Melbourne Chamber Orchestra

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The Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (MCO) is a professional Australian classical music ensemble based in Melbourne, Victoria.

Contents

Each year MCO gives over 50 performances including seasons of orchestral chamber music and works for smaller ensembles in its home city and on tour within the state, it runs its own chamber music festival, participates in other festivals and events, and runs workshops and masterclasses. [1]

History

Foundation and artistic direction

The orchestra was founded in 1990 under its original name, the Australia Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra (APACO), [2] by oboist Jeffrey Crellin [3] who served as its first artistic director. Crellin was also principal oboist of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO), and because of the close association between the two ensembles, a number of MSO musicians also played in the chamber orchestra. [4]

In 2006, after 17 years in the position, Crellin resigned as artistic director and was replaced by violinist William Hennessy [5] who held the position until his retirement in 2021. In the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2018, Hennessy received the General Division of the Order of Australia – AM award "for significant service to music as a concert violinist, artistic director, mentor and educator". [6]

The current director is violinist Sophie Rowell, appointed from 2023, and prior to that was MSO's concertmaster. [7] [8] [9] [10]

Increase in Melbourne audience

In its early days, the orchestra concentrated its seasons in the Federation Square's The Edge theatre which seated 450 people. Because concert attendances had reached about 350 and were continuing to grow, the need was obvious for a larger auditorium. With the new Melbourne Recital Centre due to be opened in February 2009, the orchestra planned to make that its main performance venue.

At the time, commentator Robin Usher wrote in The Age , "There were doubts that the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra would survive its first year because it was felt the challenges of adapting to the Melbourne Recital Centre's 1000-seat Elisabeth Murdoch Hall would prove too rigorous. But the orchestra has thrived; attendances have more than doubled, with subscriptions up 60 per cent, and the best is yet to come. It has just announced two programs to be conducted by England's Sir Neville Marriner, 85, founder of the Academy of St-Martin-in-the-Fields, in November." [11]

According to an annual report, by 2016, seven years after its move to the Recital Centre, audience support had grown to the extent that MCO decided to increase its annual season there from 11 to 13 concerts. [12]

From when the first known case of COVID-19 in Australia was reported on 25 January 2020 until the pandemic was declared in September 2022 by the Australian government to be over, public movement was restricted and audience attendances at arts events dwindled. MCO was badly affected and only six of the 53 seasonal performances originally planned for 2020 took place. As the report for that year says,

"The orchestra pivoted to digital small-format chamber music performances for the majority of the year. In total the orchestra still presented 36 performances and events, not including its Facebook-based Moments Musicaux project. These performances included 11 digital streaming performances on Melbourne Digital Concert Hall. In December, MCO was able to present an 11-performance live-audience celebration of Beethoven’s 250th anniversary across eastern Victoria and Daylesford, with a string quintet." [13]

Little changed for MCO during the following two years, and the reports for 2023 are not yet available. [14]

Change of name

In an Australian Financial Review report, journalist Katrina Strickland called the old name, Australia Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, "a clunky, confusing moniker",. [15] This view was held by other view held by others including, significantly, the orchestra's then executive chairman, Brian Benjamin, who said, "We undertook an exhaustive research project, looking at chamber orchestras worldwide, and discovered that more than 80 per cent name themselves after their place of residence." [15] As a result, the decision was made by Benjamin and Hennessy for the name to be Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. [11] [16]

In 2022, the acronym "MCO" was trademarked [17] and in 2024, the name "Melbourne Chamber Orchestra" was also trademarked. [18]

The Other Melbourne Chamber Orchestra

In the early 1990s, Spiros Rantos (1945–2004) [19] founded the Rantos Collegium which performed as 'Melbourne Chamber Orchestra' for a couple of years before wrapping up in 1996. [20] Move Records recorded and distributed a CD during this time. [21]

As discussed above, at the same time, Crellin's group was performing as APACO and would later change to MCO to align with the opening of the Melbourne Recital Centre. Other than the name, there is no connection between the two groups.

Performances and activities

Annual schedule and audience access

In Melbourne, MCO's orchestral season [22] is presented at the Melbourne Recital Centre which lists the orchestra as one of its "Key Presenting Partners". [23] Recitals of music for smaller chamber ensembles [24] are presented at other city venues including The Edge in Federation Square.

MCO also tours regional centres in Victoria providing programs from their Melbourne season. The 2017 report cited earlier noted that in that year there had been "22 regional touring performances to communities from Mornington to Yackandandah, adding that the orchestra was "one of Australia's most active tourers of classical music beyond urban centres, adding significantly to the diversity of music that audiences are able to access." [12]

In September each year, MCO runs a chamber music festival called A Feast of Music at Daylsford and other nearby towns. [25] Another annual engagement is the Chamber Music Dining at Narkoojee [26] a winery in Glengarry, Victoria. [27]

Many concerts are accessible online through the Australian Digital Concert Hall (ADCH) subscription network [28] and are broadcast and streamed online by Melbourne's music station 3MBS and Australia's national music network ABC Classic.

Repertoire

MCO's repertoire ranges from early music to contemporary works including those specially commissioned for their use. [29]

Australian composers from whom works have been commissioned include Julian Yu, [30] [31] Christopher Willcock, [32] [33] Ian Munro, [34] [35] Gordon Kerry, [36] [37] Paul Stanhope, [38] [39] [40] [41] Keith Crellin OAM, [42] [43] [44] Linda Kouvaras, [45] [46] [47] Caerwen Martin, [48] [49] and Ade Vincent. [50] [51] [52] MCO has also given the world premiere performances of works by composers including Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, [53] [54] [55] Richard Mills, [56] [57] Matthew Laing [58] [59] [60] and Philip Czaplowski. [61] [62] [63]

New works commissioned for the 2024 season include Glacial Thunder by Katy Abbott [64] [65] [66] and the world premiere of a Trumpet Concerto transcribed for chamber orchestra by its composer, Nigel Westlake, [67] [68]

New works commissioned for the 2025 season include: This waking moment by Matthew Laing; [69] a yet to be named work by Noongar, Yamatji and Wongi musician Aaron Wyatt; [70] [71] and, a yet to be named work by Melbourne composer Melody Eötvös. [72] [73]

Recordings

In 2008, as Australia Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, Move Records published, Pictures at an Exhibition, featuring former (and founding) Artistic Director, Jeffrey Crellin. [74]

In 2023, MCO released its self-produced CD titled, Poems & Romances, featuring Markiyan Melnychenko and then Artistic Director, William Hennessy. [75] It received 3.5 stars from Limelight magazine. [76]

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References

  1. ↑ "What's On", Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  2. ↑ "Australia Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra", Move Records. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "60 seconds with ... Jeffrey Crellin", Monash Memo, Monash University, 26 April 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  4. ↑ Usher, Robin. "New Era for Pro Arte", The Age , 16 August 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  5. ↑ William Hennessy AM. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  6. ↑ Commonwealth of Australia. Adjournment: Victoria: Queen's Birthday Honours. Senate Hansard, Thursday 21 June 2018, p. 3682. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Artistic Director", Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  8. ↑ Paget, Clive."Sophie Rowell appointed Artistic Director of Melbourne Chamber Orchestra", Limelight, 12 April 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "Sophie Rowell, Violin: Artistic Director – Melbourne Chamber Orchestra; Former Concertmaster – Melbourne Symphony Orchestra", Australian World Orchestra, updated 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  10. ↑ Sophie Rowell, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  11. 1 2 Usher, Robin. "Orchestra plays its strengths", The Age, 8 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  12. 1 2 Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Melbourne Chamber Orchestra Inc.: Annual Information Statement 2017.. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  13. ↑ Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Melbourne Chamber Orchestra Inc.: Annual Information Statement 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  14. ↑ Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Melbourne Chamber Orchestra Inc.: Annual Reporting. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  15. 1 2 Strickland, Katrina. "Rebadge strikes chord Name changes inspires growth", Australian Financial Review, 20 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  16. ↑ "Melbourne Chamber Orchestra", Move Records. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  17. ↑ IP Australia – Trademark registration 2301301, Retrieved 12 December 2004.
  18. ↑ IP Australia – Trademark registration 2301300, Retrieved 12 December 2004.
  19. ↑ Spiros Rantos, Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  20. ↑ "Spiros Rantos Career History", Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  21. ↑ Move Records, Retrieved 12 December 2024>
  22. ↑ "Orchestral", Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "Key Presenting Partners", Melbourne Recital Centre. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  24. ↑ "Chamber", Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  25. ↑ "A Feast of Music", Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  26. ↑ "Chamber Music Dining at Narkoojee", Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  27. ↑ Narkoojee Winery. Retrieved 13 August.
  28. ↑ "Australian Digital Concert Hall". Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  29. ↑ See, for example, a concert entitled "Illuminations" in which works by Mediaeval nun Hildegard of Bingen, Baroque singer and composer Barbara Strozzi, Romantic composer, conductor and virtuoso musician Giovanni Bottesini, and contemporary composer Andrea Clearfield were performed in September 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  30. ↑ Julian Yu: Represented Artist, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  31. ↑ Mini rhapsody: for string orchestra by Julian Yu (1992), Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  32. ↑ Christopher Willcock: Represented Artist, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  33. ↑ Divertimento: Nolan's backyard : for string orchestra by Christopher Willcock (2008), Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  34. ↑ Ian Munro: Represented Artist, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  35. ↑ Divertimento: Melodies of afternoon by Ian Munro (2009), Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  36. ↑ Gordon Kerry: Represented Artist, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  37. ↑ Music for double chamber orchestra (multiple orchestras) by Gordon Kerry (2013), Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  38. ↑ Paul Stanhope, composer. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  39. ↑ Paul Stanhope: Represented Artist, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  40. ↑ Associate Professor Paul Stanhope, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney. Retrieved 19 August 2023
  41. ↑ Nephesh : for string octet or nonet by Paul Stanhope (2015), Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  42. ↑ The work entitled in memoriam Jan Sedivka was commissioned in 2017 by AMC at the request of its Artistic Director, William Hennessy. AMC recorded it in 2021 and it was released on a CD entitled Poems & Romances: Music by Beethoven, Chausson & Shostakovich in String Orchestra Arrangements by Keith Crellin on AMC's own CD label (MCOR2021). There are no records of a public performance ever being given. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  43. ↑ Keith Crellin, violist, formerly Associate Professor, Head of the String Department, and Conductor-in-Residence, Elder Conservatorium of Music, The University of Adelaide. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  44. ↑ Keith Crellin. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  45. ↑ Linda Kouvaras: Represented Artist, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  46. ↑ Professor Linda Kouvaras, Professor in Music (Musicology), Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  47. ↑ Piano Quartet: for piano, violin, viola and cello by Linda Kouvaras (2022), Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  48. ↑ Caerwen Martin. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  49. ↑ Caerwen Martin: Represented Artist, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  50. ↑ This was a song cycle entitled To Be Human for which singer Lior provided the lyrics which Abe Vincent set to music. Lior and MCO gave the world premiere in Shepparton, Victoria on 16 November 2023 followed by performances in other regional centres and Melbourne. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  51. ↑ Ade Vincent, Melbourne-based composer, audio producer and performer. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  52. ↑ Ade Vincent: Represented Artist, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  53. ↑ Deborah Cheetham Fraillon: Represented Artist, Australian Music Centre
  54. ↑ Professor Deborah Fraillon, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  55. ↑ Pecan Summer: opera by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon (2010), Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  56. ↑ Richard Mills: Represented Artist, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  57. ↑ Concerto for two violins and strings (string orchestra with multiple soloists) by Richard Mills, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  58. ↑ Matt Laing – Composer – Violist. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  59. ↑ Matthew Laing: Associate Artist, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  60. ↑ Pantomime: string orchestra by Matthew Laing (2020), Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  61. ↑ Concerto for Clarinet and Strings by Philip Czaplowski (2001), Australian Music Centre, Retrieved 17 November 2024
  62. ↑ Thernody: String Orchestra by Philip Czaplowski (1998) Australian Music Centre, Retrieved 17 November 2024
  63. ↑ Concerto for Oboe and Strings by Philip Czaplowski (1997) Australian Music Centre, Retrieved 17 November 2024
  64. ↑ MCO's Music Speaks Concert Notes, 29 February and 3 March 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  65. ↑ Katy Abbott – Composer Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  66. ↑ Katy Abbott: Represented Artist, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  67. ↑ MCO's Light + Shade program, 18 and 21 April 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  68. ↑ Nigel Westlake: Represented Artist, Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  69. ↑ MCO's Daybreak Program, 6 and March 2025, Retrieved 12 December 2024
  70. ↑ MCO's Homeland Program, March 2025, Retrieved 12 December 2024
  71. ↑ 2024 Boyer Lecture by Aaron Wyatt, Our Shared Humanity, Retrieved 12 December 2024
  72. ↑ MCO's Nightingale Program, 20 and 23 November 2025, Retrieved 12 December 2024
  73. ↑ Melody Eötvös, Retrieved 12 December 2024
  74. ↑ Move Records. Retrieved 12 December 2024
  75. ↑ Purchase Poems & Romances. Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Retrieved 12 December 2024
  76. ↑ Limelight review by Greg Keane, 30 March 2023, Retrieved 12 December 2024
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