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Fauré Requiem

Sibelius and Fauré from an embattled MSO
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
by
ABR Arts 02 September 2024

Fauré Requiem

Sibelius and Fauré from an embattled MSO
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
by
ABR Arts 02 September 2024
Siobhan Stagg with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (photograph by Laura Manariti)
Siobhan Stagg with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (photograph by Laura Manariti)

Sometimes an orchestral program proves to be meaningful in ways that were never intended when it was first devised. Such was the case last Thursday and Saturday, when the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra gave its first local outing since the onset of public and internal turmoil last month sparked by the orchestra’s management’s cancellation of a planned concerto performance on 15 August by Australian pianist Jayson Gillham. This was prompted by Gillham’s decision, during an MSO-sponsored piano recital he had given a few days earlier, to introduce one of the pieces, Witness, by Australian composer Connor D’Netto, by explaining that it had been dedicated to the more than 100 Palestinian journalists killed during the current conflict in Gaza.

Comments (3)

  • Thank you for a really thoughtful and detailed review and context.I do wish there was more critique of this quality.
    Posted by Tanya Makin
    04 September 2024
  • While the establishment of an 'independent, external review' into the MSO's operations is laudable and the correct thing to do, Peter Garrett may not be the right person to lead it. Although it seems that there has been internal disquiet within the ranks of the orchestra and management for a long time, the catalyst for the departure of the Managing Director and this Review, was the political 'hot-potato' of a comment about the Gaza situation. That is why it is imperative that the person who leads the inquiry must be, or at least be seen to be, as politically neutral as possible, and that is the complete antithesis of Mr Garrett. It is also unclear what knowledge and experience, if any, Mr Garrett has with the complex job of running an orchestra. I can think of many other more appropriate, well-respected arts leaders who would fit the bill perfectly.
    Posted by Peter Taplin (former Recording Producer MSO)
    02 September 2024
  • Great review. Tragedy about the organ!
    Posted by Tessa Humphries
    02 September 2024

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