"One of the musical wonders of the world" - The Guardian
The Australian Chamber Orchestra travels a remarkable road. This 17-piece string orchestra lives and breathes music, making waves around the world for their explosive performances and brave interpretations. Steeped in history but always looking to the future, ACO programs embrace celebrated classics alongside new commissions, and adventurous cross-artform collaborations.
A 1728/29 Stradivarius violin | In Conversation with Satu Vänskä
Ahead of our national tour, 'From Winter's Stillness', we talked to ACO Principal Violin Satu Vänskä about the almost 300-year-old Stradivarius violin she plays on stages around the world. Satu then treats us to a performance of JS Bach's Sonata for Solo Violin No. 2 in A minor, BWV1003 I. Grave.
19 Jun 2026
'Isles of Light' with Lawrence Power
Guest director, British string virtuoso Lawrence Power, takes us on the journey of 'Isles of Light', from the melancholy to the maverick, the drama of recreating 'The Ancient Mariner' on stage, to his advice for aspiring musicians - consider this your essential pre- or post-concert listening.
13 Nov 2025
ACO50 | Cocteau's Circle
ACO50 | Cocteau's Circle by Australian Chamber Orchestra
25 Jun 2021
Podcast: Baroque Revelry
Francis Merson is a classical music educator, clinical psychologist and long-time friend of the ACO. In this podcast dedicated to the ACO's 'Baroque Revelry' series, Francis explores the extraordinary variety of Baroque music. The podcast takes us from the court of Louis XIV in Versailles to the canals of Venice, from the depths of hell to celestial heights, from bawdy madrigals to opulent arias – with a bit of everything in between...
4 May 2021
Australian Chamber Orchestra Podcast - Schubert's Quintet
Francis Merson is a clinical psychologist, classical music educator, and long time friend of the ACO. In this podcast, released ahead of the third tour of our 2021 Season, 'Schubert's Quintet'.
This grand quintet is a journey through sadness, fear, contemplation and joy, with a melodic richness reflecting Schubert’s status as one of the great writers of song.
Tune in; to dive deep into Schubert's 'perfect' Quintet with Francis Merson.
15 Mar 2021
Australian Chamber Orchestra Podcast – Beethoven & Bridgetower
Francis Merson is a clinical psychologist, classical music educator, and long time friend of the ACO. In this podcast, released ahead of the second tour of our 2021 Season, 'Beethoven & Bridgetower', Francis is joined by ACO Artistic Director Richard Tognetti and 'Beethoven & Bridgetower' scriptwriter Anna Goldsworthy to explore the fascinating story of George Bridgetower, the original dedicatee of Beethoven's beloved Violin Sonata in A major, Op.47, better known today as the 'Kreutzer' Sonata.
5 Feb 2021
Australian Chamber Orchestra Podcast – Tabula Rasa
Francis Merson is a clinical psychologist, classical music educator, and long time friend of the ACO. In this podcast, released ahead of the first tour of our 2021 season, 'Tabula Rasa', Francis takes us on a whirlwind tour of the works by Arvo Pärt, Shostakovich, Kilar, Prokofiev, and Thomas Adès featured as part of the 'Tabula Rasa' program, exploring their history and the fascinating and often turbulent circumstances behind their composition.
18 Dec 2020
Richard is Busy: Podcast Episode 1
'Richard is Busy: Podcast Episode 1'
Satu Vänskä, Principal Violin of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, interviews ACO Artistic Director Richard Tognetti.
Says Satu: "In absence of the strict touring schedule in the Sydney-winter of 2020, between endless cups of tea and ruminations whilst the dough was rising, I came up with the idea of threatening Richard with a microphone in hope that he would take some time off in his studio if I interviewed him. What is he doing there all day and night? What keeps him so busy? He picked a few topics and pieces of music he was adamant to talk about but as you will hear, the ‘interview’ quickly starts shooting in all kinds of directions esoteric and technical, leaving me to try to make sense of it all for your benefit. I hope you’ll find it a little bit informative and somewhat entertaining. We talk about Feldman, Xenakis, Mozart, Bach, EDM, Jimmy Barnes, his own music and inspirations, different tunings and sound frequencies, get in a tiff and break some dishes."
