Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to Play Arts Centre Melbourne's Hamer Hall, Nov 26-27

One of the world's greatest orchestras, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam will perform at Hamer Hall in November for two concerts only as part of its first-ever Australian tour, announced Arts Centre Melbourne Chief Executive Judith Isherwood today.

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is celebrating 125 years of outstanding musicianship with a remarkable series of performances around the globe. Led by Chief Conductor Mariss Jansons, its world tour takes in six continents in a single year - the first orchestra ever to do this - including performances in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney as part of its Australian tour.

"With Hamer Hall back online after its sensational multi-million dollar redevelopment, we are delighted to be participating in the World Orchestra Series for this first time and presenting an orchestra that sits at the very pinnacle of international orchestras," said Ms Isherwood. "Now Melbourne audiences will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy the very best of the best with one of the world's most illustrious conductors in two incredible concerts in one of the top concert halls in the world."

Globally, the Royal Concertgebouw (Con-SHIRT-ge-bow - as in "take a bow") Orchestra has long been admired for its performances and programming, as confirmed in 2008 when it was hailed as "the World's Greatest Orchestra" by the respected magazine Gramophone. Lauded for its exquisite musicianship, the RCO has only had six chief conductors in the past 125 years, including its current maestro Mariss Jansons, who was appointed in 2004.

Mariss Jansons ranks among the outstanding podium personalities of our time. His orchestral work is recognised not only because of his lively touring activities but also because of television and radio broadcasts world-wide and his exceptional recording catalogue.

The RCO will perform works that have played an important role in its history. Its first program will feature Stravinsky's Firebird Suite and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, composed in 1888, the year the orchestra was founded. The second program comprises Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 with soloist Yefim Bronfman, widely regarded as one of the most talented virtuoso pianists performing today, and Richard Strauss's Ein Heldenleben, a work the composer dedicated to the RCO.

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra comprises 120 players hailing from over 20 countries, including former Australian Chamber Orchestra violinist Jane Piper who has been with the orchestra since 2011.

Previous tours in the World Orchestra Series were by the London Philharmonic with Vladimir Jurowski in 2009 (Brisbane and Perth), the Berlin Philharmonic with Sir Simon Rattle in 2010 (Perth and Sydney) and the Vienna Philharmonic with Christoph Eschenbach in 2011 (Perth, Brisbane and Sydney).

The concerts will take place at Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall.

Concert 1 - 8pm Tuesday 26 November

Wagenaar Ouverture De getemde feeks (The Taming of the Shrew)
Stravinsky Firebird Suite
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5

Concert 2 - 8pm Wednesday 27 November, 2013

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3
(Soloist Yefim Bronfman)
Richard Strauss Ein Heldenleben
(Strauss dedicated this work to the RCO)

For more information visit artscentremelbourne.com.au or phone 1300 182 183.