Saturday 1 Jun 2024 7:30pm
Federation Concert Hall, nipaluna / Hobart
Looking for tickets? Go here.
Streaming live & playback via TSO On Demand
Conducted by Benjamin Northey,
featuring the TSO Chorus and soprano Stacey Alleaume.
The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra acknowledges the traditional owners and continuing custodians of lutruwita / Tasmania. We pay respect to the Aboriginal community today, and to its Elders past and present. We recognise a history of truth, which acknowledges the impacts of colonisation upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and stand for a future that profoundly respects their stories, culture, language and history.
About the concert
Works
Lili Boulanger D’un matin de printemps (6 min)
Debussy Nocturnes (25 min)
3 movements:
- Nuages
- Fêtes
- Sirènes
20 minute interval
Ravel Pavane pour une infante défunte (6 min)
Poluenc Gloria (29 min)
6 movements:
- Gloria
- Laudamus te
- Domine Deus
- Domine Fili unigenite
- Domine Deus, Agnus Dei
- Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris
💡 FIRST-TIMER TIP
A 'movement' is a longer piece of music broken up into bite-size pieces. It makes it easier to perform and provides contrast within the work. Find out more here.
TSO Chorus performing with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
Tonight’s Menu
Appetiser
D'un matin de printemps
Composed by Lili Boulanger (1893-1918)
6 minutes
Lili Boulanger (1893-1918), younger sister of the more famous Nadia Boulanger, was the first woman composer to win the prestigious Prix de Rome, awarded by the French Académie des Beaux-Arts. Composed in the last months of Boulanger’s life, D’un matin de printemps (Of a Spring Morning) exudes keenness and vitality. Superbly orchestrated, it stands as a monument to a major creative talent and raises the question of what might have been had Boulanger not died at the tragically young age of 24.
Entree
Nocturnes
- Nuages
- Fêtes
- Sirènes
Composed by Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
25 minutes
💡 FIRST-TIMER TIP
The names of movements in symphonies often follow traditional conventions that give insight into the character, tempo, and sometimes the form of each section.
These terms not only instruct performers on the tempo and mood of each movement but also guide listeners through the emotional and narrative arc of the symphony. For example, ‘Allegro’ refers to tempo and ‘molto’ translates to very, so: very fast!
Claude Debussy was disdainful of the art history term ‘Impressionism’ as applied to his music, but it seems apt in the case of the Nocturnes of 1899, as they were inspired by paintings by James McNeill Whistler (not, strictly speaking, an Impressionist).
If you close your eyes, it’s not hard to imagine slow moving clouds in the opening movement, Nuages (Clouds), as this is music which appears to waft and float. A persistent (but undeveloped) melody played by the cor anglais merely adds to the vague, gauzy mood.
The clearly etched rhythms of Fêtes (Festivals) seem to present a sharper picture but here too Debussy’s primary concern is with instrumental tone colour and the sheer variety of sounds that can be coaxed from an orchestra – vibrant tones splashed across a canvas, as it were.
Sirènes (Sirens) brings a return to the diaphanous sound world of Nuages, but this time it is the sea, not the sky, which is evoked, with a wordless women’s chorusrepresenting the mythical creatures of the title.
Main
Pavane pour une infante défunte
Composed by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
6 minutes
Originally composed for piano in 1899, the Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess) by Maurice Ravel was orchestrated in 1910. Don’t read too much into the title – Ravel was attracted to the sound qualities of the words ‘infante’ and ‘défunte’ in close proximity rather than a desire to conjure up images of departed royalty.
Listen out for the French horn at the start – it introduces the principal melody before it’s passed around the orchestra, picking up different tone colours along the way: flute, clarinet, oboe and finally, when it returns towards the end, in a truly magical moment, the violins.
