75 years is quite a milestone, especially for an orchestra when one contemplates the changes to music, audiences and society that have gone around it.
The ASO’s 75th Gala Concert on two nights, somewhat bumblingly presented by ABC’s ClassicFM’s Damien Beaumont (at least on night 1 when it was being simulcasted on that network) was a night without its challenges for its audience. From Shostakovich’s Festive Overture through to Conductor Arvo Volmer’s Perfect Symphony (of four popular movements from familiar works) the full house could sit back and enjoy their favourite local orchestra dishing up musical chocolate.
The performances were complemented by projected images on screens of significant moments in the ASO’s history, from first rehearsals in 1936, through the gallery of principal conductors to moments when the ensemble were joined by world luminaries.
Two moments of particular interest were Miriam Hyde’s An Adelaide Overture, composed for the centenary of the State in 1936 and performed then under the direction of Sir Malcolm Sargent. It would be interesting to get a new rendition of such a work done at this time of our 175th anniversary, if nothing else to see how Ms Hyde’s balancing of toil, tragedy and optimism would be construed and mixed today.
The other highlight was the holder of the principal trumpet chair, Matt Dempsey, whose work in Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto was direct and to the point, arousing audience members positively from their musical warm bath.
As a worthy cause for celebration, a 75th Anniversary fits the bill and the gala concert was certainly enjoyable but none would say it was a landmark moment. Just why, as contemplated above, something unique and challenging for the moment was not commissioned and performed is not clear, especially as our former premier was once in the habit of doing such things.
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