The Darwin Symphony Orchestra will extend its creative horizons this year with concerts ranging from Tchaikovsky to music theatre and venues spanning the casino lawns to Pine Creek.
Artistic and General Manager of the DSO, Mr Simone de Haan said the 2008 season was conceived to highlight the orchestra’s versatility across a range of styles.
“We will present the drama of Tchaikovsky’s symphonic works, the pulsating rhythms of percussion and the exotic world of the tango, the transparency of Debussy’s Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faun, and the lyricism of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue,” Mr de Haan said.
“The program for the Darwin Entertainment Centre Series is extremely diverse and reflects the DSO’s desire to expand the musical horizons of the orchestra.”
The DSO also will present a new three-concert series Intimate Music in “chamber” size groupings through the dry season - strings, woodwind, brass – in the Maritime Gallery at the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT at Bullocky Point.
The Artistic Director of the DSO and conductor of these concerts, Martin Jarvis OAM, said the orchestra was delighted to be giving two performances on the lawns of Sky City Casino.
The Dry Season Concerts will open in May with the popular theme Opera at the Sea, featuring Rosario La Spina and Theresa La Rocca, and close at the end of August with Music at the Movies, featuring two of Australia’s leading musicians, pianist/composer Paul Grabowsky and jazz clarinetist Andy Firth.
A new production of La Traviata, at the Amphitheatre, will be presented by the Darwin Entertainment Centre and the DSO in July, in association with the Adelaide-based opera company Co-opera conducted by Brian Chatterton OAM. After this, the DSO will travel to Pine Creek to present music theatre, Strauss and fireworks.
Mr de Haan said the DSO was able to take on these extra creative activities through ongoing support from Arts NT and Charles Darwin University, and additional funding from the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts.
“We are committed to presenting engaging programs for our regular supporters, as well as bringing new audiences to our indoor concerts,” Martin Jarvis said.
For further information, or to receive a DSO 2008 season brochure contact: Simone de Haan Tel: 8946 6214; Email: simone.dehaan@cdu.edu.au.