Dessert
Gloria
Composed by Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
- Gloria
- Laudamus te
- Domine Deus
- Domine Fili unigenite
- Domine Deus, Agnus Dei
- Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris
29 minutes
The Gloria by Francis Poulenc is a setting of the second part of the Ordinary of the Mass, Gloria in excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the highest). This overwhelmingly joyous text praises God the Father, acknowledges the Son of God as redeemer (Qui tollis peccata mundi/Who takes away the sins of the world) and, completing the Trinity, references the Holy Spirit (Sancto Spiritu) in the closing lines. Thus, in addition to being a song of praise, it spells out key aspects of Christian doctrine.
Some commentators have snootily dismissed Poulenc’s Gloria as insufficiently reverential (too many cocktail-hour chords, perhaps?) but the composer was a devout Catholic and there can be no doubt that the work was sincerely felt. And who can fail to be moved by the closing ‘Amen’?
Among Poulenc’s last works, the Gloria was premièred in Boston in 1961.
Enjoying the concert?
Rewatch all your favourite moments on TSO On Demand.
Streaming sixteen concerts from Federation Concert Hall, this is the full orchestra at its brilliant best.
Start Watching
Musicians
Benjamin Northey
Conductor
Australian conductor Benjamin Northey is the Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor, Artistic Advisor Learning and Engagement of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. From 2019-2023 he was the Principal Conductor in Residence of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra having previously held the posts of Associate Conductor (2010-2019), Resident Guest Conductor of the Australia Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra (2002-2006) and Principal Guest Conductor of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (2007-2010). From 2025 he will Artistic Director of the Australian Conducting Academy, a national training program for Australian and New Zealand conductors.
Northey appears regularly as a guest conductor with all major Australian symphony orchestras, Opera Australia (La Bohème, Turandot, L’elisir d’amore, Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Carmen), New Zealand Opera (Sweeney Todd) and the State Opera South Australia (La Sonnambula, L’elisir d’amore, Les Contes d’Hoffmann) and Victorian Opera (Candide, Into the Woods).
His international appearances include concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, the Malaysian Philharmonic & the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Highly regarded for the range of his work Northey has collaborated with major artists such as Maxim Vengerov, Anne Sofie von Otter, Pinchas Zukerman & Wynton Marsalis. He has also collaborated with great artists in many genres of music including Tim Minchin, Professor Brian Cox, Lalah Hathaway, Kurt Elling, Anoushka Shankar, James Morrison & Ben Folds.
An Aria Awards, Air Music Awards, and APRA/AMCOS Art Music Awards winner, Northey is highly active in the performance and recording of new Australian and New Zealand orchestral music having premiered dozens of major new works by contemporary composers. He has previously been a board member of the Australian Music Centre. He has been a driving force in the performance of orchestral music by Australian First Nations composers and performers. He has premiered multiple works of composers Deborah Cheetham and William Barton as well as collaborating with composer Paul Grabowsky and songmen Daniel and David Wilfred.
To read more about Benjamin Northey, click here.
Stacey Alleaume
Soprano
Australian-Mauritian Soprano Stacey Alleaume has established herself as one of Australia's most accomplished performers. Engagements include critically acclaimed Gilda Rigoletto with the Bregenzer Festspiele and Opera Australia, both house and role debut as Amina La Sonnambula with Deutsche Oper am Rhein, and Violetta Valéry La Traviata with Opera Australia, Opera Hong Kong, Teatro Petruzzelli and Welsh National Opera.
In Opera Australia she was seen as Violetta Valéry La Traviata both on the mainstage and Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, Fiorilla Il Turco in Italia, Gilda Rigoletto, Susanna Le Nozze di Figaro, Micaëla Carmen, Leïla The Pearl Fishers, Sophie Werther, Pamina Die Zauberflöte.
Stacey features in the Netflix romantic comedy Falling for Figaro as the singing voice of Millie (Danielle Macdonald). Directed by Ben Lewin, the film was released internationally in 2021. In the same year Stacey released her debut album Moonlight Reflections on the Move Records Label.
