The major event of the afternoon was to rehear Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F, Opus 68 Pastoral enlivened with ARCO's feel for balance and the distinctive originality of some of its wind players.
Richard Gill’s understated conducting style never fails to achieve the best from his musicians; his personal charm, humour and vast musicological knowledge wins audiences unfailingly. He is at the leading edge of both ARCO and the Sydney Chamber Choir, two of Sydney’s finest ensembles, well-matched in style and philosophy. What a brilliant idea to bring them together!
ARCO and its specialty repertoire of Classical and Romantic period music is an excellent gateway to the Western art music tradition. Gill himself is a charismatic educator who is mindful of conventions, but comfortable with breaking them so as to endear a composition to the audience. This is an inimitable ensemble, that excels in presenting high art to entertain and enlighten.
In September, Nicole van Bruggen and members of the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra revealed the gloriously polished tonal grain of the 18th century basset [clarinet], an invention of Mozart and his friends.
Australia boasts a bevy of fine period instrument bands these days, but this concert by the ARCO Chamber Soloists in September was particularly special. At the heart of the concert was the smooth, caramel sound of Nicole van Bruggen’s basset clarinet – a recreation of the one made by Mozart’s clarinettist Anton Stadler – in a performance of Mozart’s Quintet in A Major, K581
"Fighting the Industrial Revolution with beauty and newness ... intimate nights of entertainment with fun for everyone and you could see in the energy and movements of the musicians they were having a jolly good time with this music."
"Watching them play gave me goosebumps! We could feel a sense of oneness between them and their instruments, as if the basset clarinet and the violin were natural extensions of their bodies."
"superbly lyrical and tremendously empathetic playing ... deep level of communication and understanding amongst the players ... Nicole van Bruggen’s playing was both energetic and sensitive. Her enthusiasm for her art was palpable ... ARCO is a precious gem in the Australian musical landscape and should be taken very seriously."
"the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra, led by Rachael Beesley, provided an opportunity for an intimate insight into its musical quality and ethos. On the evidence of this concert, ARCO values balance, expressive subtlety, and mellifluous melodic shape and avoids distorting mannerisms and unnecessary over-emphasis... This was a gem of a concert for its caressing sweetness of sound and pristine tonal beauty."
ANGUS MCPHERSON on SEPTEMBER 18, 2017
"Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra has firmly established itself as a fixture of the HIP music scene in Australia ... the ARCO Chamber Soloists, led by violinist Rachael Beesley, shaped with an exquisitely organic, breath-like phrasing ... the sound [the basset clarinet] produced was incredible, Van Bruggen coaxing a smooth, caramel timbre from the instrument ... an impeccable sense of ensemble and tight-knit camaraderie ... a wonderfully intimate offering from ARCO Chamber Soloists, with Van Bruggen’s basset clarinet a particular treat."
JOHN TUCKER
"I have to confess something right here, at the very beginning of this review. I am, quite simply, in love with the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra."
BY CLIVE PAGET ON MAY 21, 2017
"[Schubert's] Unfinished Symphony is a virtual calling card for the Romantic movement and here it received the kind of thrilling, committed performance that is a hallmark of ARCO’s dedication to squeezing new sounds out of old bottles."
May 21, 2017 by Harriet Cunningham
"I’ve described what I was hearing, but what I actually felt coming off the stage was a bold and unanimous gesture; an ensemble saying, “Listen to this. This is what we made.” It was wonderful."
BY BEN APFELBAUM on March 31 2017
"Beethoven’s Romance for Violin and Orchestra No 2 featured Rachael Beesley as the soloist. Beesley played with tenderness and warmth, and created a wonderful dialogue with the woodwind section."
BY JOHN TUCKER ON MARCH 27, 2017
"The Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra (ARCO) brought a touch of Italian Romance to the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Friday night ... A splendid way to end a wonderful evening’s entertainment. Highly recommended – get yourself along to a performance, and take your friends!"
BY CLIVE PAGET ON MARCH 27, 2017
"What a great time to be a HIPster ... there’s an infectious energy and a sense of enthusiasm that turns an ARCO concert into an event ... There was a tangible solidity to the ARCO sound, from the resolute opening through the bosom-heaving dramatics, and all done with impeccable intonation."
by Nicky Gluch, February 2017
"It takes a village to raise a child, what does it take to raise an orchestra? Nurturing, clearly, funding, without a doubt, and an overall belief in its purpose seem a good start"
