What's on

Support Us

Learning & Engagement

Learning & Engagement

ACO On The Pier

ACO On The Pier

The orchestra

Discover More

RT in rehersal

Richard Tognetti's 30th Anniversary

[Richard Tognetti] has brought his own revolution to an ensemble now synonymous with experimentation, collaboration and, above all, exquisite performance. The sight of Tognetti’s bow deftly conducting the orchestra before dipping back down to his own 1743 Guarneri del Gesù violin is a familiar one. “If there’s a better chamber orchestra in the world,” wrote Guardian reviewer Andrew Clements in 2011, “I haven’t heard it."

- The Guardian

In 2020 we celebrate 30 years of Richard Tognetti's fearless leadership and extraordinary vision as our Artistic Director.

Over the last three decades Richard has led our orchestra to make waves around the world, cultivating a reputation for explosive performances, adventurous cross-artform collaborations and dynamic programs that embrace celebrated classics alongside new music and commissions.

We have performed in the world's greatest concert halls under Richard's leadership, earned multiple ARIA, Grammy and Helpmann Awards, and collaborated with artists including Johnny Greenwood, The Presets, Bill Henson, Barry Humphries, Steven Isserlis, Nicole Car and film director Jennifer Peedom, to name just a few.  

For his artistry and contributions to music, Richard was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2010 and was made a National Living Treasure in 1999. More recently Richard was awarded the JC Williamson Award for longstanding service to the live performing industry by the Helpmann Awards in 2017. 

Join us as we celebrate Richard, his tenure with the ACO and his numerous accomplishments with a dedicated week of HomeCasts, archival recordings, interviews, podcasts and much more.  

Our thanks to everyone who left a message of support for Richard during our anniversary celebrations. You can browse a small selection of these messages by clicking here.

Richard Tognetti Surfing

Meet Richard Tognetti

Richard Tognetti is Artistic Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Lead Violin. He has established an international reputation for his compelling performances and artistic individualism.
1985 Xpress Image
Richard Tognetti, 1985. Photo by Greg Barrett. 
RT in rehersal
Richard in rehearsal, 1986.
1989 Opera House
The ACO perform at Sydney Opera House, 1989. 
4. 1990 Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford 2
The ACO perform at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, in 1990.
recording Goossens Hall
The ACO record in Goossens Hall, 1991.
7. 1992 St Florian, Austria Tognetti, Rix,Tuckwell, Moore, Webber
Richard in rehearsal in Sankt Florian, Austria, 1992.
9. New York 1993 scan0013 (2)
The ACO on tour in New York, 1993.
9a !994 The Basement scan0013 (2)
Sound check before a performance at The Basement, Sydney, 1994.
10. 1996-74, autograph hunters
Richard on tour in Japan, 1996. 
11. 1997-61h-1, Huntington - with David Berlin
Richard and cellist David Berlin in rehearsal for the Huntington Estate Music Festival, 1997.
Richard Tognetti and John Bell
Richard Tognetti and John Bell, 2002. 
2007 Mike Kerin Danny Spooner + Richard Tognetti
Richard Tognetti, Mike Kerin and Danny Spooner, 2007.
2009 ACO_NYC_Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall, ACO US Tour, 2009.
2011 ACO in performance c. Timothy Norris for Ojai Music Festival
The ACO perform at the Ojai Music Festival, 2011.
2012 ACO Beethoven 9 SOH 2012 c. Paul Henderson-Kelly_WH edit
The ACO perform at Sydney Opera House, 2012. 
2012 Richard Tognetti The Reef
Richard Tognetti in a still from 'The Reef', 2012.
2012 Richard Tognretti (L) Jonny Greenwood (R)2 credit Lisa Tomasetti
Richard Tognretti and Jonny Greenwood, 2012.
2013 ACO_Group_2013_c.Pierre_Toussaint
ACO, 2013.
2013 IMG_0014
Richard Tognetti with Satu Vänskä, Barry Humphries and Meow Meow, on tour with the Weimar Cabaret, 2013.
2014 ACO at Kennedy Center
The ACO ahead of a performance at The Kennedy Center, 2014 US Tour.
2015 Sam Ruttyn
Richard photographed atop the Sydney Opera House sails, 2015.
2017 ACO _ HRH, The Prince of Wales
The ACO with his HRH, The Prince of Wales, following a performance at St James’ Palace, 2011.
INDIES-IDOLS-CRH-3451
Indies and Idols 2019 tour.
2019 Bill Henson and Richard Tognetti
Bill Henson and Richard Tognetti, 2019.
RT 2020
Richard Tognetti, 2020.
ACO HomeCasts 
RT vert

Podcast: ABC's 'Conversations'

Richard joins Sarah Kanowski on the ABC's Conversations podcast to reflect on his childhood, learning the violin, his road to becoming a professional musician and, at age 25, becoming the ACO's youngest-ever Artistic Director. 

Richard Tognetti Mountain

Unleash the 'Gong boy

Kate Holden speaks to Richard Tognetti about his 30 years leading the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and the crisis that has forced him to reinvent again.
Richard Tognetti

Playlists

Explore some of Richard's performance highlights, including new ACO HomeCast recordings and archival performances.

1743-Guarneri-del-Gesu

1743 Guarneri del Gesu Violin

Learn more about the 1743 violin, nicknamed ‘Carrodus’, played by Richard Tognetti.