Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Engages with Audiences in a Different Way
Like all arts organisations the world over, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO) have been working hard to remain engaged with our audience, and we are excited to be back performing on stage just differently.
Community Concerts
In August, the orchestra went back to basics with Sanctuary – a series of FREE community concerts which were performed across nine metropolitan community centres across Adelaide. ASO conductor and presenter Martin Butler led a string ensemble of 16 musicians who engaged the audience on a musical journey with an accessible, peaceful and contemplative selection of music. Community Centres are at the heart of the local community; they empower and connect people in a meaningful way. The ASO has been performing in Community Centres since 2016. Community Centres SA CEO Kylie Fergusen says, “For many years, Community Centre participants have delighted in the emotional journey that the ASO community concerts have taken them through. Feedback consistently tells us how valued the concerts are. Attendees find that the beautiful orchestral sounds support their stress management, enhance memory, promote wellness, and nurture their expression of feeling. And of course, the delightful engagement with the ASO conductor always brings a smile”.
The ASO is committed to education, Orchestra Fantastica was presented in schools across Adelaide in August with presenter Peter Duggan, singer Susan Ferguson and 12 ASO musicians, who brought the instruments to life through song, dance and actions to encourage active engagement with music. The concert was a wonderful opportunity for children to learn about the way instruments are played and to hear them up close in a relaxed safe school setting.
In the orchestra’s first mainstage performance they took to the road with Classics Unwrapped performed in regional South Australia at the Barossa Arts Centre. This performance was presented by ASO Managing Director Vincent Ciccarello, soprano Desiree Frahn and guest conductor Dane Lam. The concert was performed with a reduced capacity and appropriate social distancing.
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra is to be congratulated on being a finalist in the category of Performance of the Year – Notated Composition for Weave at the 2020 Art Music Awards. The award ceremony was streamed to music lovers and creators on 8 September via APRA AMCOS’ YouTube Channel.
Whilst the 2020 ASO season cannot be executed as originally planned, at the forefront of ASO’s endeavours is our commitment to our patrons, to keep them safe, and we have strived to come up with innovative ways to present the ASO. One of the most successful offerings has been the Virtual Concert Hall, a series of free mini-online recitals, where ASO players introduce and perform music ranging from the sublime to the humorous, from much-loved classics to the less well-known. Those who missed these performances, can now do so with the virtual performances offered as Encore events available weekly online. We are also excited to let you know we are working on a Chamber Series of Virtual Concert Hall performances, so you can see more of the ASO musicians you know and love performing in a virtual concert soon.
Coming up the ASO can be seen on stage: Mozart at Elder 3 (Wednesday 7 October), Mozart at Elder 4 (2 December) and State Opera’s Summer of the Seventh Doll (14-20 November, Her Majesty’s Theatre).
Based on current advice and social distancing restrictions in place, along with travel restrictions, we have made the difficult decision to cancel or postpone the following concerts in the remaining months of 2020.
Respect: The Music of Aretha Franklin
Fri 14 & Sat 15 August – postponed until 2021
Heavenly Visions – Master Series 7
Thu 20 & Fri 21 August – cancelled
Beethoven: The Symphonies
All four concerts have been postponed until 2021
Big Hits of the Small Screen
Fri 9 & Sat 10 October – cancelled
Our Place – Master Series 8
Fri 16 & Sat 17 October – cancelled
Magic & Mystery – Master Series 9
Fri 30 & Sat 31 October – cancelled
Orchestral Journey – Master Series 10
Fri 27 & Sat 28 November – cancelled
Classics Unwrapped 4 – Christmas
Wed 9 December – cancelled
Messiah
Fri 18 & Sat 19 December – cancelled