Australian World Orchestra

The Australian World Orchestra was established in 2011 by Australian conductor Alexander Briger and his sister, film maker Gabrielle Thompson.[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/news/sir-simon-rattle-shows-the-australian-world-orchestras-in-a-class-of-its-own/story-fngr8gwi-1227464698170 "Sir Simon Rattle shows the Australian World Orchestra's in a class of its own"]. The Daily Telegraph, July 30, 2015. Steve Moffatt The inaugural patron of the orchestra was Sir Charles Mackerras, Briger and Thompson's uncle.

The first concert in 2011, which was conducted by Briger, performed sold out in concerts in Sydney and Melbourne.{{cite web|last1=Traill|first1=Kim|title=The Second Coming of the Australian World Orchestra|url=http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/Article/358761,the-second-coming-of-the-australian-world-orchestra.aspx|website=www.limelightmagazine.com.au|publisher=Limelight Magazine|accessdate=January 21, 2015}} The AWO also sold out in 2013 and 2015.

Maestro Zubin Mehta conducted the orchestra in 2013, and returned to conduct again in 2015 when the AWO performed in three cities in India, with soprano Greta Bradman as guest soloist.[http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/notes-of-exchange-2/ "Notes of Exchange"]. The Indian Express. Suanshu Khurana | Published:August 29, 2015 Mehta is to return in 2022 to conduct the AWO in a performance of Strauss' works{{Cite web|title=ZUBIN MEHTA – Australian World Orchestra|url=https://www.australianworldorchestra.com.au/whats-on/zubin-mehta-2022/|access-date=2022-02-11|language=en-AU}} in Sydney and Melbourne.

In 2015 the AWO brought Sir Simon Rattle to Australia to conduct the orchestra in concerts in Sydney and Melbourne with special guest mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená.[http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/australian-world-orchestra-review-simon-rattle-leads-through-richness-power-and-glory-20150730-ginmc5.html "Australian World Orchestra review: Simon Rattle leads through richness, power and glory"]. Sydney Morning Herald, July 30, 2015 , Peter McCallum Rattle has described the AWO as an "international treasure".{{Cite web|title=AWO is "international treasure" says Simon Rattle|url=https://limelightmagazine.com.au/news/awo-is-international-treasure-says-simon-rattle/|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Limelight|language=en-AU}}

In 2016 Briger premiered the AWO's 5th anniversary commission by Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin The Witching Hour, A Concerto for Eight Double Basses at the Sydney Opera House and the Esplanade in Singapore.

In 2017 Simone Young conducted the AWO in a side-by-side performance of Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie with the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) at Arts Centre Melbourne and the AWO Chamber 8 completed their first Australian tour performing at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), City Recital Hall Sydney, Melbourne Recital Centre and, Perth Concert Hall.

In 2018 Riccardo Muti conducted the AWO for performances at the Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne, and invited the orchestra to tour his home country of Italy.

Later in 2018 the AWO toured India, performing in Chennai as the opening act of the Australian Government's 6 month festival of Australian Culture "OzFest" and additional concerts in Kochi (Kerala) and Mumbai under the baton of Briger and with guest soloists French mezzo-soprano Caroline Meng and the Australian born and educated Daniel Dodds, Artistic Director of the Lucerne Festival Strings.

In 2019 Alexander Briger conducted the AWO for performances at Arts Centre Melbourne and for the orchestra's first performance in Canberra at Llewellyn Hall. The AWO Chamber Six performed at City Recital Hall, Sydney.

The AWO commissioned Australian composer and clarinetist Paul Dean to compose his Symphony No.1 Black Summer{{Cite web|last=Galvin|first=Nick|date=2021-05-21|title=Out of his big brother's shadow: composer Paul Dean finds his voice|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/out-of-his-big-brother-s-shadow-composer-paul-dean-finds-his-voice-20210517-p57sjs.html|access-date=2022-02-11|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}} to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2021. Briger premiered the piece in 2021 in concerts at the Llewellyn Hall in Canberra, and City Recital Hall, Sydney. The performances garnered positive reviews, and the Australian Arts Review expressed that "Briger has created an orchestral Rolls Royce . . ."{{Cite web|date=2021-06-04|title=Australian World Orchestra|url=https://artsreview.com.au/australian-world-orchestra/|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Australian Arts Review|language=en-AU}}

The AWO travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) in August 2022, as part of Edinburgh's 75th anniversary celebrations, and the UK{{!}}AU cultural exchange,{{cite web |title=Australian World Orchestra conducted by Maestro Zubin Mehta |url=https://ukaustraliaseason.com/event/australian-world-orchestra-2022-uk-tour-conducted-by-maestro-zubin-mehta/ |website=ukaustraliaseason.com}} performing at the Edinburgh International Festival{{Cite news|url=https://limelightmagazine.com.au/news/australian-world-orchestra-to-perform-at-edinburgh-international-festival/|title=Australian World Orchestra to perform at Edinburgh International Festival|first=Hugh|last=Robertson|date=2022-03-31|work=Limelight}} and the BBC Proms, conducted by Zubin Mehta, accompanied by Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg. Mehta conducted the AWO in 2022 in Sydney and Melbourne in performances of Richard Strauss's tone poems (Limelight, 2022).{{Cite web |title=limelight awo peoples choice 2022 - Google Search |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=limelight+awo+peoples+choice+2022&rlz=1C5CHFA_enAU888AU888&oq=limelight+awo+peoples+choice+2022&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160l3.3979j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=www.google.com}} After the conclusion of the AWO's performance at the Sydney Opera House, General David Hurley, Governor-General of Australia, awarded Mehta with an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (Limelight, 2022{{Cite web |title=Zubin Mehta awarded Companion of the Order of Australia |url=https://limelightmagazine.com.au/news/zubin-mehta-awarded-companion-of-the-order-of-australia/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Limelight |language=en-AU}}).

Alexander Briger is returning in November 2023 to conduct at Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House as the AWO will perform Mahler's 9th Symphony.{{Cite web |title=MAHLER 9 – Australian World Orchestra |url=https://www.australianworldorchestra.com.au/whats-on/2023-2/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |language=en-AU}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected details ! Title ! Details
scope="row" | Beethoven Symphony 9 (with Alexander Briger) | Released: September 2013 Format: CD, Digital Label: ABC
scope="row" | Mahler: Symphony 1 (with Zubin Mehta) | Released: May 2014 Format: CD, Digital Label: ABC
scope="row" | Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (with Zubin Mehta) | Released: May 2014 Format: CD, Digital Label: ABC
scope="row" | Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 (with Simon Rattle) | Released: 2016 Format: CD, Digital Label: ABC

{{Awards table|caption=Award nominations for Australian World Orchestra}}

|-

! scope="row" | 2014

| Stravinsky Rite of Spring / Mahler Symphony No. 1 (with Zubin Mehta)

| ARIA Music Awards Best Classical Album

| {{Nominated}}

|-

! scope="row" | 2016

| Australian World Orchestra (Conductor Sir Simon Rattle)

| Helpmann Award

| {{Won}}

|-

! scope="row" | 2022

| Australian World Orchestra (Conductor Zubin Mehta)

| Limelight People's Choice "Artist of the Year" Award

| {{Won}}

{{end}}

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Category:Australian orchestras

Category:Performing groups established in 2011

Category:2011 establishments in Australia