Formerly known as orchestra seventeen88, young period ensemble ARCO has announced its ambitious 2017 season.

In late 2013, legendary Australian conductor and music educator Richard Gill co-founded a young period instrument ensemble called orchestra seventeen88 with Rachael Beesley, Nicole van Bruggen and Benjamin Bayl.

Rachael Beesley, Richard Gill and Nicole van Bruggen. Photo by Nick Gilbert 

Dedicated to the performance of Classical and Romantic orchestral and chamber music repertoire, using a historically informed playing style on period instruments, the ensemble quickly established its credentials with Limelight describing it as “Australia’s brightest and shiniest new orchestra” and “an important addition to Australia’s musical landscape”.

Having just turned three, the ensemble has been rebranded the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra. Not only does the new name encapsulate who and what they are, but it makes for an apposite acronym, ARCO, which in Italian music terminology means to ‘bow’ a string instrument.

The orchestra also has a new website and has just announced its 2017 season, with three programmes to be presented at the Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney’s City Recital Hall,...