The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s (ASO) new initiative, Festival Of Orchestra, will serve as the centerpiece of the company’s July-December season for 2021.

The Festival Of Orchestra is an Australian first, with six concerts celebrating the world’s greatest orchestral music from the concert hall, Broadway, dance club, rock arena and the big screen.

Adelaide Showground will be the hub of the festival’s sunset concerts, with the central arena with the orchestra live on stage with a capacity of 5,000 spectators each evening.

“The Festival Of Orchestra, or FOFO, takes ASO out of the concert hall and into the main arena of one of the state’s most beloved venues,” said Vincent Ciccarello, CEO of ASO.

“We’re bringing back ‘Symphony Under The Stars’, in the form of our ‘Classical Spectacular’ opening night, with cannons and fireworks,” he says. “We have the ‘Ministry Of Sound Orchestrated’, the epic ‘Carmina Burana’ with massed choirs, a special evening of highlights from Broadway musicals. And we will join forces again with The Angels from SA, before the festival culminates with the extraordinary BBC “Blue Planet II” with a score by Hans Zimmer and special guest narrator.

In addition to the Festival Of Orchestra, there will be other must-see masterpieces to be seen throughout the year. . . Whether you love the classics of the Symphony series or want an introduction through “Classics Unwrapped”. Choose the Meditation Series if you need a pick-me-up or even be transported to a galaxy far, far away in John Williams’ spectacular motion picture “Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi In Concert”.

Principal Guest Conductor Mark Wigglesworth returns to conduct the orchestra for “Dreams And Passions”, “Classical Spectacular” and “Carmina Burana”.

“When ASO has the chance to work with Mark, it always ends up being a touching and memorable experience,” said Cameron Hill, Associate Principal Violin at ASO. “He can attract the orchestra with the smallest of gestures, and has the ability to build and shape music wonderfully. There is a real freshness in his interpretations! ”

The Festival Of Orchestra kicks off with a “Spectacular Classic”, featuring some of the greatest orchestral music ever created.

‘Symphony of the Angels’

Meanwhile, the iconic Ministry Of Sound is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year as London’s first super club. “Ministry Of Sound: Classical” celebrates some of the dance floor’s most beloved moments of the past 25 years, rearranged, remixed and reimagined with ASO. The show features Adelaide’s DJ Groove Terminator (GT), aka Simon Lewicki, and is accompanied by a warm-up set from DJ John Course.

A full performance of “Carmina Burana” is always epic. It is a big and daring celebration of the life, the love and the pleasures of the flesh and the grape. From the opening chorus “O Fortuna”, it’s an unforgettable experience. ASO will be joined by Young Adelaide Voices, The Elder Conservatorium Chorale, graduate singers and a troupe of vocal soloists.

Then it’s time for “ A Night On Broadway, ” a musical theater showcase featuring a line-up of Australian musical theater royalty, including Amy Lehpamer, performing “ Music Of The Night ” by ‘Phantom Of The Opera’, ‘Bring Him Home’ from ‘Les Misérables’,’ Defying Gravity ‘from’ Wicked ‘,’ Back To Before ‘from’ Ragtime ‘,’ If I Loved You ‘from’ Carousel ”and“ Let It Go ”from“ Frozen ”. . . All under the sparkling direction of Guy Noble.

“Broadway music just wears its heart on its sleeve. It’s like taking a ride on Aladdin’s magic carpet through a world of high emotion. Most shows have very small orchestras made up of keyboards, but hearing the big songs with all the power of the Adelaide Symphony – it’s a whole new world, ”Guy says.

The spectacular ‘Symphony Of Angels’ will satisfy classic rock fans as ASO will be joined on stage by Brewster brothers John and Rick, Ice Norton and Sam Brewster, and lead man Dave Gleeson.

75 ASO musicians will make you discover the greatest works of the Angels in a spectacular show of 20 songs: “ Take A Long Line ”, “ Marseilles ”, “ After The Rain ”, “ Be With You and ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’. . . To name a few!

From icy and polar seas to thrilling coral reefs, “ Blue Planet II – Live In Concert ” features film footage presented on a state-of-the-art LED screen as ASO performs to music by Hans Zimmer on the final evening of the Festival Of Orchestra.

The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Festival Of Orchestra runs from November 26 to December 4. Check more information on their events from July to December.