O Fortuna!

The Darwin Symphony Orchestra celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019 with concerts all year, but have saved the biggest for last.

160 performers take to the stage for O Fortuna!, a special collaboration with the Darwin Chorale, True Colours Choir, and featured soloists, performing Carl Orff’s spectacular and fiery, Carmina Burana.

DSO's Artistic Director Jonathan Tooby says the name Carmina Burana may not mean much to many, but you should recognise it as soon as the music starts.

“If they listen to the first five seconds, they’ll know exactly what the whole piece is – it’s one of those works. It will blow their minds when they hear all these performers together. It’s the biggest show we’ve done all year,” he says.

The special event features the world-renowned tenor Kang Wang, who cut his teeth in Darwin.

“He grew up and was sort of discovered here, and now he’s gracing major opera houses around the world, including The Met in New York. It’s truly special. I think that, had we been any other city, unless the price was right, he may not have come. It’s amazing to see what talent has been born out of this town,” Tooby says.

Looking back on the year, Tooby says it’s been a pretty special year for the orchestra, and for him personally.

“I feel very warm and fuzzy inside looking back. It’s been my first full year as Artistic Director and curator of this year’s program. This was really rewarding and had so many huge outcomes – our biggest audiences yet, and engaging more artists than ever before,” he says.

“I think the DSO has a really important point of difference – we’re surrounded by this incredibly rich Indigenous culture, and it’s such a multicultural place. Every other orchestra in the world follows a traditional lead, and I think we’ve got a great opportunity to break new ground, and that is what’s exciting about being part of the DSO.”

O Fortuna!
SAT 7 DEC, 7.30PM | DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE | $30-$60
dso.org.au