Yesterday morning I was invited along to the Queensland Symphony Orchestra launch of their 2014 season, which is a bit fancier than my usual Tuesday. There was a red carpet, champagne, some interesting people and of course some amazing music. The flowers where just beautiful and good heavens those macarons where the best I've ever tasted. No, for real.
The 2014 season is the last for Maestro Johannes Fritzsch, and the first to new CEO Sophie Galaise. There where some interesting and passionate speeches from both of these amazing people, as well as from Her Excellency the Governor of Queensland Ms Penelope Wensley, AC. Maestro Fritzsch said that English is his third language, his second being German and his first, Music. Cue the audience to say Nawwww!
Afterwards there was a high tea to celebrate, watched over by principal trumpet Sarah Wilson, resplendent as Queen of Trumpets. There where tables set up where you could chat with Ms Sophie Galaise, Maestro Johannes Fritzcsch (Redcliffe Style used this as an excellent opportunity to brush up on her German) Director Artistic Planning Richard Wenn, Guy Noble from Music on Sundays, Concertmaster Warwick Adeney, and Simon Cobcroft from the Chamber Players. When your time was up, The Queen of Trumpets played a refrain to let you know it was time to move on - Fashionista Events captured this on her instagram here.
I was fascinated by the Governor but I couldn't even get close to her - I did however, get to have a brief chat with her civilian assistant, who was efficiency personified. Her job is to watch, anticipate and guide the Governor and she hardly took her eyes off her for a moment. I also got to have a laugh with Danielle Dixon and Craig Young from Masterchef.
2014 promises to be a wonderful season for The Queensland Symphony Orchestra ,with concerts across 4 series - Maestro, Morning Masterworks, Music on Sundays and Chamber Players making up 27 world class music events. There will be collaborations with The Sydney Dance Company, among others. What I love about the QSO is that it makes classical music accessible to people who think they don't like it. I missed out on taking The Gentleman to a Lord of the Rings concert event this year, but he won't be missing out on the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular in February 2014.
Subscription packages are available now, and single tickets are on sale 6th January. Click here to find out more!
Maybe I'll see you there!
xx