Adelaide Symphony Orchestra - Verdi's Requiem : Lisa enjoys the performance in the Adelaide City reion of South Australia
Morning on Hindley Street and members of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra casually drift into work for 'another day at the office' - or in their case another day in rehearsal. The ASO workspace is a theatre that began life in the 1930s as West's Cinema. The superb art deco building, with its sweeping staircase and domed ceiling is now the Grainger Studio, named after Percy Grainger, one of Australia's best known composers - and strong supporter of the early orchestra. We're privileged to sit in on a rehearsal under the masterful baton of chief conductor, Arvo Volmer.
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the death of the great orchestral composer, George Frederick Handel. But 2009 is also significant for another musical milestone - 150 years of orchestral music right here in South Australia.
150 years ago Handel's Messiah was performed at White's Assembly Rooms on King William Street - and so began South Australia's long and enthusiastic connection with classical music. A number of ensembles were formed over the decades until in 1885 the Adelaide Society of Musicians was created with the aim of 'establishing a bond of union between gentlemen of the musical profession.' The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra as we know it today was born out of necessity when the Australian Broadcasting Commission, as it was then known, needed content.
Rainer Jozeps, ASC Chief Executive: "One of the first things they had to do was to create content for their radio programs and concert music was a very big deal in the 1930s so in fact the ABC around Australia and in Adelaide had many different music ensembles whose jobs it was to play music for live broadcasts. Out of that grew what we know to be the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra."
No longer part of the ABC, the ASO continues to push the musical envelope - cleverly combining it's classical music repertoire with a more populist approach as we've featured previously on Postcards.
From great rock 'n roll anthems to the bread and butter classicals - the ASO recognises its future depends on playing music for ALL music lovers. Not only is it attracting younger audiences but younger players - the ASO is one of the youngest in Australia.
Janet Anderson, Violinist: "My mum is a flute teacher and she taught at a music school and apparently I said one day 'when am I going to start learning the thing with the stick?' and so that's how I chose to start learning the violin.”
At 26, Janet Anderson is one of the orchestra's youngest members and says it's every musician’s dream to be paid to play… but the workload is constant.
Janet: "Generally we do one program per week and while we're rehearsing for one program we'll already be thinking the next week ahead and be preparing the notes for the following week."
Percussionist, Greg Rush calls himself an 'old-timer' having been with the orchestra for 35 years after joining the army as a young man to learn the drums. Like the orchestra, he says the Adelaide audience has matured over the years.
Greg Rush, Percussionist: "Our audience in Adelaide is very well educated they appreciate fine music and they can certainly hear the difference…"
With the rehearsal complete in Grainger Studio it's on to the stage of the Adelaide Town Hall - the orchestra's regular concert home. But next Friday and Saturday they'll take to the stage of the Adelaide Festival Theatre for a spectacular performance of Verdi's Requiem - one of the greatest classical works of all time. There'll be over 250 performers on stage including a host of internationally acclaimed soloists and the 85 member Brisbane Chorale. It's all part of the ASO's celebration of a century and a half of orchestral music in South Australia… but while it celebrates its past, it’s also got it's sights firmly on the future.
Rainer Jozeps: "As we all know there's nothing like the live experience - I really hope that in 150 years people will be flocking to live concerts of any kind because there's just no way you can repeat the experience of a live concert…"
The ASO will perform Verdi's Requiem next Friday and Saturday at 8.00pm at the Festival Theatre. Book at Bass on 131 246.
ASO plays Verdi's Requiem
Fri 29 May & Sat 30 May 2009
8.00pm Adelaide Festival Theatre
Bookings through Bass 131 246Published 24th May 2009
