The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra has announced the second half of its 2021 season (its 85th year), beginning from July. The new season features performances of some orchestral favourites and premieres of new works. The season also features as its centrepiece the ambitious new event, the Festival of Orchestra (FOFO), beginning in late November at the Adelaide Showground.

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Photo © Matt Turner.

The Festival of Orchestra presents six outdoor concerts across 10 days (November 24 to December 4), covering a broad variety of styles and genres. The festival commences with Classical Spectacular, conducted by returning Principal Guest Conductor Mark Wigglesworth, featuring a program of well loved orchestral works, including Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture (complete with cannon fire) and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. The festival also includes a performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, with soprano Eleanor Lyons, tenor Andrew Goodwin, and baritone Samuel Dundas appearing as soloists, again conducted by Wigglesworth. 

“When the ASO is fortunate enough to work with...