Overview

This history of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra tells the story from its creation through to the world class ensemble that performs today. Earlier orchestral activity from the nineteenth century through to the 1930s set up the receptive environment for the establishment of the orchestra by the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1936. After a number of decades of inconsistent funding challenges, the ASO was divested from the ABC in 2007. The ASO has evolved into the main trunk of the artistic tree in the state delivering music to the South Australian community in various forms including concerts, opera, ballet and drama. Paul Blackman's background as a long-serving ASO musician, player representative and member of management places him in an ideal position to recount the orchestra's history. As well as offering insights into the orchestra's operations - sometimes from a personal perspective - the many amusing anecdotes will engage the reader.

Full Product Details

9781743059760

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Paul Blackman grew up in Sydney and started taking music lessons while in primary school. He was accepted into the Sydney Conservatorium High School where for six years he benefited from rubbing shoulders with current and future members of the orchestral music scene in Australia. After a period in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Training Orchestra, he was appointed Sub Principal Contrabassoon with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and took leave for advanced study in Germany and England. In 1978, he joined the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra as Principal Bassoon, before becoming the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra's (ASO) Principal Contrabassoon in 1981. For most of his time as a player with the ASO, he was at first a player's representative on the Players' Committee and later became the union representative. After many years on the Symphony Orchestra Musician Association National Executive Committee, he became National President the year before his resignation as a player in 2008. His last six years' service at the ASO was in the role of Human Resources Manager, in which his duties included that of orchestral archivist. During that time he created the ASO Heritage website.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available