Pekka Kuusisto on Sibelius and Sisu

Pekka Kuusisto, Guest Director/Violin for our Inner Voices national tour talks about Sibelius, sisu* and Finnish folk music:



*Finnish for 'guts' or 'fortitude'.

An ACO Epiphany

Joseph Tawadros and the ACO perform Joseph's work Epiphany, for oud and orchestra.

Upshaw Online

Dawn Upshaw sings 'With Darkness Deep' from Handel's Theodora.

Upshaw sings Bartok, Golijov and Strauss with the ACO in February.

YouTube Symphony

Here's a fascinating idea: a call for musicians to audition online to play in an international orchestra, the YouTube Symphony Orchestra. The blend of technology, social media, collaborative creation and Tan Dun is certainly very now. Details below:

"Interested in joining the first-ever collaborative online orchestra? Professionals and amateur musicians of all ages, locations and instruments are welcome to audition for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra by submitting a video performance of a new piece written for the occasion by the renowned Chinese composer Tan Dun (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). We have tools to help you learn the music, rehearse with the conductor and upload your part for the collaborative video.

And how do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice and upload. Send us your talent video performance from a list of recommended pieces. Finalists will be chosen by a judging panel and YouTube users to participate in the YouTube Symphony Orchestras debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 15, 2009 (travel and accommodations included).

The deadline for all video submissions is January 28, 2009."

A Euphoric Sample

Karajan conducts the Berlin Phil. in the first movement of Prokofiev's Classical Symphony (featured in our upcoming national tour).

Glenn Gould on the Art of Fugue

Song of the Birds

Steven Isserlis plays an arrangement of a Catalan folksong made famous by Pablo Casals.

NEW Video: The Red Tree

Watch our latest webumentary about The Red Tree


More information and bookings here.

30 Second Spot

Our latest television commercial:

You can see all the ACO videos to date at our YouTube Channel: http://au.youtube.com/AustralianCO

Another Chamber Orchestra Ad

Audacious Documentary

SIX DEGREES OF YOKO ONO

Why is Yoko Ono on our blog? Well, Ono was married to Toshi Ichiyanagi, one of the composers in our upcoming Audacious tour, from 1956-1963. She has a thing for musicians, apparently.

PAGANINI VARIATIONS

Your Friday YouTube treat.

We love Paganini and we also love Lutoslawski. Here they are, together at last



You can hear a different side of Lutoslawki in our Audacious Tour.

OLD MUSIC MADE NEW

Friday is YouTube Day so we commend to you this excerpt from a stunning production of Rameau's opera, Les Paladins with early music ensemble, Les Arts Florissants. Rameau, a master of the French Baroque is distinguished by his virtuoso use of instrumental colour, daring harmony and gift for luscious melody.



The ACO will perform selections from another great Rameau opera, Dardanus, on tour in Europe.