Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra (ARCO)
First Light: Music Illuminated by the Sunrise
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
NICOLE VAN BRUGGEN clarinet & basset clarinet
RACHAEL BEESLEY violin
ALISON RAYNER violin
STEPHEN KING viola
NATASHA KRAEMER cello
Partners
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 and connect communities through the transformative creativity and joy of HIP.
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 for over a decade, 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. |
GAMBARO Clarinet Quartet No. 1 in B-flat major (arr. from string quartets by Joseph Haydn) (1772–1828) Interval MOZART Larghetto from Clarinet Quintet in A major, K.581 (1789) (1756–1791) Concert runtime: approx. 100 mins, including 20 min interval |
Presenting Partners New England Conservatorium of Music Armidale, Glasshouse Theatre Port Macquarie, Tamworth Conservatorium, The James Theatre Dungog. |
Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
| Armidale Town Hall | 5 March 7pm |
| Glasshouse Theatre, Port Macquarie | 6 March 7pm |
| The Chapel, Tamworth | 7 March 7pm |
| James Theatre, Dungog | 8 March 4pm |
Location
Multiple Venues
Please check the venue when booking tickets.
Event notes
Venues
Armidale Town Hall
127 Rusden St
Armidale NSW 2350
Glasshouse Theatre
30-42 Clarence Street &, Hay St
Port Macquarie NSW 2444
The Chapel
30 Anne St
Tamworth NSW 2340
James Theatre
6 Brown St
Dungog NSW 2420