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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.

ACO HomeCasts 
Richard Tognetti

Monday June 15, 6pm AEST

ACO Home to Home: Richard Tognetti

For his first solo ACO HomeCast release, Richard will perform the sublime music of JS Bach.
Satu

Tuesday June 16, 7pm AEST

The Other Way

Join us as we premiere a new recording of Richard's original composition, 'The Other Way', featuring vocals from Satu Vänskä and guitarist Slava Grigoryan and Midnight Oil's Jim Moginie on guitar.
AOTF2

Wednesday 17 June, 6pm

The Art of Fugue & Op.130

See Richard direct the ACO in a tour de force performance of Bach's Contrapunctus 1-4 (The Art Of Fugue) and Beethoven's String Quartet, Op.130. Recorded in 2016 at Sydney Opera House.
Szymanowski

Thursday June 18, 6:30pm AEST

Szymanowski String Quartet No.2

Szymanowski’s String Quartet No.2 is one of Richard’s favourite works. Join us as we release for the very first time the ACO’s performance from 2019 of Richard’s widely performed arrangement for string orchestra.
The Reef

Friday June 19, 7pm AEST

The Reef

'The Reef', a collaboration between Richard and a collection of remarkable artists, is an extraordinary merging of music and film, delving into the links between surfing, the ocean, landscape and music. Excerpts of this incredible work will be released from the ACO archives for the first time in over eight years. 
Tognetti's Beethoven

Saturday June 20, 8pm AEST

Beethoven Violin Concerto

Richard first performed Beethoven’s mighty Violin Concerto with the ACO in 1993. In this magnificent recording captured 25 years later, Richard leads an expanded ACO to deliver an exhilarating performance of this signature work.
Mountain

Sunday June 21, 8pm AEST

Mountain

'Mountain' is an epic cinematic and musical collaboration between the ACO and director Jennifer Peedom. This magnificent premiere performance was filmed live at Sydney Opera House in 2017 and will be available to enjoy free for 48-hours only.  

If you would like to leave a message for Richard and be featured as part of our celebrations, please click here.