Celebrate some of the most exquisite music ever written for chamber ensembles every Friday in WASO’s digital concert series.
After launching earlier this month, WASO's digital concert series continues to provide a rare chance to enjoy all the drama of a live orchestral performance from the comfort of your home, for free. Streaming live from Perth Concert Hall, the series marked the return of WASO's musicians to the venue since its closure in March amidst COVID-19 concerns.
Throughout the series, titled Ensemble Editions, WASO's musicians play scores from Mozart to Mendelssohn, Hans Richter to Saint-Saëns. The chamber ensembles also showcases more intimate works that you wouldn't usually see from WASO due to their focus on larger orchestral repertoire.
Whilst the concerts are free, WASO are welcoming donations to help them continue performing. You can donate here.
To open the digital series, the inaugural event featured the music of Hans Richter & Mendelssohn, a celebration of both grand opera and delicate beauty. Richter's dramatic homage to Wagner's operas saw the stage return of WASO's horn-players, while Mendelssohn's Octet took the audience through a joyous and energetic finale of strings.
The second edition, which took place on Friday June 12, was a celebration of Haydn & Mozart, and featured some of the highlights of Haydn's career, composed for string quartets, alongside some of the earliest of Mozart's serenades for wind instruments, written for light entertainment at parties.
Upcoming this Friday June 26 is the fourth edition of the digital series. Featuring Tchaikovsky & Franck, the concert will open with the moving and emotional slow movement of Tchaikovsky's first string quartet, one of the first hits penned by the Master of the Melody. The pure harmonies and soaring themes of César Franck's Violin Sonata will also be performed.
Future Ensemble Edition programs will be announced closer to the date.
Performing Arts Waso