Celebrating the Australian Chamber Orchestra

One performance only at Sydney Opera House. Tickets from $69, or $35 for under 35s and $25 for students.

On the 21 November 1975, a group of pioneering musicians walked out onto the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall stage and the Australian Chamber Orchestra was born. Founded by the legendary Australian cellist John Painter, these musicians were driven by a shared mission to take control of their musical destinies: to become the country’s first truly national orchestra with an uncompromising commitment to elite performance, to represent Australia on the world stage, and provide opportunities to the country’s brightest young string players.

Fifty years to the day, the ACO and its fearless leader of 35 years, violin virtuoso Richard Tognetti, will walk out onto that same stage to pay homage to the past and to celebrate a bright and ambitious future.

From classics by Antonio Vivaldi, Ludwig van Beethoven and Fanny Mendelssohn that capture the ACO’s thrilling dynamism and imaginative spirit, to the ACO’s groundbreaking film collaborations and guest appearances from beloved collaborators across music, film and dance, this concert showcases why the ACO is one of the most distinct, inventive and renowned ensembles on the world stage today.

We dedicate Celebrating the Australian Chamber Orchestra to our founder John Painter who died on 13 September, 2025. This concert is a celebration of his legacy, and a thank you to all of you: our beloved audiences who have stood with us across five decades. We hope you will join us to mark this very special milestone in the history, and future, of the ACO.

Read Richard Tognetti’s open letter of thanks to John Painter AM.

Click here to preorder our special limited-edition vinyl and CD 'Beethoven & Brahms: Concertos for Violin and Orchestra' . Each vinyl will signed by Richard  Tognetti.

Program

ANTONIO VIVALDI Summer from The Four Seasons, RV315: II. Adagio, III. Presto 
JOSEPH TAWADROS Constantinople 
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (arr. Richard Tognetti) Violin Sonata in A major, Op.48 "Kreutzer": III. Finale 
FANNY MENDELSSOHN HENSEL (arr. strings) String Quartet in E-flat major: IV. Allegro molto vivace 
BÉLA BARTÓK Divertimento: III. Allegro assai 
TRADITIONAL (arr. Bernard Rofe) Simple Gifts
ARVO PÄRT My Heart's in the Highlands 
PETER SCULTHORPE Djilile [from Mountain]  
RICHARD TOGNETTI Flying [from Mountain] 
WOJCIECH KILAR Orawa [from The Reef]

Artists

Richard Tognetti, director and violin 
Iestyn Davies, countertenor  
Joseph Tawadros, oud 
James Tawadros, percussion
Satu Vänskä, voice
Sydney Dance Company, dancers 
St Marys North Public School students, violin & cello  

Please note that this performance will be filmed.