28 Feb 2020
Hypnosis
Artist: Satu
Release title: Hypnosis / The Other Way
Artwork by Richard Tognetti
Recorded at Temple Studio, Manly
Hypnosis
Music & Lyrics by Richard Tognetti
Produced by Kim Moyes & Joseph Nizeti
Engineered by Joseph Nizeti
Mixed by Kim Moyes
Mastered by Ben Feggans
Satu Vänskä: Vocals
Richard Tognetti: Violin, Electric Violin
Joseph Nizeti: Acoustic Guitar, Keyboard, Synthesiser, Drum Programming
The Other Way
Music & Lyrics by Richard Tognetti
Produced by Kim Moyes & Joseph Nizeti
Engineered by Joseph Nizeti
Mixed by Kim Moyes
Mastered by Ben Feggans
Satu Vänskä: Vocals
Richard Tognetti: Violin
Slava Grigoryan: Acoustic Guitar
Jim Moginie: Electric Guitar
Joseph Nizeti: Electric Guitar, Synthesiser
28 Feb 2020
The Other Way
Artist: Satu
Release title: Hypnosis / The Other Way
Artwork by Richard Tognetti
Recorded at Temple Studio, Manly
Hypnosis
Music & Lyrics by Richard Tognetti
Produced by Kim Moyes & Joseph Nizeti
Engineered by Joseph Nizeti
Mixed by Kim Moyes
Mastered by Ben Feggans
Satu Vänskä: Vocals
Richard Tognetti: Violin, Electric Violin
Joseph Nizeti: Acoustic Guitar, Keyboard, Synthesiser, Drum Programming
The Other Way
Music & Lyrics by Richard Tognetti
Produced by Kim Moyes & Joseph Nizeti
Engineered by Joseph Nizeti
Mixed by Kim Moyes
Mastered by Ben Feggans
Satu Vänskä: Vocals
Richard Tognetti: Violin
Slava Grigoryan: Acoustic Guitar
Jim Moginie: Electric Guitar
Joseph Nizeti: Electric Guitar, Synthesiser
10 Sept 2019
2020 Season | Richard Tognetti's 30th Anniversary
In our latest podcast, Richard Tognetti reflects on what has made him most proud over his 30 years as Artistic Director and how his time with the ACO has shaped the 2020 Season. From diving headfirst into cross-artform collaborations, maintaining an emphasis on imaginative and challenging programming, and the evolution of the ACO into a ‘hybrid’ ensemble that perform everything from Bach and Beethoven to Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood and electronica artist Anna Meredith.
6 Jun 2019
Program Brief: Indies & Idols
Get acquainted with our Indies & Idols tour in just four minutes, as ACO Artistic Director Richard Tognetti discusses the indie musicians making the Orchestral leap and shares an excerpt of Szymanowski’s second string quartet, one of his favourite works from the Polish composer.
10 May 2019
Podcast: Branford Marsalis & Satu Vänskä
In this episode of the ACO podcast we speak to saxophone icon Branford Marsalis and Principal Violin Satu Vänskä about their upcoming tour together.
Music featured in this podcast:
SALLY BEAMISH Saxophone Concerto No. 2, "Under the Wing of the Rock" [Branford Marsalis, Royal Scottish National Orchestra]
GINASTERA Concerto for Strings, Op. 33: I. Variazioni per i solisti [Candida Thompson, Amsterdam Sinfonietta]
GINASTERA Concerto for Strings, Op. 33: IV. Finale furioso [Candida Thompson, Amsterdam Sinfonietta]
BRANFORD MARSALIS Snake Hip Waltz [Branford Marsalis Quartet]
PIAZZOLLA Four Seasons of Buenos Aires: Primavera Porteña [Gidon Kremer, Kremerata Baltica]
PIAZZOLLA Four Seasons of Buenos Aires: Primavera Porteña [Astor Piazzolla]
PIAZZOLLA Four Seasons of Buenos Aires: Verano Porteño [Gidon Kremer, Kremerata Baltica]
PIAZZOLLA Four Seasons of Buenos Aires: Verano Porteño [Astor Piazzolla]
STRAVINSKY Three Pieces for Clarinet Solo: III. [Sabine Meyer]
VILLA-LOBOS Fantasia, Op. 630: I. Animé [Pedro Pablo Cámara Toldos, I Musici di Basilea]
8 Mar 2019
Podcast: Beethoven & Prokofiev
ACO Multimedia Producer Joseph Nizeti speaks to Italian violinist Lorenza Borrani about her triple duties of soloist, leader and arranger in our second national tour of 2019, 'Beethoven & Prokofiev.'
24 Jan 2019
Podcast: The Sound of Arvo Pärt
The ACO's Multimedia Producer Joseph Nizeti speaks to the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir's Henry Tiisma about the significance of Arvo Pärt in Estonian culture, the uniqueness of his music from a performer's perspective, what it’s like to work with Pärt in person and the hallmarks of his unique ‘tintinnabuli’ style.
This episode features excerpts of the following music to illustrate the observations made in conversation.
ARVO PÄRT:
Berlin Messe: Agnus Dei [Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallin Chamber Orchestra, Tõnu Kaljuste]
Berlin Messe: Kyrie [Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallin Chamber Orchestra, Tõnu Kaljuste]
Berlin Messe: Alleluia Verse II [Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallin Chamber Orchestra, Tõnu Kaljuste]
Collage on B-A-C-H: I. Toccata [Tapiola Sinfonietta, Jean-Jacques Kantorow]
Da pacem Domine [Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Paul Hillier]
Fur Alina [Tamara-Anna Cislowska]
Te Deum [Tõnu Kaljuste, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallin Chamber Orchestra]
JS BACH:
Komm, Jesu, komm, BWV 229 [The Monteverdi Choir, John Eliot Gardiner]
VELJO TORMIS:
Jaanilaulud: III. Ei ole püssil püütav [Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Paul Hillier]
To learn more about our upcoming concert with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, visit https://www.aco.com.au/PartBach
7 Nov 2018
Podcast: Behind-the-scenes in London
Join the ACO’s Artistic Assistant Joseph Nizeti backstage in London as he chats to Richard Tognetti, Tour Manager Lisa Mullineux and others about the ACO’s first international residency at London's Barbican Centre.
14 Aug 2018
Podcast: ACO 2019 Season
Richard Tognetti talks through the programs and collaborations that make up the Australian Chamber Orchestra's 2019 Season.
Find out more at https://www.aco.com.au/2019
Contact Australian Chamber Orchestra
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