We started 2020 with a bang! Here are our highlights
2020 started off as one of the busiest seasons to date for the TSO. Our feet barely touched the ground!
Live Sessions in Hobart and Triabunna, and Brass at St David's Cathedral drew in new crowds and highlighted the versatility of our TSO ensembles. In late February we filled Launceston's City Park with the sweet sounds of Symphony Under the Stars, our offering of free music to all. And with new Chief Conductor and Artistic Director, Eivind Aadland, at the helm we launched into the Brahmsiana Festival, filling the TSO Concert Hall and caverns of MONA with back-to-back Brahms.
In less than 8 weeks of the TSO 2020 season we managed to present 11 concerts, in 6 venues across Tasmania, and here's the stat we are most proud of:
Over 10,000 sets of eyes and ears were privy to these live moments of music and joy.
We decided to ask some of our nearest and dearest (aka TSO staff and musicians) what their highlights were - now we have time to reminisce.
Diane Truskett, TSO Friends Chair:
RACT Symphony under the Stars provided the delight of seeing the amazing young Violinist, Grace Clifford, in action with the TSO. What stood out for me was how she mesmerised the young people in the audience. As she was playing the suite from Carmen, I noticed so many young people, including very young, with eyes glued to her, swaying in time with her. What a great introduction to music they were having.
Loved the juxtaposition of the TSO playing an excerpt from Swan Lake followed by Turkey in the Straw! What a hoot!
Sharon Winters, TSO Business Services Executive
Definitely TSO Live Sessions at The Hanging Garden. I invited a friend to join us, as the weather and the outdoor venue were the perfect setting to introduce someone new to the Live Sessions experience. What an excellent night, it did not disappoint! Klezmer! It was so high pitched and energetic. I loved it and recommended it to others as a must see - and now there it is on the TSO Daily Dose!
June Tyzack, TSO Chorusmaster:
My highlight was on Saturday 29 February this year - Brahms and more Brahms! For the first time I saw our new Chief Conductor and Artistic Director, Eivind Aadland, take control of the orchestra and the music flowed. Brahms’ idiosyncratic rhythms glistened and dynamic contrasts in both volume and articulation were meaningful and engaging. There were many highlights but for me the trombone section was stunning - a beautiful sound with tremendous intonation and assured ensemble. So often in choral music the trombones double the bass chorister line. This was the best lesson ever for aspiring choristers.
