AUSTRALIAN DISCOVERY ORCHESTRA
Principal Conductor: Kevin Purcell
The Australian Discovery Orchestra is Australia’s most innovative symphony orchestra. The exceptional roster of orchestral musicians performing with the ADO brings together the finest freelance players from across Australia several times a year to perform concerts designed as special, once-in-a-lifetime, events.
2025 SEASON – WE ARE ON SABBATICAL THIS YEAR
2026 CONCERT SEASON
SEASON OPENING CONCERT
THE GREATEST BRITISH SYMPHONY
WILLIAM WALTON
Symphony No. 1 in Bb Minor
CONCERT 2
ICONIC POP SONGS BY WOMEN IN 1960s
THE BRIT GIRLS OF THE 60s
A unique concert premiering completely new, large symphonic orchestrations of the marvellous music recorded by iconic British and Welsh women pop stars in the 1960s including, Shirley Bassey, Lulu, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark. Songs include Goldfinger, To Sir With Love, Don’t Sleep on The Subway, Dowtown, Windmills of Your Mind, Alfie, You’re My World and many others. Orchestrations by Troy Rogan and Kevin Purcell.
CONCERT 3
TURN OF THE CENTURY CZECH MASTERPIECES
JOSEF (JAROSLAV) SUK
Symphony No. 1 in E Major (1899)
A symphony that is most unjustly neglected in the repertoire. Composed in 1899, the Symphony No. 1 is a manifestation of absolute artistic maturity and independence even though Suk was only 23 years old. It is a youthful sounding work with mannerisms and influences of both Dvořák and Brahms. Already composing as a child: at the age of eight, the musically highly gifted composer was admitted at age 11 to the conservatory in Prague. In his final year of study (1891-2) Suk attended AntonÃn Dvořák’s newly established composition class. In 1898 Suk married Dvořák’s daughter Otylka (Otilie). Fate subsequently dealt Suk heavy blows with the death of his teacher in 1904 and his wife in 1905. Later major symphonic works include the Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op.27 (Asrael) and A Summers Tale, Op. 21.