Bendigo Symphony Orchestra, History
 

endigo Symphony Orchestra

BSO Home

 

A brief history of the BSO...


The Bendigo Symphony Orchestra was founded in in 1981 as a result of the Music 81 project of the Victorian Government, and was the successor of the Bendigo Concert Orchestra, which had played for some thirty years.
The first concert, in September that year, was directed by John Hopkins and Simon Romanos. The programme included:

 

Kabalevski: Overture to Colas Breugnon
Ives: Unanswered Question
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4 (with soloits: Tony Grey)
& Dvorak: Symphony No.4 (?8) (mvts 1,2,4)

Since then the orchestra has continued to present two or three concerts each year featuring a range of local, national, and international artists.
The orchestra's repertoir is based in the 'classical' tradition - to date the orchestra has played all but two of the Beethoven Symphonies (7 & 9). In addition the BSO has been a strong advocate of local composers, giving a number of premiers of new works.
 

Introduction and allegro a history of the BSO, 1981-2006
Pieces played: 1981 to June 2006 .pdf file
Pieces played since June 2006 in progress.

Introduction and allegro


In 2006, to mark the 25th anniversary of the BSO, the orchestra published:
Introduction and allegro: The Bendigo Symphony Orchestra 1981-2006
Edited by Rob Boxshall, this volume contains a history of the orchestra, as well as the recollections of a quarter of a century of music making as provided by past and present players.
In the preface Councillor Rod Fyffe writes:

 

"The development of the BSO has created not only a point of differentiation for Bendigo, but also allows the many talented musicians in Bendigo and the region to hone their skills, release their passion and to broaden their horizons....The BSO demonstrates significance to young musicians and it's an important contribution to the developing cultural life of our city and region....Our community needs the BSO;"

The volume is available directly from the orchestra, see contacts


  

Pieces played since June 2006


This is a work in progress and supplements the list: Pieces played: 1981 to June 2006

  • Mighty miniatures 30th July, 2006, Strathdale Hall
    Daniel Herbst cond.
    H.Andriessen: Ricercare; S.Rachmaninov: Vocalise, soloist Jeanette Goss; G.Druschetzky: Partita in C for 6 timpani, soloist Roger Adams; H.Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No.5, solist Jennifer Schatzle; S.Barber: Adagio for strings; G.Fauré: Sicilienne from Peleas and Mellisande; L.Grøndahl: Trombone concerto, soloist Steve Vine

  • Sound the trumpet Palm Sunday - April 1st, 2007, St Paul's Cathedral
    Daniel Herbst cond.
    L.v.Beethoven: Fidelio overture, J.Haydn: Trumpet concerto, soloist Louisa Trewartha; L.v.Beethoven: Symphony No 8 in F major

  • BSO at the movies June 16th, 2007; Star Cinema - Eaglehawk town hall
    Mark B. Buys cond.
    J.Howard*: Signs suite; J.Barry*: Enigma suite; M.Buys: The projectionist; various: A film music medley*
    * arr. M.Buys

  • Bendigo Chorale, 50th Anniversary 21st October, 2007; St Paul's Cathedral, Bendigo
    Rohan Phillips & *Daniel Herbst cond.
    Bendigo Chorale with the BSO, and soloists: Jennifer Schatzle, Lynlee Williams, Matthew Davine & Christopher Stobie
    Handel: Messiah (highlights); Elgar: Triumphal March from Caractacus*, Bruckner: Te Deum
    (plus choral items by Elgar, Mendelssohn and Grainger)

  • Messiah 1st & 2nd December; Fee Broadway Theatre Castlemaine (2nd Dec.)
    With the Gisborne Singers
    Bill Howard cond.
    Handel: Messiah (complete)

  • Palm Sunday 16th March, 2008; St Paul's Cathedral, Bendigo
    Rohan Phillips cond.
    Mozart: overture to La clemenza di Tito; Bach: concerto for two violins, BWV 1043; soloists: J.Goss & C.Tromans; Haydn: Symphony No. 6, Le Matin; Schubert, Symphony No. 3, D.200

  • Winter Romance 3rd August, 2008; St Paul's Cathedral, Bendigo
    Josh Geddes cond.
    Rossini: Semiramide overture; R.Strauss: 1st Horn concerto, soloist Andrew Young; Wagner: Siegfried Idyll; Dvořák: Symphony number 8;

  • Young Soloists', 2008 16th November, 2008; Strathdale Hall
    Rohan Phillips cond.
    Rossini: Overture to The Barber of Seville; Haydn: Cello concerto in C - 1st movement, soloist Josie Graham; Benjami/Cimarosa: Concerto for Oboe and Strings, soloist Edwin Spark; Borodin: On the Steppes of Central Asia; Sibelius: Finlandia; Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No.2, Romance, soloist Olivia Turnbull; Wagner: Overture The Mastersingers of Nuremburg

  • Palm Sunday 5th April, 2009; Forest Street Uniting Church
    Rohan Phillips cond.
    Haydn: Mass in time of War soloists: Jennifer Schatzle, Ursula Paez, Matthew Davine & Peter Hunt and the Bendigo Chorale; Schumann: Symphony Number Three the "Rhenish"

  • Winter Concert 19th July, 2009; The Capital Theatre, Bendigo
    Rohan Phillips cond.
    Mussorgsky: Coronation Scene from Boris Godunov soloist: Christopher Stobie; Dvořák's Piano Concerto,soloist: Matthew Breaden
    and Tchaikowsky's First Symphony Winter Daydreams

  • St Paul's Prom 30th August, 2009; Anderson Room, St Paul's Cathedral, Bendigo
    Rohan Phillips cond.
    Haydn: Symphony No 82, the Bear.

  • Classical Celebration 11th October, 2009; Strathdale Hall, Bendigo
    Rohan Phillips cond.
    Mozart: Idomeneo overture & Symphony no.31 Paris and Haydn: Violin Concerto in G, soloist: Pam Scott, & Symphony No 82, the Bear.

Updated 13th October, 2009