ASO to play Carnegie Hall in 2009
23/8/2008

Premier Mike Rann announced today that the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra will be touring to the United States in January, playing at the Royce Hall, Los Angeles, as well as the famous Carnegie Hall in New York.

 

“The State Government has allocated extra money to the ASO which will see the company to be part of the G’day USA: Australia Week celebrations from 12-20 January 2009, and the orchestra will be a great cultural ambassador for our state,” Mr Rann said.

 

Mr Rann, who is also Arts Minister, said the tour has come about as a result of discussions he held with former Premier, now Australian Consul-General in New York, John Olsen, who has been keen to ensure that South Australian artists feature prominently in the Australia promotion in the US.

 

“The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s international and national reputation has been well established through recordings available around the world, and back home they are highly regarded for their innovative programming and fine musicianship,” he said.

 

While in Los Angeles the ASO will play works by Australian composer, Peter Sculthorpe featuring the didgeridoo, as well as symphonic works by Jean Sibelius, a composer the ASO plays especially well.

 

And in New York the orchestra will be featured playing alongside such Australian stars as Geoffrey Gurramul Yunupingu, David Campbell, Lior, Gabriella Cilmi and Ursula Yovich.

 

Both concerts will be led by ASO Chief Conductor, Arvo Volmer.

 

Other outstanding local artists who have been invited to participate at G’Day USA include the Australian String Quartet and twin cellists, Pei-Jee and Pei-Sian Ng. This builds on E Type Jazz’ performance in the past two G’Day USA: Australia Week celebrations.

 

“Adelaide is well known around the world as a destination for artists and Festival goers through the Adelaide Festival of Arts, and this is a great opportunity for the state to promote itself internationally by exporting one of its greatest cultural assets,” said ASO Chief Executive, Rainer Jozeps.

 

“What grander stage than that of Carnegie Hall! It’s very exciting,” he said.

 

“Of the six symphony orchestras in Australia, only three carry their home city’s name, and the ASO is one of them,” Mr Rann said.

 

“Orchestras are a perfect vehicle with which to promote a city on the world stage and, given that our ASO plays at such an exceptional level, we can be very confident that they will be excellent ambassadors for our city and state.”