ACO 50th Celebration

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  • Australian Chamber Orchestra
  • Concert Hall
  • Seating map

Celebrating the Australian Chamber Orchestra 

Fifty years of transcending boundaries and redefining music. 

On the 21 November 1975, a group of pioneering musicians walked out onto the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall stage and the Australian Chamber Orchestra was born. Founded by the legendary Australian cellist John Painter, these musicians were driven by a shared mission to take control of their musical destinies: to become the country’s first truly national orchestra with an uncompromising commitment to elite performance, to represent Australia on the world stage, and provide opportunities to the country’s brightest young string players.                                              

Fifty years to the day, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and its fearless leader of 35 years, violin virtuoso Richard Tognetti, will walk out onto that same stage to pay homage to the past and to celebrate a bright and ambitious future.  

From classics by Antonio Vivaldi, Ludwig van Beethoven and Fanny Mendelssohn that capture the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s thrilling dynamism and imaginative spirit, to the ACO’s groundbreaking film collaborations and guest appearances from beloved collaborators across music, film and dance, this concert showcases why the Australian Chamber Orchestra is one of the most distinct, inventive and renowned ensembles on the world stage today.   

We dedicate Celebrating the Australian Chamber Orchestra to our founder John Painter who died on the 13 September, 2025. This concert is a celebration of his legacy, and a thank you to all of you: our beloved audiences who have stood with us across five decades. We hope you will join us to mark this very special milestone in the history, and future, of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.  

Presented by Australian Chamber Orchestra 

Event details

Program

ANTONIO VIVALDI Summer from The Four Seasons, RV315: II. Adagio, III. Presto  

JOE TAWADROS Constantinople  

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (arr. Tognetti) Violin Sonata in A major, Op.48 "Kreutzer": III. Finale  

FANNY MENDELSSOHN HENSEL (arr. strings) String Quartet in E-flat major: IV. Allegro molto vivace  

BÉLA BARTÓK Divertimento: III. Allegro assai  

TRADITIONAL (arr. Rofe) Simple Gifts 

ARVO PÄRT My Heart's in the Highlands  

PETER SCULTHORPE Djilile [from Mountain]   

RICHARD TOGNETTI Flying [from Mountain]  

WOJCIECH KILAR Orawa [from The Reef] 

Artists

Richard Tognetti, director and violin  

Joseph Tawadros, oud  

James Tawadros, percussion  

St Marys North Public School students, violin & cello   

Iestyn Davies, countertenor   

Sydney Dance Company, dancers  

Satu Vänskä, voice   

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Attending this event

Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Concert Hall

The Concert Hall is located beneath the largest of Sydney Opera House’s roof sails, filling the upper levels of the west side of the building. Best accessed through the covered concourse. 

All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators).

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