A Surprise Sunset Symphony
If you’ve got your hot little hands on a copy of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra (DSO) 2023 program, there’s a fair chance you’ve marked up next month’s Rhythm of the 90s throwback party on the calendar.
By Tierney Seccull
But in an exciting development, at a time of the year when there is a small gap in programming, they’ve come together to present a surprise Sunset Symphony in the amphitheatre at Charles Darwin University (CDU).
DSO Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Jon Tooby says the event came about after a couple of other ideas fell through.
“This has worked out perfectly for us, this show, because we are supported hugely by CDU and there is a wonderful space there for us to use. In effect, what we were going to do anyway in terms of the program [for the other two potential events] is very similar in what we will do for Sunset Symphony,” he says.
“It’s kind of a real big love-in, this concert. For our relationship with CDU, to kind of give back a bit, and just to have a real presence here and bring the community with us, and hopefully some of the staff and the students come along for the ride with us. That’s what it’s all about.”
Dr Amanda Morris is CDU’s first appointed Director of CDU Academy of the Arts, and says she’s keen to see the DSO illuminate a space on campus.
“It’s just wonderful that the DSO – because they are part of the family here if you like, at CDU – they came to us and said ‘look, we’ve been thinking about it for a while, what would you think about if we were to perform on campus?’ and we said ‘yes, we’d love it’,” she says.
“It just brings life to the campus, but also for the new Academy of the Arts, it’s just wonderful to have our friends and colleagues from the DSO performing here, and for the students from the Academy of the Arts to have the opportunity to listen to them playing in our big backyard.”
Sunset Symphony is free to attend and offers a relaxed evening of classical favourites for the family, including Prokofiev’s enchanting Romeo and Juliet, Bizet’s Carmen Suite, and Badelt’s iconic Pirates of the Caribbean.
“The program is really fun and accessible, very classical. It’ll be a really fun show, with lots of smaller items and not big symphonies,” Tooby says.
Guests are encouraged to get comfy and bring along picnic rugs and cushions to the alcohol-free event. Pack a picnic dinner, or if you’re keen to skip the kitchen altogether, grab a feast from the food trucks on hand to take your order.
Round up the family and settle into the sounds of DSO’s sweet Sunset Symphony.
Sunset Symphony
WHEN SAT 20 MAY | 6.30PM
AT CDU AMPHITHEATRE
COST FREE (REGISTRATIONS ESSENTIAL)
INFO dso.org.au
