Beethoven and the 21st century with the ACO

By Tony Burke, 15 February 2016

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Reviewed at Sydney Opera House: Concert Hall, Sydney on 14 February 2016

Muhly, Drones and Violin (part I)

Tüür, Action, Passion, Illusion

Tippett, A Lament

Dessner, Tenebre

Sibelius, Rakastava (The Lover) for string orchestra, Op.14

Beethoven, String Quartet no. 11 in F minor, "Serioso", Op.95

Australian Chamber Orchestra

Pekka Kuusisto, Violin, Artistic Director

Australian Chamber Orchestra in Melbourne: Gershwin, Shostakovich

Sandra Bowdler, 10th August

Two works by Shostakovich sandwiching Rhapsody in Blue made for an exhilerating concert from the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Melbourne

****1

Bach sheds light in an impressively dark outing from the ACO

Nick Boston, 21st March

Energetic commitment from the ACO at the Barbican, with precision and edge from Alexander Melnikov and Jeroen Berwaerts in an evening of darkness and light.

****1

Mesmerising, but relentless Brahms and Beethoven from the ACO

Zoltán Szabó, 11th February

Awe-inspiring performances of much loved classics in Sydney, yet the musical eyebrows have reasons to go (and stay) up.

****1

Why isn't the music enough? “Silence and Rapture” from the ACO

Sandra Bowdler, 14th August

Iestyn Davies joins the Australian Chamber Orchestra for music by Bach and Pärt in a programme featuring distracting modern dance.

***11

Symphony or song cycle? Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde in Sydney

Zoltán Szabó, 17th May

Mahler's epic five-movement symphonic song cycle is performed by a chamber ensemble with mixed results.

***11

A walk to Beethoven: Bezuidenhout and the Australian Chamber Orchestra

Zoltán Szabó, 23rd March

Kristian Bezuidenhout joins the ACO for a piecemeal programme leading to a complete performance of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto.

***11

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Tony Burke

Tony worked in medicine for many years, having his own GP practice in New South Wales. He plays piano and is an enthusiastic concert-goer, his travels often taking him to Edinburgh in the (UK) summers.

Australian Chamber Orchestra: Beethoven and the 21st century