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Australian Chamber Orchestra (photo by Stephen Oxenbury)

Australian Chamber Orchestra

The acclaimed Australian Chamber Orchestra, led by Artistic Director Richard Tognetti, performs works by Handel, Bartók, Paganini, Vine, Elgar, and Ravel.

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About the Program

Sydney-based Australian Chamber Orchestra brings its distinct give-and-take style back to the Kennedy Center with two evenings of chamber standards and modern masterpieces.
 
On September 29, the group brings its "astonishingly warm…heavenly playing" (The Times, London) to two Ravel works arranged by the orchestra's veteran leader and violinist, Richard Tognetti. Also performed are works by Handel, Elgar, Bartók, and an astounding re-working of Carl Vine's daring Smith's Alchemy.
 
The next night, September 30, the Australian Chamber Orchestra takes audiences from the Arab world to the rock arena. Oud master Joseph Tawadros and percussionist James Tawadros join to perform a medley of Joseph's Egyptian-flavored compositions. The group then crosses continents and genres to perform Pink Floyd's "Shine on You Crazy Diamond," a tribute to the late Syd Barrett. The evening comes to a close with the clear and powerful sound of two masterpieces by St. Petersburg–born Dmitri Shostakovich. Part of the Kennedy Center's Focus on Russia.

Performance Timing:  1 hour, 38 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission

  Program:
HANDEL - Concerto Grosso in B-flat major, Op. 6, No. 7
VINE - Smith's Alchemy
ELGAR - Introduction and Allegro for String Quartet and String Orchestra, Op. 47 Program Notes
RAVEL - Kaddish (arr. Tognetti)
RAVEL - The Eternal Enigma (arr. Tognetti)
PAGANINI - Caprice No. 5 (arr. Tognetti)
BARTÓK - Divertimento for Strings Program Notes

The Australian Chamber Orchestra is presented in association with the Embassy of Australia.

Additional support is provided by Chevron.

International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

[Quantas logo.] Qantas is the Official Airline of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

The Fortas Chamber Music Concerts are supported by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.



All events and artists subject to change without prior notice.

Group of 20 or more? Group Sales offers special terms and discounts for most performances.

Additional Resources

About the Kennedy Center Fortas Chamber Music Concerts Series

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