On the concert stage, Stacey has performed works with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, notably Nielsen’s Symphony No. 3 under Maestro Sir Andrew Davis. She has appeared as a guest of Andrea Bocelli during his Australian concert tour in 2022.
Stacey is a graduate of the University of Melbourne and an alumna of the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. She has been recognised with the prestigious AOAC Dame Joan Sutherland Scholarship for outstanding Australian operatic talent. Additionally, Stacey has achieved significant acclaim in vocal competitions, winning the 2009 Australian Youth Aria, 2011 New Zealand Aria, 2012 Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship and the 2013 Herald Sun Aria.
Her artistic development has been supported by scholarships from the Youth Music Foundation of Australia (2020), and The Melba Opera Trust (2010 & 2012).
Orchestra List
Benjamin Northey Conductor
Warren Trevelyan-Jones Chorusmaster
Stacey Alleaume soprano
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
TSO Chorus
Violin
Emma McGrath Concertmaster
Ji Won Kim Associate Concertmaster
Lucy Carrig-Jones Principal Second
Jennifer Owen Principal First
Miranda Carson
Tobias Chisnall
Margaret Connolly
Frances Davies
Michael Johnston
Elinor Lea
Xinyu Mannix
Christopher Nicholas
Rohana O’Malley
Hayato Simpson
💡 FIRST-TIMER TIP
Did you know our Concertmaster plays a violin hand-crafted by one of the finest and most important luthiers (a string-instrument maker) of the nineteenth century, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (1798–1875).
He crafted 3000+ instruments in his time and we’re very proud to have a violin made in 1845 on loan from two of our generous Tasmanian patrons.
Viola
Caleb Wright Principal
Douglas Coghill
Anna Larsen Roach
Rodney McDonald
Ariel Postmus
Cello
Jonathan Békés Principal
Nicholas McManus
Martin Penicka
Sophie Radke
Double Bass
Stuart Thomson Principal
Matthew McGrath
Adrian Whitehall
Flute
Katie Zagorski Principal
Maria Hincapie Duque
Lily Bryant Guest Principal Piccolo
Oboe
Eve Newsome Guest Principal
Alexandra King
Dinah Woods Principal Cor Anglais
Clarinet
Andrew Seymour Principal
Chris Tingay
Eloise Fisher Principal Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Tahnee van Herk Principal
Evan Lewis
Simone Walters Guest Principal Contrabassoon
French Horn
Greg Stephens Principal First
Claudia Leggett Principal Third
Roger Jackson
Julian Leslie
Trumpet
Richard Blake Guest Principal
Mark Bain
Melanie Wilkinson
Trombone
David Robins Principal
Jackson Bankovic
Bass Trombone
James Littlewood Guest Principal
Tuba
Rachel Kelly Principal
Timpani
Matthew Goddard Principal
Percussion
Gary Wain Principal
Stephen Marskell
Harp
Meriel Owen Guest Principal
Carolyn Burgess
Celeste
Jennifer Marten-Smith Guest Principal
TSO Chorus
Soprano
Emma Bunzli
Christine Coombe
Yuliana Hammond
Kasia Kozlowska
Bernadette Large
Loretta Lohberger
Ashlyn Mackenzie
Sophia Mitchell
Schuya Murray
Christine Ovens
Chantal Roddy
Carolyn Seelen
Joy Tattam
Salome Tobin
Lesley Wickham
Alto
Claire Blichfeldt
Sally Brown
Carmelita Coen
Beth Coombe
Elizabeth Eden
Ann Godber
Mary McArthur
Caroline Miller
Sally Mollison
Amy Richardson
Louise Rigozzi
Meg Tait
Gill von Bertouch
Beth Warren
Tenor
Helen Chicks
Phillip Clutterbuck
Michael Kregor
Tony Marshall
Simon Milton
Dianne O’Toole
David Pitt
James Powell-Davies
Alexander Rodrigues
Peter Tattam
Bass
Geoffrey Attwater
John Ballard
Timothy Begbie
Jack Delaney
Liam Filby
Greg Foot
Sam Hindell
Reg Marron
Liam McGuinness
Michael Muldoon
David Ovens
Tony Parker
*Correct at time of publishing
Federation Concert Hall
Our Southern Home
Federation Concert Hall has been our home since 2001. It's distinctive curve, golden Tasmanian timber, contemporary design and deep red seats set the tone for the ultimate concert experience.
