In Thursday’s (2/9) The Age (Melbourne, Australia), Robin Usher writes, “Orchestra Victoria spends most of its time in the pit at the State Theatre supporting performances of the national ballet and opera companies. But after a year marked by tense industrial negotiations and uncertainty about its future, the orchestra has announced a program designed to raise its profile around the state. It launched its annual season for the first time in a concert at Government House last night. ‘Orchestra Victoria is admired within the arts community but too often, I believe, we go unheralded outside it,’ says OV’s managing director, Rob Robertson. The 2012 program builds on the philosophy of the past decade, when the orchestra has performed away from the pit in regional centres and in Melbourne with the support of philanthropic groups.” A new agreement with the musicians “sets the orchestra’s size at the current level of 59 full-time players with a commitment to rebuild the permanent ensemble back to its full strength of 69 positions. Robertson says the aim now is to enhance OV’s reputation as the most accessible orchestra in the country.”
Posted February 9, 2012
