Aurora Orchestrais a Britishchamber orchestra,co-founded in 2004 byconductorsNicholas CollonandRobin Ticciati.The orchestra is based in London, where it is Resident Orchestra atSouthbank Centreand Resident Ensemble atKings Place.[1]The orchestra was also previously Associate Orchestra atLSO St Luke's,and performs regularly at other venues includingSt George's, Bristol,the Colyer-Fergusson Hall inCanterbury,and The Apex inBury St Edmunds.It has developed a particular reputation for creative programming and concert presentation,[2]including pioneering memorised performance as a regular feature of its artistic output.[3]Since its launch in 2005, it has worked with artists ranging fromIan Bostridge,Brett Dean,Anthony MarwoodandSarah ConnollytoEdmund de Waal,Wayne McGregorandBjörk.[4]
| Aurora Orchestra | |
|---|---|
| Chamber orchestra | |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Location | London, United Kingdom |
| Principal conductor | Nicholas Collon |
| Website | auroraorchestra.com |
History
editIn 2004,Nicholas Collon,Robin Ticciatiand fellow members of theNational Youth Orchestraestablished Aurora, which gave its first public performance in 2005.[5]In March 2011, theArts Council of Englandincluded Aurora Orchestra in its new "national portfolio" scheme.[6]Aurora, which had not been a "regularly funded organisation" under the council's previous funding scheme, was awarded this support as one of the "smaller adventurous music ensembles".
Aurora Orchestra first appeared atThe Promsin family-themed concerts in 2011 and 2012. The orchestra subsequently returned for late-night Proms in 2013[7]and in 2014,[8]the latter of which featured the premiere ofMeldbyBenedict Mason.In this and subsequent appearances at The Proms, the orchestra featured major classical works performed entirely from memory:
- 2014:Symphony No 40by Mozart
- 2015:Symphony No 6by Beethoven[9]
- 2016:Symphony No 41by Mozart[10]
- 2017:Symphony No 3by Beethoven
- 2018:Symphony No 9by Shostakovich[11]
- 2019:Symphonie fantastiqueby Berlioz[12]
- 2020:Symphony No 7by Beethoven[13]
- 2021:The Firebirdby Stravinsky[14]
- 2022:Symphony No 5by Beethoven[15]
- 2023:The Rite of Springby Stravinsky[16]
- 2024:Symphony No. 9by Beethoven[17]
Recordings
editIn June 2011, the Aurora Orchestra's debut album ofNico Muhly'sSeeing Is Believingwas released.[18]The orchestra has also made commercial albums for Warner Classics,[19][20]and other albums including:
- This Is the Day(2012), conducted byJohn Rutter,produced byThomas Hewitt Jonesand released onCollegium Records(COLCD 136)[21]
- Introit: The Music ofGerald Finzi(2016), conducted byNicholas Collon,produced by Alexander Van Ingen and released onDecca Classics(DECCA 4789357)[22]
Awards
editIn May 2011, Aurora won theEnsemblecategory of the annualRoyal Philharmonic Society Music Awardsfor calendar year 2010.
References
edit- ^"Aurora Orchestra to join Southbank Centre Resident Orchestras".Aurora Orchestra.2022-04-05.Retrieved2022-09-23.
- ^Willson, Flora (2017-06-04)."Aurora Orchestra review – squeaks, lederhosen and raspberries in the Alps".The Guardian.Retrieved2018-05-11.
- ^"Why are orchestras learning symphonies off by heart?".Classical Music. 9 June 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 11 July 2017.
- ^"Full biography".Aurora Orchestra.Retrieved2018-05-11.
- ^Nick Shave (2011-07-28)."Nicholas Collon: 'We live in the era of iPod shuffle'".The Guardian.Retrieved2017-07-22.
- ^"Arts council funding: get the full decisions list".The Guardian(Data Blog).2011-03-30.Retrieved2017-07-22.
- ^George Hall (2013-08-01)."Prom 25: Aurora Orchestra/Collon – review".The Guardian.Retrieved2017-07-22.
- ^Andrew Clements (2014-08-18)."Prom 41: Aurora O/Collon review – an original and compelling score".The Guardian.Retrieved2017-07-22.
- ^George Hall (2015-08-03)."Aurora Orchestra/Collon review – memorable for all the right reasons".The Guardian.Retrieved2017-07-22.
- ^George Hall (2016-08-02)."Aurora O/Collon/BBCSO/Gardner review – pulling out the party tricks".The Guardian.Retrieved2017-07-22.
- ^Prom 32: Inside Shostakovich,BBC,retrieved2018-08-10
- ^Prom 72:Symphonie fantastique,BBC,retrieved2019-08-13
- ^Aurora 2020 - BBC Proms Live: Beethoven 7,auroraorchestra.com
- ^BBC Proms 2021: Stravinsky’sFirebird,auroraorchestra.com
- ^BBC Proms 2022: Beethoven 5,auroraorchestra.com
- ^BBC Proms 2023: The Rite of Spring,auroraorchestra.com
- ^Beethoven’s Ninth by Heart at the BBC Proms,auroraorchestra.com
- ^Jolly, James (11 May 2011)."Bravo to the Aurora Orchestra and a Nico Muhly album".GramophoneBlogs.Retrieved11 September2011.
- ^Andrew Clements (2014-11-27)."Adams: Chamber Symphony; Copland:Appalachian Springetc CD review – immensely suggestive ".The Guardian.Retrieved2017-07-22.
- ^Andrew Clements (2015-08-06)."The Aurora Orchestra:InsomniaCD review – a bit of a ragbag ".The Guardian.Retrieved2017-07-22.
- ^"This Is the Day".
- ^"Introit: The Music of Gerald Finzi".Aurora Orchestra.Retrieved2023-11-08.
