View source for Adelaide Symphony Orchestra

{{Short description|South Australian orchestra based in Adelaide}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox orchestra
| name                = Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
| image               = ASO LOGO.jpg
| caption             = 
| founded             = 1936
| former_name         = South Australian Symphony Orchestra
| principal_conductor = [[Mark Wigglesworth]]
| website             = {{URL|www.aso.com.au}}
}}
The '''Adelaide Symphony Orchestra''' ('''ASO''') is a [[South Australia]]n orchestra based in [[Adelaide]], established in 1936. The orchestra's primary performance venue is the [[Adelaide Town Hall]], but the ASO also performs in other venues. It provides the orchestral support for all productions of the [[State Opera of South Australia]] and all Adelaide performances of the [[The Australian Ballet|Australian Ballet]]. It also features regularly at the [[Adelaide Festival]], and has performed at the [[Adelaide Cabaret Festival]], [[WOMADelaide|WOMAdelaide]] and several other festivals in Adelaide.

==History==
In 1936 the South Australian Orchestra was supplanted by the 50-member Adelaide Symphony Orchestra led by [[William Cade]], and sponsored by the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|Australian Broadcasting Commission]] (later the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, or ABC).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/132205559|title=New Symphony Orchestra of 50 Performers Formed|newspaper=[[The News (Adelaide)]]|location=South Australia|date=19 May 1936|access-date=4 February 2023|page=1|via=[[Trove]]}} This article lists all members except the harpist and timpanists.</ref> The orchestra reformed in 1949 as the 55-member South Australian Symphony Orchestra, with [[Henry Krips (conductor)|Henry Krips]] as its resident conductor. The orchestra reverted to its original title, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, in late 1975.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The ASO's highlights have included its 1998 performances of [[Richard Wagner]]'s ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen|Ring Cycle]]'', the first Australian production since 1913<ref>''The Ring'' was first performed in Australia at [[Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne]], in August 1913 (''[[Das Rheingold]]'', 19 August; ''[[Die Walküre]]'', 22 August; ''[[Siegfried (opera)|Siegfried]]'', 25 August; ''[[Götterdämmerung]]'', 29 August), Erik Irvin, ''Dictionary of the Australian Theatre 1788–1914'', pp. 245, 246 {{verify source|date=September 2019}}</ref> (although it was widely and erroneously claimed to be the first ever in Australia).

The orchestra participated in the first fully Australian production of ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen|The Ring]]'' in 2004.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

In 2007, the orchestra partnered with [[Hilltop Hoods]] to prepare a re-orchestrated release of their album ''The Hard Road'', titled ''[[The Hard Road: Restrung]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/hilltop-hoods-on-classics/story-e6frexl9-1111113555454?nk=9228bd8e67cd6a144026da12163279c5|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140812024357/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/hilltop-hoods-on-classics/story-e6frexl9-1111113555454?nk=9228bd8e67cd6a144026da12163279c5|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 August 2014|title=Hilltop Hoods on Classics|last=McCabe|first=Kathy|date=17 May 2007|work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]|location=Sydney|access-date=10 August 2014}}{{verify source|date=September 2019}}</ref>

In 2009 Premier and Arts Minister [[Mike Rann]] proposed and provided government funding to the ASO to commission a major orchestral work about [[climate change]]. The ASO's world premiere of [[Gerard Brophy]]'s ''The Blue Thread'', inspired by the [[Murray River|River Murray]], was performed at the Concert for the Earth at the [[Adelaide Town Hall]] on 27 November 2010.<ref>Samela Harris, ''[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|Adelaide Advertiser]]'', 25 November 2015, "Don't call me a greenie"; and ABC 7 December 2010, "Australian Broadcast Highlights, The Blue Thread" {{verify source|date=September 2019}}</ref> The Rann government proposed and arranged funding for two further ASO commissions, the first an orchestral tribute to the cricketer [[Sir Donald Bradman]], and the second commemorating the centenary of the [[ANZAC]] [[Gallipoli campaign|landings at Gallipoli]]. The world premiere of ''Our Don'' by [[Natalie Williams]] was performed by the ASO in August 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/australia-culture-blog/2014/aug/15/our-don-review-adelaide-natalie-williams|title=''Our Don'' Review – Donald Bradman's Symphonic Tribute Hits for Six|last=Forester|first=Gordon|date=15 August 2014|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=4 February 2023}}</ref>

