Australian World Orchestra

Australian World Orchestra (AWO) is a symphony orchestra based in Australia.[1] The AWO brings together Australian musicians working in Australia and throughout the world to perform together in Australia and overseas.[2]

History

The Australian World Orchestra was established in 2011 by Australian conductor Alexander Briger AO and his sister, film maker Gabrielle Thompson AM.[3] The inaugural patron of the orchestra was Sir Charles Mackerras, Briger and Thompson's uncle.

The AWO has performed sold out concerts in Sydney and Melbourne in 2011,[4] 2013 and 2015.

In 2015 the orchestra performed in three cities in India, conducted by Zubin Mehta, and with soprano Greta Bradman as guest soloist.[5]

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]

In 2016 Alexander 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 AM 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 Maestro Riccardo Muti conducted the AWO for performances at the Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne, and famously 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 Alexander 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.

Recordings

The AWO has released live concert recordings on Deutsche Grammophon and ABC Classics.[7]

Awards

2013 ABC Limelight Award – Best Orchestral Concert; Wagner, Sculthorpe, Tchaikovsky, Conductor: Simone Young

2016 Helpmann Award – Best Symphony Orchestra Concert; Sir Simon Rattle Conducts the Australian World Orchestra

References
  1. "Simon Rattle review: Maestro leads Australian World Orchestra in symphonic attack". Sydney Morning Herald, August 2, 2015 . Clive O'Connel
  2. "Australian World Orchestra: ‘one of the great orchestras’". The Australian, July 29, 2015 Matthew Westwood.
  3. "Sir Simon Rattle shows the Australian World Orchestra’s in a class of its own". The Daily Telegraph, July 30, 2015. Steve Moffatt
  4. Traill, Kim. "The Second Coming of the Australian World Orchestra". www.limelightmagazine.com.au. Limelight Magazine. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  5. "Notes of Exchange". The Indian Express. Suanshu Khurana | Published:August 29, 2015
  6. "Australian World Orchestra review: Simon Rattle leads through richness, power and glory". Sydney Morning Herald, July 30, 2015 , Peter McCallum
  7. Cunningham, Harriet. "Music review: Australian orchestras live". www.smh.com.au. News. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
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