Saturday 8 Feb 2025 12pm - 9pm
Waterfront Park (Haines Park), Devonport
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.
12.15-12.45pm - Sparrow Grass
A fledgling folk trio from North West Lutruwita/Tasmania, Sparrowgrass combines three divine voices with a focus on happy harmonies and a range of acoustic instruments. Versatile and fun, with roots firmly in Celtic and Australian folk traditions.
Sophie Leslie – vocals, ukelele, cajon
Tessa Lee – vocals, acoustic guitar
Alex Morse – vocals, double bass
1.00-1:30pm – Contemporary Dance Community Class with TasDance
Get moving with Caitlin from Tasdance - for all ages. Boogie to keep the blood flowing and the body happy in the lead up to the big event!
1.45-2.15pm - Classical North West
Enjoy music from local tuba player Lachlan Poon, Pianist Dominique Baker and Soprano Jacqueline Ward.
2.30-3:00pm – Contemporary Dance Community Class with TasDance
Get moving with Caitlin from Tasdance - for all ages. Boogie to keep the blood flowing and the body happy in the lead up to the big event!
5.15-5.45pm - Tai Chi with Des Chan
Start the evening off with some relaxing Tai Chi with Des Chan! Tai Chi contains a set of simple, gentle movements, based on the Yin-Yang principle. It has been proven to reduce stress, improve general health, balance and general wellbeing. This session is suitable for people of all ages and physical abilities.
5.47-5.55pm - Welcome to Country by Dave mangenner Gough
Dave mangenner Gough is a proud trawlwoolway man, Manager of Tiagarra Cultural Centre, and Chairperson of Six Rivers Aboriginal Corporation. With a deep connection to his culture and community, Dave will deliver a Welcome to Country to acknowledge and honour the traditional custodians of the land.
6:00pm-6:30pm – Right on Cue
Right On Cue is a dynamic community choir based in Devonport, Tasmania, known for its vibrant performances and welcoming atmosphere. Open to singers of all ages and abilities, the choir celebrates the joy of music and connection through a diverse repertoire that inspires and entertains. The choir is conducted by Musical Director Petrina Jahnz.
7:00pm - Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra with conductor Jen Winley
Program:
Antonin Dvořák Slavonic Dance No 1 8pm INTERVAL Rossini The Barber of Seville: Overture
Camille Saint-Saëns Danse macabre
Gabriel Fauré Sicilienne from the play Pelleas and Melisande
Tchaikovsky Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker
Ennio Morricone Gabriel’s Oboe from The Mission
Belá Kovács Sholem – Alekhem, Rov Feidman!
Aram Khachaturian Masquerade Suite No 1: Waltz
World in Union Singalong
Holly Harrison Power Up
Vittorio Montin Csárdás
Edward Elgar 'Enigma' Variations, Op.36: Nimrod
Alexander Borodin Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances: No. 17
Slavonic Dance No 1
Composed by Antonín Dvořák
4 minutes
Written in 1878 by Czech composer Antonin Dvořák, The Slavonic Dance No 1 is a lively and vibrant piece inspired by the folk dances and music of Central and Eastern Europe.
Vivid, energetic and catchy, you can easily imagine people dancing at a village festival.
The Slavonic Dances (he wrote 16 in total over his career) were an immediate success and established Dvořák's international reputation. Their accessibility and charm continue to captivate audiences, making them staples of both orchestral concert programs and more intimate piano duets.
Danse macabre
Composed by Camille Saint-Saëns
8 minutes
Thrilling, mischievous and spooky! This 1874 composition brings to life the “Dance of Death” French legend; every year at midnight on Halloween, Death appears and summons skeletons from their graves. With his violin, Death leads them in a wild dance until the rooster crows at dawn, signaling the end of their ghostly festivities.
Listen out for: the sound of the clock striking midnight, the rattling of bones and the rooster’s signature crow.
Sicilienne from the play Pelleas and Melisande
Composed by Gabriel Fauré
4 minutes
A sicilienne is a type of Italian dance music that has a lilting, gentle rhythm; think of a swaying motion, like a boat on calm water. Gabriel Fauré captures this style beautifully while adding his signature French elegance. He originally wrote this piece as part of his music for a production of Pelléas et Mélisande, a play about love, mystery, and tragedy.
Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker
Composed by Tchaikovsky
7 minutes
Waltz of the Flowers by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is an elegant and joyful piece of music from his famous ballet The Nutcracker (you might have heard of it). The piece comes from Act II of the ballet, where Clara (or Marie, depending on the version) is in the Land of Sweets. The Waltz of the Flowers is a grand dance performed by the flowers as part of a magical celebration.
Listen out for: The harp solo that sounds like a sunrise setting the stage for the flowers to wake and begin their dance.
Gabriel’s Oboe from The Mission
Composed byEnnio Morricone
3 minutes
"Gabriel’s Oboe" is a beautiful and poignant piece composed by Ennio Morricone for the 1986 film The Mission. The movie, starring Jeremy Irons and Robert De Niro, tells the story of Jesuit missionaries in 18th-century South America and their efforts to protect indigenous people from colonial exploitation.
The piece is introduced in the film when Father Gabriel (played by Jeremy Irons), a Jesuit priest, uses his oboe to connect with the indigenous Guaraní people. The melody is simple yet deeply emotional, blending classical and cinematic styles.
Sholem – Alekhem, Rov Feidman!
Composed by Belá Kovács
With Andrew Seymour, TSO Principal Clarinet
5 minutes
Belá Kovács wrote Sholem – Alekhem, Rov Feidman! (Peace be upon you, Rabbi Feidman) in 1994. It’s a part of his series of "Hommages," short pieces that honour different composers or styles. This piece celebrates the Jewish klezmer tradition and its deep cultural roots.