The world premiere of an [[Anzac Day|ANZAC Requiem]] by composer [[Iain Grandage]] and librettist [[Kate Mulvany]] was performed on 22 April 2015.<ref>ASO Annual Report, 2011 {{verify source|date=September 2019}}</ref>

In 2015 the Hilltop Hoods collaborated for a second time with the 32-piece Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the 20-piece Adelaide Chamber Singers Choir for their next re-orchestrated album titled ''[[Drinking from the Sun, Walking Under Stars Restrung]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s4364942.htm|title=Hilltop Hoods announce new Restrung album, national tour, drop 'Higher' {{!}} Music News {{!}} triple j|website=www.abc.net.au|access-date=2016-03-02|archive-date=6 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206020517/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s4364942.htm|url-status=dead}}{{verify source|date=September 2019}}</ref>

In 2016, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra formed its first artistic leadership team, comprising principal conductor, [[Nicholas Carter (conductor)|Nicholas Carter]], its new artist-in-association, violinist [[Pinchas Zukerman]], and principal guest conductor and artistic advisor Sir [[Jeffrey Tate]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=CHANNEL |first=THE VIOLIN |date=2015-04-10 |title=Australian Orchestra Appoints 1st Australian Principal Conductor in 30 Years |url=https://new.theviolinchannel.com/nicholas-carter-adelaide-symphony-orchestra-music-director-principal-conductor/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=World's Leading Classical Music Platform |language=en-US}}</ref> Carter was the youngest principal conductor in the orchestra's history, and the first Australian conductor to be appointed to a principal conductor position with a major Australian orchestra in almost 30 years.<ref name=carter/> Carter completed his term as principal conductor in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nicholas Carter: Auf Wiedersehen Adelaide |url=https://limelight-arts.com.au/features/nicholas-carter-auf-wiedersehen-adelaide/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Limelight |language=en-AU}}</ref>

In 2017, the orchestra was central in the [[Adelaide Festival]]'s staging of [[Barrie Kosky]]'s ''Saul –'' a production from [[Glyndebourne Festival Opera|Glyndebourne Opera]] in the UK, and again in 2018 for the Adelaide Festival's Glyndebourne Opera production and Australian premiere of composer [[Brett Dean]]'s new opera, ''[[Hamlet (Dean)|Hamlet]]''. These performances were received with critical acclaim and numerous [[Helpmann Awards]].{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

In 2018, the artistic leadership team evolved to include the orchestra's new emerging artist-in-association, Grace Clifford; Australian composer and the orchestra's then-new composer-in-association, Cathy Milliken; and the orchestra's then-new principal guest conductor, [[Mark Wigglesworth]].{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} {{asof|2025}}, the artistic leadership team consists of Concertmaster Kate Suthers, Emerging Composer in Association Jakub Jankowski, Conductor Laureate Nicholas Braithwaite, and chief conductor Mark Wigglesworth,<ref name=alt2021>{{cite web | title=Artistic Leadership Team | website=Adelaide Symphony Orchestra | url=https://www.aso.com.au/about/artistic-leadership-team/ | access-date=4 June 2021}}</ref> and the orchestra consists of 75 musicians.<ref>{{cite web | title=Meet the Orchestra | website=Adelaide Symphony Orchestra | url=https://www.aso.com.au/about/meet-the-orchestra/ | access-date=4 June 2021}}</ref>

