Hear that? It’s the sound of music you cannot miss!

Revered London-based, Queensland-born pianist Piers Lane will perform Mozart’s 24th Piano Concerto - one of his most dramatic pieces for piano and orchestra.

Brisbane’s celebrated superstar son Ray Chen will perform one of the greatest of all works for violin and orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.

QSO Section Principal Trumpet Rainer Saville will perform Henri Tomasi’s spectacular Trumpet Concerto, under the baton of brilliant young Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski.

QSO Chief Conductor Maestro Umberto Clerici will lead the orchestra in an epic retelling of Don Quixote.

 Daniel Belle (Les Misérables) will perform with QSO in the Musical Theatre Gala.

When Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s new Chief Conductor Umberto Clerici launched his 2023 season and said, ‘Be curious’, he certainly meant it. With an epic line-up of concerts set for the remainder of the year, led by two of Queensland’s biggest international success stories in Piers Lane and Ray Chen, he is giving audiences a perfect musical storm to be curious about.

On May 12 and 13 the famous story of DON QUIXOTE takes over the Concert Hall, featuring the glorious music of Richard Strauss, and a mix of theatrical and visual elements including the acclaimed stage actor Eugene Gilfedder presenting a monologue in costume as the author Miguel de Cervantes. “I wanted to expand the concert experience with literature, theatre and drama, to make it a more immersive experience,'' said Maestro Clerici.

In the same concert, famed pianist and Queensland favourite Piers Lane performs Mozart’s 24th Piano Concerto - one of his most dramatic pieces for piano and orchestra.

The blockbuster classical music event CINEMATIC returns in May over three concerts with the biggest line-up ever of film music from the screen, and in June QSO and QPAC present THE LOST THING, a magical concert experience of the much-loved children's book The Lost Thing, by Australian illustrator and author Shaun Tan.

In June, it’s time for dynamic young music makers to shine. TERRIFIC TRUMPET stars new Section Principal Trumpet Rainer Saville, performing French composer Henri Tomasi’s spectacular Trumpet Concerto, under the baton of the brilliant young Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski.

In 2021 Peltokoski conducted the Bremen Chamber Philharmonic orchestra in Germany and so impressed the orchestra that - at age 21! - they employed him as their Principal Guest Conductor. Around the same time, he was offered the role of Music and Artistic Director of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. In an amazing coup, QSO will bring this young rising star to Brisbane to conduct Sibelius’ Symphony No.2.

Then in July, Ray Chen returns to perform with QSO! Over two nights RAY PLAYS TCHAIKOVSKY will see Brisbane’s celebrated son perform one of the greatest of all works for violin and orchestra - Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. Under the baton of Giancarlo Guerrero, who wowed Queensland audiences in 2018 with his rendition of Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony.

**JUST ADDED to the 2023 line-up in July is the Musical Theatre Gala, bigger and better than ever. Featuring some of the best musical theatre songs of all time, a spectacular large orchestra, and live vocals, the repertoire includes songs from Beauty and the Beast, Jekyll and Hyde, Guys and Dolls, Pocahontas and Les Misérables and more. PLUS the two concerts feature performances by Chloé Zuel who was a knock out on stage as Catherine of Aragon in the Australian production of SIX! and Eliza Hamilton in Hamilton, Daniel Belle, recently seen as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, and QSO favourites and Ashleigh Denning.

Also in July are two BEETHOVEN AND ELGAR performances. Triple-threat conductor (also violinist and composer) Joseph Swensen will bring his deep musical knowledge to the complex challenge of Elgar’s Symphony No.2. Joining him on stage will be acclaimed Australian pianist Jayson Gillham, recognised as one of the most refined pianists of his generation, sharing his interpretation of Beethoven’s sparkling Piano Concerto No.1.

In Spring Chief Conductor Umberto Clerici embarks on his Mahler cycle – with a twist! “Every new Chief Conductor starts a Mahler cycle, but few make it beyond his Fourth or Fifth Symphony. So, I decided to continue a cycle started by Alondra de la Parra in 2016: we will restart from Mahler’s Sixth Symphony, the Tragic, and continue the journey in years to come. We will also hear the world premiere of a new symphony by Justin Williams; his music ideally continues the late Romantic idiom and could be the natural continuation of Strauss and Mahler,” said Clerici.

CLERICI CONDUCTS MAHLER is presented in association with Brisbane Festival on 22 and 23 September and promises to be one of the most epic performances of the QSO in the Concert Hall in 2023.

In December QSO will take part in one of the standout music events of 2023: THE RING CYCLE, Wagner's Magnum Opus, presented in association with Opera Australia and exclusive to QPAC. This spectacular new production by visionary Chinese director Chen Shi-Zheng — the pinnacle of opera and a 15-hour epic performed over four nights - explores Wagner’s legendary tale through a futuristic lens. Towering, moving digital panels will create an immersive virtual world while the music of QSO will fill the Lyric Theatre.

QSO ON TOUR - QSO is also touring Queensland in 2023, performing in Gladstone, Mount Isa, Roma, Tara, Chinchilla, and Cairns.

PROGRAM and TICKET DETAILS:

At qso.com.au or call 07 3833 5044

For more media information, please contact Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email kath@kathrose.com