Australian World Orchestra
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| Industry | Classical Music and the Arts |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder |
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| Website | https://www.australianworldorchestra.com.au/ |
The Australian World Orchestra (AWO) is a symphony orchestra based in Australia.[1]
History[edit]
The Australian World Orchestra was established in 2011 by Australian conductor Alexander Briger and his sister, film maker Gabrielle Thompson.[2] The inaugural patron of the orchestra was Sir Charles Mackerras, Briger and Thompson's uncle.
The first concert in 2011, which was conducted by Briger, performed sold out in concerts in Sydney and Melbourne.[3] The AWO also sold out in 2013 and 2015.
Maestro Zubin Mehta conducted the orchestra in 2013, and returned to conduct again in 2015 when the AWO performed in three cities in India, with soprano Greta Bradman as guest soloist.[4] Mehta is to return in 2022 to conduct the AWO in a performance of Strauss' works[5] in Sydney and Melbourne.
In 2015 the AWO brought Sir Simon Rattle to Australia to conduct the orchestra in concerts in Sydney and Melbourne with special guest mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená.[6] Rattle has described the AWO as an "international treasure".[7]
In 2016 Briger premiered the AWO's 5th anniversary commission by Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin The Witching Hour, A Concerto for Eight Double Basses at the Sydney Opera House and the Esplanade in Singapore.
In 2017 Simone Young conducted the AWO in a side-by-side performance of Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie with the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) at Arts Centre Melbourne and the AWO Chamber 8 completed their first Australian tour performing at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), City Recital Hall Sydney, Melbourne Recital Centre and, Perth Concert Hall.
In 2018 Riccardo Muti conducted the AWO for performances at the Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne, and invited the orchestra to tour his home country of Italy.
Later in 2018 the AWO toured India, performing in Chennai as the opening act of the Australian Government's 6 month festival of Australian Culture "OzFest" and additional concerts in Kochi (Kerala) and Mumbai under the baton of Briger and with guest soloists French mezzo-soprano Caroline Meng and the Australian born and educated Daniel Dodds, Artistic Director of the Lucerne Festival Strings.
In 2019 Alexander Briger conducted the AWO for performances at Arts Centre Melbourne and for the orchestra's first performance in Canberra at Llewellyn Hall. The AWO Chamber Six performed at City Recital Hall, Sydney.
The AWO commissioned Australian composer and clarinetist Paul Dean to compose his Symphony No.1 Black Summer[8] to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2021. Briger premiered the piece in 2021 in concerts at the Llewellyn Hall in Canberra, and City Recital Hall, Sydney. The performances garnered positive reviews, and the Australian Arts Review expressed that "Briger has created an orchestral Rolls Royce . . ."[9]
The AWO travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) in August 2022, as part of Edinburgh's 75th anniversary celebrations, and the UK|AU cultural exchange,[10] performing at the Edinburgh International Festival[11] and the BBC Proms, conducted by Zubin Mehta, accompanied by Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg. Mehta conducted the AWO in 2022 in Sydney and Melbourne in performances of Richard Strauss's tone poems (Limelight, 2022).[12] After the conclusion of the AWO's performance at the Sydney Opera House, General David Hurley, Governor-General of Australia, awarded Mehta with an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (Limelight, 2022[13]).
Alexander Briger is returning in November 2023 to conduct at Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House as the AWO will perform Mahler's 9th Symphony.[14]
Discography[edit]
Albums[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Beethoven Symphony 9 (with Alexander Briger) |
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| Mahler: Symphony 1 (with Zubin Mehta) |
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| Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (with Zubin Mehta) |
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| Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 (with Simon Rattle) |
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Awards and nominations[edit]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2014 | Stravinsky Rite of Spring / Mahler Symphony No. 1 (with (Zubin Mehta) | ARIA Music Awards Best Classical Album | Nominated |
| Year 2016 | Australian World Orchestra (Conductor Sir Simon Rattle) | Helpmann Award | Won |
| Year 2022 | Australian World Orchestra (Conductor Zubin Mehta) | Limelight People's Choice "Artist of the Year" Award | Won |
References[edit]
- ^ "Simon Rattle review: Maestro leads Australian World Orchestra in symphonic attack". Sydney Morning Herald, August 2, 2015 . Clive O'Connel
- ^ "Sir Simon Rattle shows the Australian World Orchestra’s in a class of its own". The Daily Telegraph, July 30, 2015. Steve Moffatt
- ^ Traill, Kim. "The Second Coming of the Australian World Orchestra". www.limelightmagazine.com.au. Limelight Magazine. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "Notes of Exchange". The Indian Express. Suanshu Khurana | Published:August 29, 2015
- ^ "ZUBIN MEHTA – Australian World Orchestra". Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ "Australian World Orchestra review: Simon Rattle leads through richness, power and glory". Sydney Morning Herald, July 30, 2015 , Peter McCallum
- ^ "AWO is "international treasure" says Simon Rattle". Limelight. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ Galvin, Nick (21 May 2021). "Out of his big brother's shadow: composer Paul Dean finds his voice". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ "Australian World Orchestra". Australian Arts Review. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ "Australian World Orchestra conducted by Maestro Zubin Mehta". ukaustraliaseason.com.
- ^ Robertson, Hugh (31 March 2022). "Australian World Orchestra to perform at Edinburgh International Festival". Limelight.
- ^ "limelight awo peoples choice 2022 - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "Zubin Mehta awarded Companion of the Order of Australia". Limelight. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "MAHLER 9 – Australian World Orchestra". Retrieved 1 August 2023.
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