ACO Up Close: Impressions of France

Musicians from the Australian Chamber Orchestra take a journey to France as part of the intimate Up Close series.

At the heart of the program sits César Franck’s Violin Sonata, performed here in an arrangement for string orchestra by Richard Tognetti. ACO Principal Violin Satu Vänskä is the soloist, bringing to life the virtuosity and luminescence of this beloved masterpiece.

The concert features the ACO’s first performances of music by two (unrelated) Boulangers. Lili Boulanger died at the age of 24, but in her short life established a formidable reputation as a composer that led to her being crowned the first female winner of the prestigious Prix de Rome. While Lili was at home amongst the conservatoires and cognoscenti, the Romanian-born entertainer and violinist Georges Boulanger was performing in cafes and salons across Europe. His 1924 song Avant de mourir went on to top Billboard’s Hot 100 in a cover by the US pop artists The Platters.

Grand dances from the French Baroque and music by 20th century masters Debussy and Ravel complete this varied tapestry.

About ACO Up Close:

ACO Up Close is your opportunity to experience astonishing musicians in an intimate setting.

Across a series of nine concerts throughout the year, leading soloists from around the world and musicians from the Australian Chamber Orchestra present fresh and innovative music in a relaxed setting.

Each performance is presented by a host, enabling you to get to know the musicians in their own words and discover more about the music.

ACO Up Close takes place in The Neilson, our state-of-the art 270-seat concert hall at the newly opened ACO Pier 2/3 in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. Acclaimed for its extraordinary acoustic, The Neilson provides an intimate context for these concerts.