Mozart, Haydn & More
Pekka Kuusisto, Director & Violin
ACO Collective
Charismatic Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto, Artistic Director of ACO Collective, brings international fame and a wicked sense of humour and personality to all his performances. This is an evening of the finest classical music from Mozart to Haydn alongside new commissions from composer and pianist of indie rock band The Jezebels, Heather Shannon.
"Here is a classical performer who genuinely connects what goes on inside the concert hall with the world outside – and that makes him a rare and important performer for our times."
The ACO is renowned the world over for embracing celebrated classics alongside new commissions and Mozart, Hadyn & More is no exception.
Charismatic Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto, Artistic Director of ACO Collective, brings international fame and a wicked sense of humour and personality to all his performances. For this tour he has built a unique program around Haydn’s Symphony No.47 in G major. Haydn was no stranger to humour himself and this symphony is nicknamed “The Palindrome”, as the minuet and trio is written in such a way that the second half is a backwards version of the first half. Pekka continues this palindromic theme, beginning and ending with Pauline Oliveros’s The Tuning Meditation, followed and preceded by movements from Haydn’s symphony, Mozart’s Dances and sections from Hindemith’s Ludus Tonalis.
ACO have also commissioned two works by Australian composer Heather Shannon, pianist of indie rock band The Jezebels, especially for this concert. This will be an exciting world premiere of this new work.
ACO Collective combines Australia’s most talented emerging string players with the professional musicians of the ACO to create a high-energy 17-piece string orchestra.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
The Australian Chamber Orchestra lives and breathes music, making waves around the world for their explosive performances and brave interpretations. Steeped in history but always looking to the future, ACO programs embrace celebrated classics alongside new commissions, and adventurous cross-artform collaborations. Led by Artistic Director Richard Tognetti since 1990, the ACO performs more than 100 concerts each year. Whether performing in Manhattan, New York, or Wollongong, NSW, the ACO is unwavering in their commitment to creating transformative musical experiences.
ACO Collective features members of the ACO alongside musicians from their Emerging Artists Program – young, professional string players at the outset of their careers. With Artistic Director Pekka Kuusisto at the helm, the result is an ensemble full of youthful energy who perform with the dynamism and artistry for which the ACO is renowned.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Music belongs to everyone. Australia is such a massive country, and I think what the ACO and ACO Collective are doing through touring to regional parts of the country is ensuring that all Australians have the opportunity to see their country’s best musicians perform. To bring music from other parts of the world and spread it through Australia is a task that we are very excited to play a small role in.
Pekka Kuusisto
TOURING TO
Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mt Gambier 3 Mar
Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne 5 Mar
The Capital Theatre, Bendigo 7 Mar
plus more to be announced soon
Previous Tour
February - March 2019
CREDITS
Director & Violin Pekka Kuusisto
+ ACO Collective
plus Wind players from the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM)
If you are interested in touring get in contact!
Arts on Tour
02 8038 1880
touring@artsontour.com.au
Arts on Tour is based in Redfern NSW and we respectfully acknowledge the Gadigal people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the unceded land on which we work.
As we tour artists and productions across these vast lands, we pay our respect to all First Nations Elders, past, present and future.
We celebrate their continuing connection and contribution to culture, country and community, and thank all First Nations peoples for their wisdom in caring for the land, the sky, the rivers and the sea.