In Wednesday’s (8/24) Australian (Sydney), Sallie Don writes, “An idea hatched almost 20 years ago has finally come to fruition as close to 100 top Australian musicians gather in Sydney this week for the inaugural performance of the Australian World Orchestra. Conceived by Sydney-based conductor Alexander Briger, the all-star classical music team is a celebration of locally grown talent who perform in more than 45 orchestras around the world, from Berlin and Vienna to London, Chicago and Hong Kong. … The orchestra was rehearsing in Sydney yesterday ahead of performances this weekend, when it will play works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Wagner. Works by Australian composers Brett Dean—who is also performing and conducting—and Peter Sculthorpe fill out the program. … Among their number is Simone Young, the former Opera Australia music director. Young, recognised as one of the leading conductors of her generation, jumped at the chance to be involved in what she calls an ‘outrageous project.’ … She will be conducting one of her specialities in the first concert – Wagner’s Prelude and Venusberg music from Tannhäuser, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6.”
Posted August 25, 2011
