Queensland Symphony Orchestra Unveil 2022 Season

Header Image: Season 2022 hero art (Nicole Greentree) – Photography by Sarah Marshall

With 2022 shaping up to be a much more consistent year for the performing arts industry, for the first time in ages we can expect companies to be giving it their all as patrons return to theatres at (hopefully) full capacity and enjoy the labour of love and creativity unfold. Queensland Symphony Orchestra has unveiled what is on their agenda for the year ahead. They are boasting “epic symphonies from the classical canon, world premieres by Australian composers, and concerts that joyously celebrate modern music-makers”, with the season shining a spotlight on “spine-tingling solos, and promises special moments for music lovers of all ages” to celebrate the company’s 75th Anniversary.

In total, music lovers can look forward to 10 Maestro concerts, five Morning Masterworks, five Music on Sunday concerts, six Studio Sessions and six Special Events. Queensland Symphony Orchestra will also be offering a full regional touring program and education program – described as “a joyous, celebratory, breathtaking and awe-inspiring program; one that is also poignantly reflective of the challenges of the past 18 months”.

There’s concerts celebrating classical composers from Brahms and Beethoven, Mozart to Strauss (both Richard and Johann Jr!), Shostakovich, Schubert, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, and 20 works from Australian composers, half of whom are Queensland born, raised, or a resident. Works by established composers, including Cathy Milliken, Brett Dean and Nigel Westlake, sit alongside works by the next generation including Melody Eötvös, Lachlan Skipworth, Harry Sdraulig and Andrew Howes. And the Orchestra honours the role of two pioneering 20th century artists, Miriam Hyde and Margaret Sutherland. Two new works by Nicole Murphy and Joe Twist for the QSO Connect 13-piece ensemble will also premiere across Queensland next year.

In 2022, Principal Conductor Johannes Fritzsch leads the Orchestra in seven concerts. Sharing the baton across the year are Umberto Clerici and American conductor Jonathan Stockhammer; Music Director of the Auckland Philharmonia Giordano Bellincampi; Israeli conductor, pianist and Principal Conductor of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra Asher Fisch; Swiss-Australian conductor Elena Schwarz; composer, conductor, and arranger Nicholas Buc; Australian-Chinese conductor Dane Lam; and Benjamin Northey.

Visiting soloists include Australian pianist Daniel de Borah, Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan, Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov, from the UK violin master Jack Liebeck, and violinist/conductor Guy Braunstein who was the youngest violinist ever appointed as concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Opening the season is the second annual QSO Favourites event, which will feature a brand new work from composer Craig Allister Young to celebrate the Orchestra’s 75th birthday. In November, a very exciting concert will see the world premiere of a concerto for double bass and orchestra written especially for QSO’s dynamic Section Principal Double Bass, Phoebe Russell by Queensland composer Paul Dean. Another highlight event in April will be a 90th Birthday celebration of John Williams, featuring the epic fanfares of Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Schindler’s List among others.

Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Health and Wellbeing Program is also set to shine in 2022 as an innovative program that will connect with all Queenslanders, harnessing the power of music to bring about hope, health and happiness, involving a wide range of community groups, corporate and university partners.

2022 Season Subscription packages will be going on-sale tomorrow at 9.00am via the QSO website, with single tickets to all concerts going on sale from 9.00am on Thursday 9 December 2021 via QPAC.

Jump to the next couple of pages to read statements from key stakeholders in the Queensland Symphony Orchestra 2022 Season and a full list of events.

Sam
Sam
Founder of The Otaku's Study. I have been exploring this labyrinth of fandom these last fifteen years, and still nowhere close to the exit yet. Probably searching for a long time to come.

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