| 2009 Artistic Focus |
My artistic focus this year for the Darwin Symphony Orchestra is “Celebration”. 2009, therefore, promises to be a very upbeat year for the Orchestra, as we celebrate from the beginning to the end!The Orchestra begins its Season, under the baton of guest conductor Warwick Potter, by celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Felix Mendelssohn, one of the most important of the Romantic composers of the 19th Century. On Good Friday, and then again in November, to help celebrate their 25th Birthday, the Orchestra will perform with the Darwin Chorale, under guest conductor Nicholas Routley. And of course, 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, so we are part of that too. The DSO is helping to celebrate the ‘Darwin 200 Year’ internationally, by commissioning the fourth work Transmutations in a series of works by English composer Michael Stimpson. The Age of Wonders — a work in four parts, which celebrates Charles Darwin’s life in music — is all new. The first three parts of the work are being premiered in the UK during the year, and the fourth part will be premiered here in Darwin by the DSO. This will take place at an outdoor performance in July to launch a special Bell Sculpture, which has been commissioned by the Darwin City Council, and created by artist Anton Hasell. Of course, there will be other things for us to help celebrate in 2009, but most importantly for the DSO, 2009 marks the Orchestra’s own 20th Birthday, so in the spirit of ‘Birthdays’ there will some surprises too! Dr Martin W B Jarvis OAM FIMT FRSA Artistic Director, DSO |
