleasure Australian music holds Our 2020 Gala concert event If I have to think about the by Carl Vine (performed all to introduce the Canberra an integral place at the is a Last Night of the Proms two words that came to mind over the globe more than Symphony Orchestra’s heart of the CSO’s musical style tribute concert, complete when Nicholas asked me to be 110 times, a record!) to the 2020 season — my final quest. Curated by my dear with flag-waving and sing- CSO’s Artist in Focus for 2020, crazily difficult Eleven Oblique year as Chief Conductor friend Matthew Hindson, along opportunities. This they were honoured Strategies by Brett Dean and Artistic Director with our Australian Series is one ‘Best of British’ performance and excited. (which I premiered in Australia this unique ensemble. I am of the most remarkable features the talented Lorina a couple of years ago). We incredibly proud of all we have and successful initiatives Gore, who will sing selections After playing two of my will also premiere a new work accomplished together over in the national orchestral from the beautiful Songs of favourite cello concertos, by Anne Boyd AM especially these past fourteen years. landscape. Our extensive the Auvergne and, by way of Schumann’s in 2017 and the composed for this concert, For my farewell season, commissioning program has contrast … Mary Poppins! iconic Elgar concerto in 2019, alongside new works by two of the musicians and I have opened up imaginative and With a massive orchestra I didn’t expect CSO and its Australia’s bravest emerging produced a captivating dramatic sonic dimensions and massed choir, we’ll also audience would want to hear composers, Harry Straulig range of dramatic and vivid and continues to unleash bring you all of your favourite more from me! and the forthcoming winner programs that deliver our the prodigious potential of Last Night of the Proms hits, of the 2019 Sue W Chamber profound musical mission an emerging generation of including Elgar’s enthralling So, for 2020 I will aim to Music Composition Prize. across our community. composers and performers. In Pomp and Circumstance enlarge the horizons of the Llewellyn Series, we’ll also March, Dambusters, my artistic contribution, I look forward to curating Our flagship Llewellyn Series hear riveting Australian works Jerusalem and, of course, continuing the chronological the Recital Series concert, provides an extraordinary by Natalie Williams, Carl Vine, Rule Brittania. This event will path of cello concertos with especially for the incoming platform as we perform the Ella Macens, and Matthew sell out quickly, so secure your the Shostakovich Cello 2020 Kingsland Resident most ambitious and thrilling Hindson. In their diverse tickets soon for what will be Concerto No. 1, composed in Artists. works of the symphonic languages, these composers the biggest and brashest night 1959. This is surprisingly easy canon. Every concert of the celebrate the fervent freedom of the year. to listen to, but maintains all Last, but not least, I’ll have 2020 season brings together of our national character in all the characteristics of colour, the pleasure of conducting astonishing and stunningly of its ardent variety. I’d like to warmly thank our drama and sarcasm typical the CSO for the Canberra gorgeous repertoire, from management team and of his music, plus a huge Weekly Classic Afternoon the explosive power of Saint- I am especially overjoyed our enlightened Board of cello cadenza which entirely concert as part of my musical Saëns’ Organ Symphony and to announce that our 2020 Directors led by Sir Angus dominates the third movement evolution as a conductor. The the raw energy of Beethoven’s Artist in Focus will be Umberto Houston for their ongoing to become almost a solo program is inspired by my most revolutionary symphony Clerici. His unforgettable engagement and passionate recital by itself. Italian roots, beginning with to Mahler’s monumental Fifth performances with the CSO support of our shared dreams the Antiche Danze ed Arie by Symphony with its heart- have received the most for the community. All of us For the Australian Series, Respighi (whose compositions wrenching Adagietto. Alan enthusiastic feedback, and in the Canberra Symphony Prof Matthew Hindson AM and are inspired by old tunes from Vivian will perform Weber’s he consistently inspires Orchestra family keenly I designed a very interesting Renaissance times). Then I’ll virtuosic Clarinet Concerto, all of us — on stage and in look forward to seeing you program featuring three of the have the honour to collaborate and you’ll also experience the audience — with the at our concerts in 2020, and most established Australian with the wonderful Natalie the phenomenal intensity enchanting poetry of his sharing with you magnificent, composers, juxtaposed with Chee, one of Australia’s most of Konstantin Shamray’s artistry. I look forward to reflective, magical moments two emerging young artists — renowned violinists, who will interpretation of Grieg’s conducting what I am sure will of exquisite beauty. from the popular Inner World play Mozart’s Fourth Violin beloved Piano Concerto. be a spectacular performance Concerto, with its strong of Shostakovich’s Cello Warm regards Italianate DNA. We will end Concerto. Umberto is also a the program with the sunny brilliantly talented conductor, and spirited Mendelssohn and he will direct the Canberra Symphony No. 4 titled The Weekly Classic Afternoon Italian, a true virtuosic piece concert in a program that that will give the CSO every couples some of his favourite opportunity to shine. Italian music with one of Mozart’s glorious violin Dr Nicholas Milton AM Arrivederci, concertos performed by the Chief Conductor and Umberto! internationally renowned Artistic Director Australian violinist, Natalie Chee. Canberra 06 —— 07 Space to imagine Symphony Orchestra WELCOME TO 2020 2020 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Welcome to the Canberra and the Australia Council, and Symphony Orchestra’s 2020 from our wonderful corporate season. partners and valued donors. As we gratefully continue This season, the CSO some very long-term and celebrates its 70th meaningful partnerships, this anniversary — so many years year we also welcome exciting of growth, development, new partnerships to the CSO and performances for our family. This demonstrates community, which reaches the CSO’s commitment across and beyond the to crafting individual and borders of the ACT. We are relevant experiences for the passionate about creating organisations who invest exceptional, world class with us. experiences for all, as we continue to expand our These generous contributions community programs and are meaningful, not only bravely embark on new from a financial perspective, ventures to ensure the but also in a way that is orchestra’s sustainability into bigger than all of that. Our the future. We’re making the supporters understand the CSO just as relevant to the CSO is uniquely placed, as community today as it was the largest performing arts in 1950. organisation in the region, to make a significant difference It is with incredible gratitude through the vital contribution and affection that we our orchestra makes to the recognise Maestro Nicholas social and cultural fabric of Milton for his contribution our community. Together, we to the CSO over the last believe exceptional quality 14 years. Nick has led the music should be available orchestra through successful to everyone. mainstage concerts and creative programming that Behind the scenes, the has seen the CSO go from CSO’s small but mighty strength to strength. His administrative team, the shared vision to develop a CSO Board and our talented place for Australian music CSO musicians contribute