2018 Impact Report A standing ovation for David Robertson and the Sydney Syphony Orchestra at Hamburg’s Elbphilarmonie, December 2018. Photo: Peter Hundert “The Sydney Symphony’s European tour started brilliantly in Linz, with absolute unity between Renaud Capuçon and the orchestra under David Robertson for Berg’s Violin Concerto. After the interval, both the interpretation and the performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 were captivating and proved that Europe is not the only place with an excellent orchestral tradition. This was a completely convincing, rousing music concert.” Oberösterreichische Nachrichten (Upper Austrian News), November 2018 2 2018 Impact Report 3 Contents 6 2018 at a Glance 8 Bringing Australia to the World 10 The Orchestra 12 Chair’s Report 14 CEO’s Report 18 2018 Artistic Highlights 24 2018 European Tour 28 Innovating with Technology 30 Developing Future Leaders 32 Engaging with our Community 36 Acknowledging Your Support 40 Financial Trends 42 2018 Annual Fund Donors 46 Salute! 4 Contents Renaud Capuçon at Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall. Photo: Daniela Testa 2018 Impact Report 5 2018 at a Glance 221 11 Premieres 72 of new works including countries where 66% 33% Sydney Symphony Sydney Symphony of total revenue performances in Asia, of Australian works commissions Orchestra livestreams self-generated Australia and Europe performed were written by female composers Top 10 Livestream Work provided for 22% Countries Administrators Australia Unites States 530 United Kingdom Germany artists and Hungary administrators 78% 23,000 Artists 60 France student tickets New Zealand issued Radio Japan Canada Broadcasts Netherlands 46,000 kilometres travelled on 2018 European Tour 4,300 hours 315,000 $21.2m of livestream concertgoers in Box Office concerts watched worldwide in 2018 revenue 6 2018 at a Glance 2018 Impact Report 7 Bringing Australia to the World Europe North Asia America Australia Bathurst Taree Bellawongarah Wagga Wagga Africa Casula Wollongong Dubbo Europe Forestville Aalborg, Denmark Galston Antwerp, Belgium Goulburn Baden Baden, Germany South Illaroo Berlin, Germany America Mittagong Frankfurt, Germany Newcastle Hamburg, Germany Australia Nowra Linz, Austria Orange Luxembourg City, Parramatta: Luxembourg Riverside Theatres Munich, Germany Parramatta Park Paris, France Sanctuary Point Vienna, Austria Sydney CBD: Sydney Opera House Warsaw, Poland City Recital Hall Map Key: Seymour Centre China Livestream Reach St James’ Church Nanjing Sydney Conservatorium of Music Performance Locations 8 Bringing Australia to the World 2018 Impact Report 9 The Orchestra Cellos Felicity Tsai Amanda Verner Leonid Umberto Clerici Catherine Hewgill Leah Lynn Kristy Conrau Fenella Gill Volovelsky Principal Principal Assistant Principal Double Basses David Robertson Andrew Haveron Brett Dean The Lowy Chair of Chief Conductor Concertmaster Composer-in-Residence Timothy Elizabeth Neville Christopher Adrian Wallis David Wickham Kees Boersma Alex Henery David Campbell Nankervis Pidcock Principal Principal and Artistic Director Supported by Vicki Olsson Supported by Geoff Ainsworth AM Supported by Emirates & Johanna Featherstone Harp Flutes Piccolo First Violins Steven Larson Richard Lynn Jaan Pallandi Benjamin Ward Louise Johnson Emma Sholl Carolyn Harris Rosamund Plummer Principal Associate Principal Principal Sun Yi Kirsten Williams Lerida Delbridge Fiona Ziegler Jenny Booth Brielle Clapson Sophie Cole Claire Herrick Oboes Cor Anglais Clarinets Bass Clarinet Associate Associate Assistant Assistant Concertmaster Concertmaster Concertmaster Concertmaster Second Violins Diana Doherty Shefali Pryor David Papp Alexandre Oguey Francesco Celata Christopher Alexander Morris Principal Associate Principal Associate Principal Tingay Principal Principal Bassoons Contrabassoon Horns Georges Lentz Nicola Lewis Emily Long Alexandra Alexander Anna Skálová Léone Ziegler Kirsty Hilton Mitchell Norton Principal Todd Gibson- Matthew Wilkie Fiona McNamara Noriko Shimada Ben Jacks Geoffery O’Reilly Euan Harvey Marnie Sebire Cornish Principal Emeritus Principal Principal Principal 3rd Principal Marina Marsden Marianne Edwards Emma Jezek Alice Bartsch Victoria Bihun Rebecca Gill Emma Hayes Shuti Huang Principal Associate Principal Assistant Principal Trumpets Trombones Bass Trombone Violas Rachel Silver David Elton Paul Goodchild Anthony Ronald Prussing Scott Kinmont Nick Byrne Christopher Harris Principal Associate Principal Heinrichs Principal Associate Principal Monique Irik Wendy Kong Stan W Kornel Benjamin Li Nicole Masters Maja Verunica Roger Benedict Tobias Breider Principal Principal Principal Tuba Timpani Percussion Anne-Louise Justin Williams Sandro Rosemary Curtin Jane Hazelwood Graham Hennings Stuart Johnson Justine Marsden Steve Rossé