Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra: First Light

When

Duration

Location

Glasshouse Theatre

The Glasshouse Port Macquarie in association with Musica Viva Australia present:

Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra: First Light

First Light: Music Illuminated by the Sunrise.

A clarinet melody, rising like the sun from shimmering strings. Five of Australia’s most brilliant musicians. Works beloved and new from an age of discovery, emotion and light.

ARCO’s First Light takes in a sweep of classical quartets, including the buoyant Mozart K.157, the melancholy Cavatina from Beethoven’s Op.130, and a brilliant new ocean-inspired work by Brisbane composer Nicole Murphy. At the pinnacle is Haydn’s Sunrise quartet in a sparkling 18th-century clarinet arrangement by Vincenzo Gambaro, an Italian clarinettist and entrepreneur who arranged pieces by his friends Beethoven, Haydn and Mozart to highlight the clarinet’s lush tones. 

First Light brings five principals from the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra into the intimacy of chamber music, including co-artistic directors and long-time musical friends Rachael Beesley (violin) and Nicole van Bruggen (clarinet). They’re joined by Alison Rayner (violin), Stephen King (viola) and Natasha Kraemer (cello) – all nationally and internationally acclaimed experts in historically informed performance.

Repertoire/Program

Vincenzo GAMBARO (1772–1828)
Clarinet Quartet No. 1 in B-flat major
arranged from string quartets by Joseph Haydn

Franz SCHUBERT (1797–1828)
String Quartet No. 7 in D major, D.94 (1811)

Interval (20 mins)

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791)
String Quartet No. 4 in C major, K.157 (1772)

Nicole MURPHY (b. 1984) Wavelength
for historical basset clarinet and string quartet (2024)

Part of Glasshouse SELECT 2026 Theatre Program

Internationally renowned, the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra (ARCO) is one of Australia’s leading historically informed performance (HIP) ensembles. ARCO's mission is to inspire, educate, enlighten and connect communities through the transformative creativity and joy of HIP music. Called ‘the best HIPsters under the Southern Cross’ by Limelight, ARCO brings music to dynamic life with fresh sounds and luminous historical instruments. Touring nationally since 2014, ARCO lifts the music off the page and into minds and hearts, connecting us all across time and space.

Nicole van Bruggen is ARCO’s principal clarinettist and co-artistic director. A highly respected exponent of historical clarinets since 1995, she performs with some of Europe and Australia’s finest ensembles and is in demand as an educator in Historically Informed Performance.

Rachael Beesley is ARCO’s conductor, concertmaster and co-artistic director. An internationally renowned Australian-British violinist, director and music educator, she performs with distinguished orchestras worldwide, is highly regarded as a chamber musician and soloist, and teaches at prestigious music conservatories.

Alison Rayner has performed with ARCO since 2022. She has held leadership roles with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, spent ten years with the Oslo Philharmonic and Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, and now appears regularly with Australian orchestras, quartets and historically informed performance ensembles. Stephen King is ARCO’s principal violist. He was a long-term member of the Australian String Quartet and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. He now performs around the country and teaches at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, Adelaide University.

Natasha Kraemer has performed with ARCO since 2017. A British-Australian cellist, she has performed with leading HIP ensembles in Australia and Europe, plays for film soundtracks and festivals, and also sings and plays in the folk band Bella Frankie.

All Box Office bookings are subject to our standard Glasshouse Booking Terms and Conditions.

Purchase of a ticket is deemed to be acceptance of the following terms and conditions:

1. Tickets are sold on behalf of the organisation or promoter and may be subject to additional conditions of admission to the event.

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