Australian Chamber Orchestra Announce London Residency with Barbican Centre

The Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) has today announced it will commence a three-year residency as International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court in partnership with the Barbican Centre from the 2018/19 season. This residency at one of Europe's most prestigious concert venues follows on from the success of ACO Artistic Director Richard Tognetti's time as the Barbican's first ever Artist-in-Residence at Milton Court Concert Hall in the Barbican Presents 2016/17 season.

The ACO are one of three International Associate ensembles invited to commence a three-year residence in partnership with Barbican. Also taking up residence are the LA Philharmonic, directed by Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, as International Orchestra Partner and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by Artistic director Wynton Marsalis, who will continue their Barbican relationship as International Associate Ensemble.

"London is the world's cultural capital, and the Barbican Centre stands out as the city's most intrepid concert venue for its courageous programming and dedication to presenting truly imaginative productions across all art-forms," said Tognetti. "To be invited to take residence as International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court in London, alongside such august company as the LA Philharmonic and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, is an extraordinary honour and we greatly look forward to collaborating with the Barbican, who share our commitment to presenting concerts that aim to inspire, embolden and challenge audiences."

The Barbican Centre's Head of Music Huw Humphreys describes all three International Associate ensembles as leaders in chamber, symphonic and jazz performance.

"We at the Barbican and our neighbours and artistic partners, the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, are delighted to welcome the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Richard Tognetti as International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court from the 2018/19 classical season for a three-year period," said Humphreys. "The ACO's three concerts in March 2017 left a profound impression on us all, and we realised that the intimate atmosphere and extraordinary acoustics made Milton Court Concert Hall the perfect space for this ensemble. We are looking forward to be working with the ACO on an annual residency, which will include a varied range of concerts, featuring the ACO's characteristic eclectic mix of classical repertoire and contemporary programming as well as collaborations with Guildhall School musicians. The Guardian described the ACO as "one of the wonders of the musical world" and we are thrilled that our audiences will have the chance to experience this on a regular basis."

As International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court, the ACO will present a characteristically diverse program spanning from celebrated classics to contemporary electronica and cross-artform collaborations at Milton Court and a range of other Barbican venues. The ACO will also mentor and present concerts performed in collaboration with talented musicians from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

For ACO Managing Director Richard Evans, the residency provides an opportunity for the ACO to strengthen its long-standing ties with London audiences.

"The ACO has established an exceptionally strong connection with London, having toured to the city nearly twenty times over the last 25 years," said ACO Managing Director Richard Evans. "This residency will enable the ACO to continue to develop its relationship with London audiences in partnership with the Barbican which, like the ACO, is renowned for pushing artistic and creative boundaries."

"The ACO is one of Australia's greatest cultural ambassadors and over the many years it has been touring to the UK it has developed a passionate and dedicated audience-base," said the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, the Hon. Alexander Downer. "I am delighted that the ACO will have a home in London over the next three years as a result of its appointment as International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court at the Barbican Centre."

The ACO has a strong affiliation with London, having given thirty concerts in the city since their London debut in 1982. This includes sold-out performances in each of the UK's major concert venues including the Barbican Centre, Southbank Centre and Wigmore Hall, for which they have received five-star reviews from publications including The Times, The Guardian UK and The Telegraph.