In 2020, major acoustical enhancements were made to the hall, amplifying the venue's, and the TSO's, reputation as world-class.
Photo credit: Fin Matson
Getting THere & Accessibility
Everything you need to know about Federation Concert Hall.
Find Out More
Little Missy Patisserie
The feast evolves daily
Start the morning off at Little Missy Patisserie for beautifully crafted Provencal French pastries and superb coffee from local roasters. Located in the heart of Hobart, you can take a seat in their new dine in area to experience some of their daily delights – including their award-winning vanilla slice!
Show your tickets for A French Feast to a member of their staff and receive a 10% discount when you dine in on Saturday (Minimum $40.00 spend applies).
💡 FIRST-TIMER TIP
What are acoustics and how do they affect my concert experience?
Acoustics are the science of sound, or the way a venue can deliver the thunderous feeling of strings and brass, or the ring of the triangle over all the other instruments.
Read more about the acoustics of the Hall here.
Coming up
Karin Schaupp
Guitar mastery, featuring Karin Schaupp.
Borodin Polovtsian Dances
Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez
Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, Op 35
Find Out More
Our supporters
Whether sponsoring a musician in the orchestra, or supporting our invaluable community programs, so much of what we do relies on you. We offer our deepest thanks to all our Partners, Patrons and Friends.
Support the TSO and connect with our orchestra beyond the concert hall.
Donate Now
Huon Pine Patrons
John Cauchi AM & Catherine Walker Chair Patrons
Anne & Don Challen AM Chair Patrons
Elizabeth Chen
Jeff Compton & Annegret Ludwig
Jane Drexler
Rob & Tricia Greenwell Chair Patrons
David & Catherine Hamilton Chair Patrons
In Memory of Ian Hicks Chair Patron
Belinda Kendall-White Chair Patron
Patricia Leary Chair Patron
Penny Le Couteur & Greg Dickson
Ang Madden Chair Patron
R H O'Connor
Andrew Parker & Caroline Sharpen Chair Patrons
Dr David & Mrs Glenys Rich Chair Patrons
Chris & John Sandow Chair Patrons
Joy Selby Smith
Dr Peter Stanton Chair Patron
TasPlates
Dr Hilary Wallace Chair Patron
Anonymous (1)
TSO Concertmaster Emma McGrath plays an 1845 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin on loan from two of our generous Tasmanian patrons.