In May 2024, the orchestra announced the appointment of Mark Wigglesworth as its next chief conductor, effective January 2025, with an initial term of three years.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.aso.com.au/adelaide-symphony-orchestra-appoints-mark-wigglesworth-as-chief-conductor/ | title=Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Appoints Mark Wigglesworth as Chief Conductor | publisher=Adelaide Symphony Orchestra | date=16 May 2024 | access-date=2024-05-21}}</ref>

==Venues and ongoing work==
The orchestra's primary performance venue is the [[Adelaide Town Hall]], but the ASO also performs in other venues such as the [[Adelaide Festival Centre]], [[Adelaide Entertainment Centre]], [[Elder Conservatorium|Elder Hall]] at the [[University of Adelaide]] and its own [[Grainger Studio]] (named after composer [[Percy Grainger]]).

The ASO provides the orchestral support for all productions of the [[State Opera of South Australia]], as well as the Adelaide performances of [[The Australian Ballet]]. The orchestra is a regularly featured ensemble at the [[Adelaide Festival]], and also appears as part of the [[Adelaide Cabaret Festival]], [[OzAsia Festival]], [[Adelaide Guitar Festival]] and [[WOMADelaide]].{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

==Recognition, awards and international tours==
* 1996 – Tour to [[China]] ([[Beijing]], [[Jinan]], [[Qingdao]] and [[Shanghai]]), [[Korea]] ([[Seoul]], [[Daegu]]) and [[Singapore]]
* 1998 – [[State Opera of South Australia]]'s production of [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]'s ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen|Ring Cycle]]''; repeated in 2004 with the first all-Australian production
* 2004 – [[Helpmann Awards|Helpmann Award]] Finalist for Best Classical Concert Presentation – Requiem & The Grainger Special 2003
* 2004 – [[Helpmann Awards|Helpmann Award]] for Best Opera – ''Dead Man Walking'', [[State Opera of South Australia|State Opera SA]] 2003
* 2005 – [[Helpmann Awards|Helpmann Award]] Winner for Best Opera – ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen|The Ring Cycle]]'', State Opera SA 2004
* 2006 – 2013 [[Gustav Mahler|Mahler]] Symphony Cycle
* 2007 – recorded ''[[The Hard Road: Restrung|The Hard Road Restrung]]'' with hip hop band the [[Hilltop Hoods]] – went gold (sold over 35,000 units); awarded 2007 [[ARIA Music Awards|ARIA Award]] for Best Urban Release
* 2008 – [[Helpmann Awards]] Finalist for Best Classical Concert Presentation – [[Jean Sibelius|Sibelius]] Festival
* 2009 – Tour to [[Carnegie Hall]], [[New York City|New York]] as part of the [[Australia Week|G'Day USA]] celebrations
* 2010 – [[Jean Sibelius|Sibelius]] Symphony Cycle
* 2012 – [[Helpmann Awards|Helpmann Award]] Finalist for Best Symphony Concert – Master Series 3 – Fire Series
* 2013 – [[APRA Music Awards of 2013|APRA]]/[[Australian Music Centre]]'s Arts Award for Excellence in Music Education – Australian Emerging Composers Creative Workshop with [[Tan Dun]] and six young Australian composers
* 2016 – [[Arts South Australia]] [[Rudy Awards|Ruby Award]] for Sustained Contribution by an Organisation
* 2017 – [[Helpmann Awards|Helpmann Award]] for Best Opera – ''Saul'', Adelaide Festival 2016
* 2017 – The Bush Concert (ASO commissioned work) toured to [[Harbin]] for the 34th [[China]] Harbin Summer Music Festival
* 2019 – winner of Best Independent Classical Album in the [[Australian Independent Record Labels Association#2017–2019: AIR Independent Music Awards|AIR Independent Music Awards]] for ''Bach Concertos'', along with the [[Grigoryan Brothers]] and [[Benjamin Northey]].<ref>{{cite web|website=AIM|url=https://www.air.org.au/awards|title=AIR Awards:2019 AIR Awards Winners Announced!|access-date=27 August 2019|archive-date=27 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827061527/https://www.air.org.au/awards|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===ARIA Music Awards===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Nominated works
! Award
! Result
|-
|rowspan="2" | [[ARIA Music Awards of 1995|1995]]
|''Dream Children'', with Ron Spigelman{{efn|Nominated as ''Dream Child''}}
|[[ARIA Award for Best Children's Album|Best Children's Album]]
|{{nominated}}
|-
|''Powerhouse Three Poems of Byron – Capriccio Nocturnes Unchained Melody'', with [[David Porcelijn]] and [[János Fürst]]
|rowspan="7" | [[ARIA Award for Best Classical Album|Best Classical Album]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[ARIA Music Awards of 1997|1997]]
|''[[Peter Sculthorpe]]: Sun Music'', with [[David Porcelijn]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[ARIA Music Awards of 2002|2002]]
|''Górecki: [[Symphony No. 3 (Górecki)|Symphony No. 3]]'', with [[Yvonne Kenny]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[ARIA Music Awards of 2007|2007]]
|''Sculthorpe Requiem and Orchestral Works'', with [[Arvo Volmer]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[ARIA Music Awards of 2018|2018]]
|''Home'', with [[Greta Bradman]], [[Adelaide Chamber Singers]], [[Luke Dollman]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[ARIA Music Awards of 2019|2019]]
|''Bach Concertos'', with [[Grigoryan Brothers]], [[Benjamin Northey]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[2020 ARIA Music Awards|2020]]
|''Beethoven Piano Concertos'', with [[Jayson Gillham]], Nicholas Carter<ref name="ARIA 2020 Wins">{{cite web | url = https://www.aria.com.au/awards/news/and-the-2020-aria-award-goes-to | title = And the 2020 ARIA Awards Go To… | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | access-date = 5 December 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201126005048/https://www.aria.com.au/awards/news/and-the-2020-aria-award-goes-to | archive-date = 26 November 2020 | url-status = live }}</ref>
|{{nom}}
|-
|}

