Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (also known as the ASO) was founded as a 17 player radio ensemble in 1936, in Adelaide
, South Australia
. The orchestra
reformed in 1949 as the 55 member South Australian Symphony Orchestra. It reverted to its original and present title, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, in late 1974, and currently comprises 74 permanent members. Its music director since 2004 has been Arvo Volmer
.
Each year the orchestra undertakes over 100 performances across a diverse musical spectrum. The ASO provides the orchestral support for all productions of the State Opera of South Australia
, for Adelaide performances of the Australian Ballet and Opera Australia
, and is the most prolific contributor to the Adelaide Festival
. The popular annual tradition of Symphony Under the Stars, the outdoor Alfresco series, the innovative Education Program, ASO on Tour, the East End Rush Hour chamber series, and the entertaining Showtime Series are just some concerts bringing live orchestral music to South Australians each year.
The ASO won world acclaim in 1998 with Australia’s first production of Richard Wagner
’s Ring Cycle
. The orchestra participated in the first fully Australian production of The Ring in 2004, described by national and international critics as "one of the finest occasions in the history of Australian music".https://www.alliance.org.au/alliance_sections/symphony_orchestra_musicians_association/strong_report_in_parliament_2005042931/2/
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. The orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
reformed in 1949 as the 55 member South Australian Symphony Orchestra. It reverted to its original and present title, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, in late 1974, and currently comprises 74 permanent members. Its music director since 2004 has been Arvo Volmer
Arvo Volmer
Arvo Volmer is an Estonian conductor.Volmer was principal conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra from 1993 to 2001. Since 2004 he has been music director of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and both music director and principal conductor of the Estonian National Opera in Tallinn...
.
Each year the orchestra undertakes over 100 performances across a diverse musical spectrum. The ASO provides the orchestral support for all productions of the State Opera of South Australia
State Opera of South Australia
State Opera of South Australia is a professional opera company in Adelaide, South Australia, established in 1976. Each year, the State Opera presents at least three major operatic productions at the Adelaide Festival Theatre as well as producing or supporting other smaller productions in The Opera...
, for Adelaide performances of the Australian Ballet and Opera Australia
Opera Australia
Opera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder of its time spent in the The Arts Centre in Melbourne...
, and is the most prolific contributor to the Adelaide Festival
Adelaide Festival of Arts
The Adelaide Festival of Arts is an arts festival held biennially in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Although locally considered to be one of the world's greatest celebrations of the arts, that is internationally renowned and the pre-eminent cultural event in Australia, it is actually...
. The popular annual tradition of Symphony Under the Stars, the outdoor Alfresco series, the innovative Education Program, ASO on Tour, the East End Rush Hour chamber series, and the entertaining Showtime Series are just some concerts bringing live orchestral music to South Australians each year.
The ASO won world acclaim in 1998 with Australia’s first production of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
’s Ring Cycle
Der Ring des Nibelungen
Der Ring des Nibelungen is a cycle of four epic operas by the German composer Richard Wagner . The works are based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas and the Nibelungenlied...
. The orchestra participated in the first fully Australian production of The Ring in 2004, described by national and international critics as "one of the finest occasions in the history of Australian music".https://www.alliance.org.au/alliance_sections/symphony_orchestra_musicians_association/strong_report_in_parliament_2005042931/2/
Principal conductors
- William CadeWilliam CadeWilliam Richard Cade was an Australian violinist and conductor, the founding conductor of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra....
(Resident Conductor; 1939) - Bernard HeinzeBernard HeinzeSir Bernard Thomas Heinze, AC was an Australian Professor of Music, conductor, and Director of the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music....
(Guest Conductor; 1939) - Percy Code (Interim Resident Conductor; 1949)
- Henry Krips (Resident Conductor; 1949–1972)
- Elyakum ShapirraElyakum ShapirraElyakum Shapirra is an Israeli conductor who has appeared in a number of countries. He studied with Leonard Bernstein, becoming one of his assistant conductors at the New York Philharmonic...
(Chief Conductor; 1975–1979) - José SerebrierJosé SerebrierJosé Serebrier is a Uruguayan conductor and composer. He married American soprano Carole Farley in 1969.- Youth :Serebrier was born in Montevideo, and first conducted an orchestra at the age of eleven, while at school. The school orchestra toured the country, which meant he was able to notch up...
