I am delighted to present to you the Canberra Symphony Orchestra’s 2021 concert season, my first as Artistic Advisor.
This season is a journey into the heart of the human condition. Our milestones are musical masterpieces, works that light up the imagination and dive into the depths of the powerful forces that shape our human experiences, from Prokofiev’s heart-wrenching Romeo and Juliet to the fairy tale magic of Stravinsky’s Firebird, from the sublime visions of Mozart and Mahler to Kurt Weill’s scathing Seven Deadly Sins.
I look forward to bringing these great works to life with our vibrant Canberra Symphony Orchestra, along with Principal Guest Conductor Simon Hewett, and sharing the journey and the stage with guest artists Lorina Gore (Artist in Focus), Courteney Cleary, Sine Winther, Jayson Gillham and Sally Walker.
Along the way, we sojourn with old musical friends in a new series: Chamber Classics. Each concert has at its heart favourites of the classical repertoire and will showcase our brilliant CSO musicians in intimate, chamber settings.
Australian voices resonate across the season, bearing us onward and expressing through music those shared experiences for which we don’t always have the words. It’s a special joy to have our Australian Series curated by Deborah Cheetham: titled Return, the series explores the often winding, cyclical nature of forward motion and what it means to be part of the longest musical tradition in history.
The city of Canberra and the CSO both hold special places in my heart. Canberra is a capital of great cultural significance, and the CSO plays an important role in this. I have encountered here an orchestra of special openness and warmth, with a wealth of musical talent, spirit and energy for the future.
Please join us in 2021 – the experience of coming together for live music is incredibly meaningful and sorely missed. Music has the power to stir something deep within us. It can bring beauty and nostalgia, ease our sorrows, and light us up with joy and energy. It has the ability to allow us to listen inwards, and a potency that can bring us all together. We can’t wait to embark on this musical journey with you.
Jessica Cottis
Artistic Advisor