Australian Chamber Orchestra
Tremendously versatile and musically polished, the English Chamber Orchestra is considered one of the most distinguished chamber orchestras in the world. Similar in musical philosophy and organization to the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the ensemble is financially self-supporting and has no permanent home venue. The orchestra presents an annual concert series in London and also tours internationally. Over its history, the ensemble has expanded its repertoire to include a wide range of chamber music from various musical periods and is flexible in size, ranging from 24 to 38 musicians. The English Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Neil Thomson, issued the recording Serenata: Brazilian Music for Chamber Orchestra in 2022.
The English Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1948 by Arnold Goldsborough to perform Baroque music. Originally named the Goldsborough Orchestra, the ensemble changed its name to the English Chamber Orchestra (ECO) in 1960 in accordance with the needs of the group's growing reputation. At the same time, the "English Chamber Orchestra and Music Society" charity was formed as the promotion arm of the organization. Like many other chamber orchestras, the ECO employs no full-time musicians but hires its players on a contract basis. This allows the orchestra to be flexible in size and structure according to the needs of its repertoire and concert venues and also gives the musicians the opportunity to work in a variety of other situations. The freedom this provides is key to the fresh approach this orchestra takes in its performances through its use of a system of co-principal groupings of players. Under this system, two principal players share each chair and are contracted to play a set number of performances in a given season.
The ECO has performed for numerous important occasions, including a command performance before Queen Elizabeth II at the Queen Elizabeth Hall inaugural concert in 1967. Other performances of note are the first color television recording of music for the BBC and the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana of Wales in 1981. The ensemble has been associated with the music of Benjamin Britten since it became the resident orchestra at the 1961 Aldeburgh Festival. The ECO has toured extensively, including tours throughout Europe, the U.S., and China.
Until 1985, the orchestra chose to work without a principal conductor, instead inviting a series of talented guest artists to lead the ensemble. The ECO has a reputation for giving young conductors important opportunities. Among those who have benefited from this policy are Sir Colin Davis, Daniel Barenboim, and Pinchas Zukerman. During the orchestra's Silver Anniversary celebration in 1985, it was announced that Jeffrey Tate had been chosen to fill the newly created position of principal conductor, and in 2000, he was succeeded by Ralf Gothóni. Paul Watkins has also served as music director, and Roy Goodman has served as the orchestra's principal guest conductor. Stephanie Gonley has been the orchestra's leader since 1997 and has also directed the orchestra from her violin.
The ECO can be heard on hundreds of recordings on all of the major labels, including a significant number on EMI, Deutsche Grammophon, and Sony, among others. The highlights for the ECO include three complete Mozart piano concerto cycles featuring Daniel Barenboim on EMI Classics, Mitsuko Uchida on Philips, and Murray Perahia on Sony Classical. In 2019, the ECO was led from the keyboard by Benjamin Hochman in a recording of Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 24, on Avie. More Mozart recordings followed in the early 2020s, and in 2022, conductor Neil Thomson led the ECO on the release Serenata: Brazilian Music for Chamber Orchestra.
© Corie Stanton Root & Keith Finke /TiVo
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Beethoven Symphonies 1, 2 & 3 'Eroica' (Live In Concert)
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by ABC Classic on 10 Nov 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Symphonies 3 and 4
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Symphonic Music - Released by ABC Classic on 11 Sep 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tognetti – Bach: Violin Concertos
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by ABC Classic on 9 Sep 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
ACO Originals - Thomas Adès: Shanty – Over the Sea
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by ABC Classic on 3 Feb 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Isaac Albéniz: Asturias (Leyenda) (Arr. for Guitar and Strings by Australian Chamber Orchestra)
Slava Grigoryan, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by ABC Classic on 9 Dec 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by ABC Classic on 31 Jan 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Celebrating 40 Years
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by ABC Classic on 21 Oct 2016
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
River (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Film Soundtracks - Released by ABC Classic on 30 Jul 2021
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bach / Beethoven: Fugue
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by ABC Classic on 7 Apr 2017
Gramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Piazzolla: Music for Classical Accordion and Orchestra
Richard Tognetti, James Crabb, Martin Benjamin, Australian Chamber Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Sep 2003
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 Op. 58, Piano Sonatas Nos. 14 "Moonlight" & 31
Dejan Lazić, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by Channel Classics on 8 Feb 2011
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Homeward: Bryce Dessner | George Walker | Ruth Crawford Seeger
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by ABC Classic on 12 May 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Jonny Greenwood Water, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Night Music (Live At Concert Hall, Opera House, Sydney, 2014)
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by ABC Classic on 10 Nov 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Indies & Idols (Live In Concert)
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by ABC Classic on 21 Oct 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mountain (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Film Soundtracks - Released by ABC Classic on 4 Aug 2017
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Flute Concertos
Emmanuel Pahud, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 24 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Celebrating 20 Years Together
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by ABC Classic on 17 Apr 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dark with Excessive Bright: Concerto for Contrabass and String Orchestra (ACO Originals, Live from City Recital Hall, Sydney, 2018)
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti, Maxime Bibeau
Classical - Released by ABC Classic on 12 Jun 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 - Beethoven: Romances Nos. 1 & 2
Daniel Müller-Schott, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by Orfeo on 12 Jun 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Keyboard Concertos Nos. 1-7, BWV 1052-8 etc.
Angela Hewitt, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Classical - Released by Hyperion on 1 Feb 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart's Last Symphonies (Live From City Recital Hall, Sydney, 2015)
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti
Symphonic Music - Released by ABC Classic on 8 Jul 2016
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo