The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra celebrates its first 10 years with its most ambitious touring project to date.
The life of a musician is inextricably bound up with travel. This year, the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra celebrates its first 10 years with its most ambitious touring project to date; Midsummer Dreams, an east coast tour with 41 musicians on the road playing venues in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Newcastle and Sydney.
For the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, it’s one more step in what has already been a voyage of discovery: 10 years of audience development; of growing a budget from zero to $1m; of creating sustainable employment for specialist musicians and gaining a foothold in a music world that isn’t immune to COVID-19 lockdowns, new technologies, the rising cost of living and the vicissitudes of government funding.
“Our launch concert was completely free, with musicians contributing their passion and vision for a new HIP [historically informed performance] orchestra on the Australian landscape,” remembers co-artistic director, general manager and clarinettist Nicole van Bruggen.
“From there we found donors and audiences, and have grown to sustain not only our musicians, but unique educational opportunities at partner institutions.”
Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra. Photo supplied
A brainchild of the late Richard Gill, the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra was born in 2012, during Victorian Opera’s performance of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro. Gill was conducting the Melbourne-based HIP ensemble Ludovico’s Band, led by violinist Rachael Beesley.
Impressed by the musicianship and intrigued by its sound, Gill suggested a new orchestra could and should be founded…
Jason Blake, Limelight (3 August 2023)
Image: Bradley Kanaris