Sassafras Patrons
Cath Adams & Steve Craft Chair Patrons
John & Marilyn Canterford Chair Patrons
David & Elizabeth de Burgh Chair Patrons
Dr Joanna de Burgh
Marc & Susan Duldig Chair Patrons
Richard & Harriett England
Emeritus Prof Andrew Glenn & Dr Odile Glenn Chair Patrons
Marie Heitz Chair Patron
In memory of Darrell Jones Chair Patron
Don Kay
John Langford & Diane Matthews
The Late David McEwan AM Chair Patron
Anthony G McGee AM Chair Patron
Louise & Tim Mooney AM Chair Patrons
Mountain Air Foundation
Bruce Neill & Penny Clive Chair Patrons
Bill Oakley OAM Chair Patron
Jan & Alan Rees
Dr John & Mrs Barbara Roberts
James and Jacqueline Roberts-Thomson Chair Patrons
Helen Rule Chair Patron
Margaret Sharpen Chair Patron
Dr Di Stow Chair Patron
Mr Yongyi Tao Chair Patron
Michelle Warren
Deirdre & Trevor Wise
Anonymous (3)
Leatherwood Patrons
Damian Bugg AM & Jenny Bugg
Elizabeth Bugg
George & Jan Casimaty
Dr Josh & Wendy Cocker
Prof Mike Coffin
Beth Coombe
Stephanie Cooper
Simon Coultas
Vicki Cowles & Josef Neuschwanger
Prof Stephen Crump
David Davey & Annick Ansselin
Lynne Docking
Jane Edmanson OAM
Roger Fisher
Garry Forward & Allanah Dopson
TJ Foster
Jennifer Gale
Giameos Constructions & Developments
Dr Brita Hansen & Frank Halley
Dr Donald Hempton
Peter & Jeanne Hepburn
Janet Holmes à Court AC Chair Patron
Dr David & Donna Humphries
Don & Christine Jeffrey
Paavo Jumppanen
Veronica Keach
Judith Ker
Ian & Leslieann Kilgour
Suzanne Kirkham
Betty Kuhl
Harvey Lennon
David Lloyd
Linda & Martin Luther
Dulcie Mahoney
Dr Katherine Marsden
Maggie McKerracher
Dominic McNamara
Caryl McQuestin
Sarah Morrisby
Alison Nadebaum
Jan Nicholas
Katherine Olejniczak
Alison E Parsons
Helen Ross & Margaret Whiteside
Margaret Sallis
Deirdre Schoe
Dr Johannes Schonborn
Jenny Scott
Dick & Sue Shoobridge
Christopher Spiegel
Tony Stacey AM & Mrs Jeanette Stacey
Rowland Turner
Philip & Frances Tyrell
Frances Underwood
John Upcher
John Usher OAM
Hank & Elizabeth van Herk
Residents of Vaucluse Gardens
Jacqui Walkden
Dr Michael Wilkinson
Geoff & Vicki Willis
Jane Zimmerman
Anonymous (14)
Blackwood Patrons
Andrew Bennett
Kim Boyer & Fred Westwood
Dr Nicholas Brodie
Jenny & Ian Burleigh
Janet Carding
Heather & Christopher Chong
Amy Crosby
Ms Gail Friesen
Furneaux Arts Committee
Susie Harrison
Sue Hawick
Shirley Honeysett
Ann Hopkins
Peter Hordern
Ross Kelly
Richard & Julia Metcalf
Margret Monks
Gisele O'Byrne AM
Tony Purdon
Denise & Steve Southwood
Dr Tanya Stephens
Janet Tomlinson
Jeanette Tremayne
Polly Woods
Dr Rosemary Yeoland
Anonymous (6)
Silver Wattle Patrons
Simon Allston & Janeil Hall
Chris Andrews
May Backhouse
Dennis Bewsher
Justin Birrell
Helene Bogut-Browne
Dixie Brodribb
Deborah Brook
Peter Brooks
Marion Burbury
Alan & Jan Butler
Roger Carrington
Dr Helen Chick
Dr Marj Colvill
Christine Coombe
Janet Crane
Margaret Deguara
Dobson Mitchell & Allport Lawyers
Jane Douglas
Father Mark Freeman
Dr. R A Harrup & Mr D O'Toole
Sharron Hewer
Heinz Lintner
Chris & Dot Lloyd-Bostock
William Lo
John & Hazel Maddox
Jane Martinez
Dr Milford McArthur
Jane Monaghan
Clare Morrisby
Dr Robyn Munro
Susie North
Meriel Owen
Leone Paget
Dr Wiktorja Passlow
Shane Powell
James Puustinen
William Reynolds
Cameron Smith
Elaine Tack
Diane & Neville Truskett
Judith Tudball
Julian Type
Kathlyn & John Wheatley
Jane Wilcox
Sharon Winters
Anonymous (18)
Government Support
Premier Partners
Hospitality Partner
Questions & Tech Support
Chat with one of our friendly staff at the TSO Box Office.