Mark Robinson Rebecca Lagos Timothy Comerford Assistant Principal Constantino Principal Assistant Principal Principal Constable Associate Principal Timpani/Tutti Percussion 10 The Orchestra 2018 Impact Report 11 We accelerated our preparations for the Sydney Opera House Trust’s Renewal Project, 2018 Board of Directors which will close the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall for major renovations throughout 2020 and 2021. We are assured by the NSW Government that these capital works will be fully funded and our own needs supported in order that the Sydney Symphony can return Chair’s to the Opera House in 2022 and lead the celebrations of the Sydney Opera House’s 50th Anniversary the following year. The Board and I extend our thanks to our colleagues Report of the Sydney Opera House Trust for their ongoing partnership and support as we work Terrey Arcus AM Emma Dunch Terrey Arcus am together to ensure a world-class acoustic venue for the Orchestra. Our financial operating results for 2018 demonstrated the major impact of this forthcoming project. We incurred substantial one-time expenses investigating viable 2018 was a year of growth and change for the Sydney Symphony alternatives to being dislocated from our home Orchestra, as we celebrated our proud heritage and planned for an venue for two full years. 75% of our operating exciting future. We marked 80 years of touring regional New South loss for 2018 resulted from issues related to Wales with a standing ovation upon our return to the Wollongong the Renewal Project ahead ($2.2M) while 25% Town Hall, where our first regional tour performance occurred in 1938. ($700K) stemmed from lower than anticipated Internationally, we undertook a major tour to Europe, presenting 12 net performance contributions from our Andrew Baxter Kees Boersma sold-out concerts across France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Austria, concerts, offset by an encouraging increase Denmark and Belgium. In another first, our Sydney Symphony Fellows in philanthropic funds raised. The Board of travelled to China as guests of the 2018 Nanjing Performing Arts Festival. Directors and our executives are jointly focused on diligent management of our circumstances Chief Conductor and Artistic Director David Robertson led a season of and the minimisation of organisational risk. performances of distinction both at home and abroad. David’s fifth season brought a stellar roster of international superstars to Australia, including We welcomed Sydney Symphony Principal pianists Emmanuel Ax, Nelson Freire and Stephen Hough; violinists Double Bass Kees Boersma to our Board in Anne-Sophie Mutter, Lisa Batiashvili, Renaud Capuçon and Benjamin 2018, and he and my fellow Board members Beilman; and cellists Alban Gerhardt and Gautier Capuçon, among provided informed business counsel around many others. many complex issues related to our future sustainability. We successfully completed Sydney audiences had the opportunity to hear these soloists in striking Ewen Crouch AM Catherine Hewgill a comprehensive organisational review artistic programs which were personally curated and conducted by undertaken by NSW Treasury and Create David, including the Australian premiere of Composer-in-Residence NSW and I am deeply grateful to my fellow Brett Dean’s new Cello Concerto, an all-Brahms program featuring Directors for their efforts on this project and Concertmaster Andrew Haveron and Co-Principal Cello Umberto throughout the year. Clerici in spectacular performances of Brahms’ Double Concerto, and pre-European Tour programs featuring Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, Finally, we thank you for your support and Dean’s Engelsflügel and James MacMillan’s Percussion Concerto No. 2. especially those many long-term subscribers and philanthropic supporters who chose During 2018, we also made new efforts to broaden our mission and 2018 to increase their giving. The evolution reach. We began to livestream our concerts over the internet, free of required of us in the coming years will not be charge, into school classrooms, public libraries, community centres and possible without your continued commitment via our website to viewers around the world. We spearheaded Australia’s to ensuring that the Sydney Symphony remains David Livingstone The Hon. Justice AJ Meagher first-ever national participation in International Make Music Day and strong and vibrant. On behalf of our wonderful we streamed live performances to viewers across Australia and in 72 musicians and our Board and staff, I thank countries around the world. And, with new leadership support from you for accompanying us on this journey and our Premier Partner, we created and launched the Credit Suisse Music look forward to welcoming you to our musical Education Program in six primary