==Principal conductors==
* [[William Cade]] (resident conductor, 1939)
* [[Bernard Heinze]] (guest conductor, 1939)
* [[Percy Code]] (interim resident conductor, 1949)
* [[Henry Krips (conductor)|Henry Krips]] (resident conductor, 1949–1972)
* [[Elyakum Shapirra]] (chief conductor, 1975–1979)
* [[José Serebrier]] (principal guest conductor, 1982–1983)
* [[Piero Gamba]] (chief conductor, 1983–1985)
* [[Albert Rosen]] (chief conductor, 1986)
* [[Nicholas Braithwaite]] (chief conductor, 1987–1991)
* [[David Porcelijn]] (chief conductor, 1993–1998)
* [[Arvo Volmer]] (chief conductor, 2004–2013)
* Nicholas Carter (chief conductor, 2015–2019)<ref name=carter>''The Advertiser'' [http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/off-the-record-orchestra-now-in-baton-race-to-replace-young-gun/news-story/22c63df9efeb84f31fe3adf21ca65aa9?nk=e6d05df284c0748c368c165f09c8ce70-1502482284 "Off The Record: Orchestra now in baton race to replace young gun"], 31 March 2017. "Complicating matters in 32-year-old Carter's case is the nature of his historic appointment – the first Australian to lead a state orchestra in 30 years and one of the youngest ever. In 2015, the ASO board recognised his youthful brilliance but, in an unusual move, also appointed old hands Jeffrey Tate and Pinchas Zukerman to help."{{subscription required}}</ref>
* [[Mark Wigglesworth]] (chief conductor, 2025–present)

==See also==
* [[Symphony Services International]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
<references/>

{{Adelaide Symphony Orchestra conductors}}
{{Symphony Australia}}
{{Portal bar|Classical music|Australia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:APRA Award winners]]
[[Category:ARIA Award winners]]
[[Category:Australian orchestras]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1936]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Adelaide]]
[[Category:Symphony orchestras]]
[[Category:Music in Adelaide]]