(Principal Guest Conductor; 1982–1983) - Piero GambaPiero GambaPiero Gamba, also called Pierino Gamba is an Italian orchestral conductor and pianist.- Biography :Gamba was born in 1936. He first came to attention as a child prodigy....
(Chief Conductor; 1983–1985) - Albert RosenAlbert RosenAlbert Rosen was a conductor associated with the Wexford Festival and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. He had a strong affinity with the works of Czech composers such as Smetana, Dvořák, Martinů and Janáček. He was Austrian-born and Irish-naturalised.-Biography:Albert Rosen was born in...
(Chief Conductor; 1986) - Nicholas BraithwaiteNicholas BraithwaiteNicholas Paul Dallon Braithwaite is an English conductor. He is the son of the conductor Warwick Braithwaite.Braithwaite studied at the Royal Academy of Music, at the Festival masterclasses in Bayreuth, and with Hans Swarowsky in Vienna. In the 1960s, Braithwaite was associate conductor of the...
(Chief Conductor; 1987–1991) - David PorcelijnDavid PorcelijnDavid Porcelijn is a Dutch composer and conductor.David Porcelijn studied flute, composition and conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Music in The Hague...
(Chief Conductor; 1993–1998) - Arvo VolmerArvo VolmerArvo Volmer is an Estonian conductor.Volmer was principal conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra from 1993 to 2001. Since 2004 he has been music director of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and both music director and principal conductor of the Estonian National Opera in Tallinn...
(Music Director; 2004–present)
Player listing
| Instrument Family | Player listing | |
|---|---|---|
| Violin | Natsuko Yoshimoto (Concertmaster) | |
| Graeme Norris (Associate Concert Master) | Michael Milton (Principal 2nd Violin) | |
| Shirin Lim (Principal 1st Violin) | Lachlan Bramble (Associate Principal 2nd Violin) | |
| Janet Anderson | Danielle Jaquillard | |
| Ann Axelby | Alexis Milton | |
| Minas Berberyan | Jennifer Newman | |
| Gillian Braithwaite | Julie Newman | |
| Julia Brittain | Alexander Permezel | |
| Hilary Bruer | Judith Polain | |
| Elizabeth Collins | Marie-Louise Slaytor | |
| Jane Collins | Kemeri Spurr | |
| Alison Heike | Emma Perkins | |
| Viola | Juris Ezergailis (Principal) | Rosi McGowran |
| Imants Larsens (Principal) | Carolyn Mooz | |
| Martin Butler | Michael Robertson | |
| Lesley Cockram | Cecily Satchell | |
| Anna Hansen | ||
| Cello | Janis Laurs (Principal) | Sherrilyn Handley |
| Sarah Denbigh | David Sharp | |
| Christopher Handley | Cameron Waters | |
| Bass | David Schilling (Principal) | Harley Gray |
| Young-Hee Chan (Principal) | Belinda Kendall-Smith | |
| Jacky Chang | David Phillips | |
| Flute | Geoffrey Collins (Principal) | Julia Grenfell |
| Lisa Gill | ||
| Piccolo | Julia Grenfell (Principal) | |
| Oboe | vacant(Principal) | Peter Duggan |
| Renae Stavely | ||
| Cor Anglais | Peter Duggan (Principal) | |
| Clarinet | Dean Newcombe (Principal) | Darren Skelton |
| Haig Burnell | ||
| Bass Clarinet | Haig Burnell (Principal) | |
| Bassoon | Mark Gaydon (Principal) | Leah Stephenson |
| Contra Bassoon | Jackie Hansen | |
| Horn | Philip Hall (Principal) | Philip Paine (Principal) |
| Sarah Barrett (Principal) | Dianna Gaetjens | |
| Nelson Green | ||
| Trumpet | Shane Hooton (Principal) | Gregory Frick |
| Martin Phillipson (Principal) | James Dempsey | |
| Trombone | Cameron Malouf (Principal) | Ian Denbigh |
| Bass Trombone | Howard Parkinson (Principal) | |
| Tuba | Peter Whish-Wilson (Principal) | http://www.whish-wilson.net/ |
| Timpani | Robert Hutcheson (Principal) | |
| Percussion | Steven Peterka (Principal) | Gregory Rush |
| Harp | Suzanne Handel (Principal) |