Saint Patrick’s Basilica and the Redemptorist Monastery will serve as the venues for two Fremantle Chamber Orchestra (FCO) shows on 17 and 18 October.
Performing for the first time since coronavirus-led restrictions were lifted, the two concerts are a part of FCO’s 15th anniversary series.
FCO will perform Johann Christian Bach’s classic Symphony in G, Mozart’s exquisite Flute Concerto 1, Australian composer Frederick Septimus Kelly’s Elegy “In Memoriam Rupert Brooke”, Leopold Koželuch’s dramatic Symphony in G minor, and Beethoven’s contemporary and Arnold Schoenberg’s late romantic Notturno for Violin and Harp.
FCO will also continue their series with a tour of five concerts starting 25 October, titled Romantic Baroque.
The Redemptorist Monastery in North Perth and St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Peppermint Grove will serve as venues for FCO concerts on 14 and 22 November.
Hans Hug – Cellist, Founder and Director of FCO – assured that the spacious Basilica of St Patrick in Fremantle, Redemptorist Monastery and St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church allow for social distancing measures to follow.
Mr Hug believes these concerts are necessary means for musicians, who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to survive.
“Usually their work is a collection of casual jobs, teaching, performing and perhaps hospitality to supplement their art. Yet it is exactly those industries which have been affected most severely by the lockdown,” Mr Hug expressed.
“Missing out on making music, teaching and supplementary jobs is particularly true for young and professional and freelance musicians who make up a big part of Fremantle Chamber Orchestra.
“With additional challenges from decreased corporate support and sharply increased venue costs, FCO has organised a series of concerts to raise funds for future performances,” he added.
Although performing online is possible, Mr Hug believes “playing together requires physical presence”.
“Without listeners, there is no purpose, and It is only by sharing live music with an audience in a beautiful space with good acoustics, musicians and audiences can thrive.”
Jen Winley, Conductor of WA Youth Orchestra, Soloist Michael Howell and Violinist Rebecca Glorie will join FCO on its comeback concerts, while Tim Chapman, former Head of Music at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls will join FCO on its tour of five concerts.
For more information on tickets, please call 9335 6980 or 0438 933 250.