The star of this piece is the clarinet! It’s a real showcase of the clarinet’s personality, ranging from deep, rich tones to high, piercing notes.
Masquerade Suite No 1: Waltz
Composed by Aram Khachaturian
Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian wrote this piece in 1941 for a play called Masquerade. The play is a tragic story of love, jealousy, and betrayal set in 19th-century high society, and the music captures its emotional highs and lows perfectly. It’s cinematic, dramatic and feels like you’re stepping into a grand, elegant ballroom.
Listen out for: If this piece sounds familiar, you’ve probably heard it in one of its many pop culture appearances! The Masquerade Suite features in TV show Fleabag, the music of Aussie / UK band Sky, the film Anna Karenina and more.
The Barber of Seville: Overture
Composed by Rossini
7 minutes
Rossini’s Overture to The Barber of Seville is one of the most famous and recognisable pieces of classical music. An overture is the instrumental introduction to an opera, setting the stage for the story. The Barber of Seville is a comic opera, full of humour, clever schemes, and lively characters, and the overture gives you a taste of all that energy and fun.
Listen out for: The lively main theme that appears after the quiet introduction; you might recognise it from cartoons like Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry.
World in Union Singalong
Vocalists from Exhale Choir, Right on Cue Choir and our community chorus featuring local volunteers will perform World in Union with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. And YOU get to join in on the final chorus!
World in Union is a modern anthem set to the music of Jupiter, one of the most famous movements from Gustav Holst's orchestral suite The Planets. This version was first created in 1991 as the theme for the Rugby World Cup. The lyrics, written by Charlie Skarbek, celebrate global togetherness and the spirit of competition, echoing the themes of unity and harmony present in Holst’s original music.
Power Up
Composed by Holly Harrison
3 minutes
Now for something from more recent times! Power Up is an engaging and dynamic composition by Australian composer Holly Harrison, crafted for orchestra and body percussion. Commissioned in 2021 during her residency with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO) as part of the Australian Composers’ School, the piece was recorded by the TSO in February 2022.
Drawing inspiration from 80s rock music, Power Up is all about rhythm, rhythm, rhythm.
Power Up was also developed as a learning resource for body percussion. You can find it or free on the TSO website.
Listen out for:The drumkit!
Csárdás
Composed by Vittorio Monti
With Emma McGrath, TSO Concertmaster, and
Andrew Seymour, TSO Principal Clarinet
5 minutes
Monti's Csárdás is a fiery, virtuosic piece that’s full of energy, drama, and fun. Composed by Italian violinist Vittorio Monti in 1904, it’s based on a traditional Hungarian folk dance called the csárdás. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a piece, ranging from slow, yearning melodies to a fast, toe-tapping beat.
Listen out for: An epic battle of virtuosic skills - violin vs clarinet. Who will come out on top?
'Enigma' Variations, Op.36: Nimrod
Composed by Edward Elgar
The Enigma Variations, Op. 36, is a suite of 14 variations for orchestra, written by English composer Edward Elgar in 1899. Each variation is a musical portrait of someone Elgar knew, capturing their personality or a memory associated with them. The “Enigma” refers to a secret theme running through the work, which Elgar never fully explained, leaving listeners to puzzle over its meaning. Nimrod is the ninth variation - a musical portrait of Elgar’s editor and publisher, Augustus J. Jaeger, who encouraged and supported Elgar through years of depression and lack of confidence in his compositions.
Listen out for: The majestic climax, with soaring strings and brass.
Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances: No. 17
Composed by Alexander Borodin
12 minutes
The Polovtsian Dances is one of the most famous pieces from Russian composer Alexander Borodin's opera Prince Igor. Composed in the late 19th century, this opera tells the story of Prince Igor’s campaign against the Polovtsians, a nomadic Turkic people, and his capture by their leader, Khan Konchak.
This piece is performed when Khan Konchak entertains Prince Igor with a grand display of music and dance, celebrating the Polovtsian people's power and culture.
Listen out for: Rich, flowing melodies inspired by Russian folk music and Middle Eastern influences.
Jen Winley Conductor
Violin
Emma McGrath Concertmaster
Ji Won Kim Associate Concertmaster
Lucy Carrig-Jones Principal Second
Susanna Low Principal First
Kirsty Bremner
Miranda Carson
Yue-Hong Cha
Tobias Chisnall
Frances Davies
Michael Johnston
Elinor Lea
Christopher Nicholas
Rohana O’Malley
Hayato Simpson
Viola
Caleb Wright Principal
Douglas Coghill
Anna Larsen Roach
Curtis Lau
William Newbery
Cello
Jonathan Békés Principal
Ivan James
Nicholas McManus
Martin Penicka
Double Bass
Stuart Thomson Principal
Aurora Henrich
Matthew McGrath
Flute
Lily Bryant Guest Principal
Maria Hincapie Duque
Lloyd Hudson Principal Piccolo
Oboe
Rachel Bullen Guest Principal
Dinah Woods Principal Cor Anglais
Clarinet
Andrew Seymour Principal
Eloise Fisher Principal Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Tahnee van Herk Principal
Melissa Woodroffe Principal Contrabassoon
French Horn
Greg Stephens Principal First
Claudia Leggett Principal Third
Roger Jackson
Julian Leslie
Trumpet
Fletcher Cox 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
Tracey Patten
Drum Kit
Stephen Marskell Guest Principal
Harp
Azumi Lehmann Guest Principal
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TSO Concertmaster Emma McGrath plays an 1845 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin on loan from two of our generous Tasmanian patrons.
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