ACO: A history of collaboration

There are many things that make up the Australian Chamber Orchestra ethos; the essence of the Orchestra. Words that swirl around the ACO are ‘originality’, ‘virtuosity’… and also ‘collaboration’.

And we’re known for collaborating with artists of diverse disciplines. Throughout our nearly-five-decade history, dancers, filmmakers, singers, artists, photographers, entertainers and contemporary musicians have all united with us to explore new ideas and opportunities.

From Scotland Unbound with guitar virtuoso Sean Shibe — who often puts down his classical guitar for an electric — to River with acclaimed film director Jennifer Peedom, our 2024 Season is no exception.

“River really underpins what we think is the most important issue right now,” Artistic Director Richard Tognetti said recently in an interview with Limelight. “Yes, we have to end the war in Ukraine, get rid of Putin, hope that Trump doesn’t get back in, but all of it pales into insignificance when compared to the issues facing the natural environment. They’re so enormous that sometimes I think the temptation is to throw up your hands and give up. But River is a hopeful story, a celebration you learn from.”

One of the other highlights in 2024 is Silence & Rapture, which not only features a program bringing together unutterably beautiful music by JS Bach and Arvo Pärt, but also brings artists from several disciplines to collaborate with us and with each other: the world-renowned choreographer and Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company, Rafael Bonachela; extraordinary contemporary dancers from the dance company itself; and celebrated British countertenor Iestyn Davies.

It's not the first time Richard and the Orchestra have collaborated with Bonachela and the Sydney Dance Company, as you'll see below, but in 2024 the time is ripe for a new project with them: 

“Every time I see Raf – which is fairly often – I say 'come on, it’s time',” Richard Tognetti told Limelight. “So we gave him he playlist for him to respond to and now I can’t wait to see what he does with it.”

As we look forward to Silence & Rapture, we thought we'd look back and celebrate some highlights in our history of collaborating across the artforms.

ACO 2024 Season

Experience the music of Arvo Pärt and JS Bach in Silence & Rapture, the mesmerising collaboration between Australian Chamber Orchestra and Sydney Dance Company, touring 2-19 August. Click here to buy tickets.

Click here to discover more ACO collaborations.