Orchestra Victoria


Orchestra Victoria is a full-time salaried orchestra based in Melbourne, Australia, and wholly owned subsidiary of The Australian Ballet. Founded in 1969, the orchestra is now a principal performance partner for The Australian Ballet, Opera Australia, and larger productions of Victorian Opera.

History

The orchestra was established in 1969 as the Elizabethan Melbourne Orchestra, initially with just 32 players. Over the next decade, the Orchestra expanded both its numbers and repertoire as it accompanied some of the world's leading performers, including Rudolf Nureyev and Dame Joan Sutherland, and worked with renowned conductors such as Richard Bonynge, Stuart Challender, Carlo Felice Cillario, and John Lanchbery.
In 1986, ownership of the Orchestra was transferred to the Victorian Arts Centre and its name was changed to the State Orchestra of Victoria. Its initial management and artistic team: Concertmaster: Anthony Conolan, Administrator: Peter Narroway, Orchestra Manager: Kevin Morgan.
In 2001, the Orchestra left the Arts Centre to become an independent, self-governing organisation. The newly named Orchestra Victoria moved to the former Army Band Barracks in Albert Park.
On 1 July 2014, Orchestra Victoria became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Australian Ballet. Since then it has expanded activities, continued to perform with leading artists from around the world, revitalised its philanthropic program, appearing in broadcasts, recordings and open-air events, and touring interstate for the first time in many years.
At the end of 2016, the Orchestra was forced to move out of its home in Albert Park to make way for a new primary school. The orchestra currently operates out of the Joan Hammond Hall in Southbank, Melbourne.

Activities

Performances:
TitleDetails
Ludwig Minkus, Don Quixote John Lanchbery, The Elizabethan Trust Melbourne Orchestra.
• Released: 1973
• Label: EMI
• Cat #: CSD 3749
Ludwig Minkus/Arr. John Lanchbery. John Lanchbery, The Elizabethan Trust Melbourne Orchestra.
• Released: Sep, 1977
• Label: World Record Club
• Cat #: R-03711
Giacomo Puccini, Madame Butterfly State Orchestra Of Victoria - John Lanchbery
• Released: 1996
• Label: ABC Classics
• Cat #: 454 499-2
Albert Arlen, The Sentimental Bloke John Lanchbery, Orchestra Victoria
• Released: Jun, 1998
• Label: ABC Classics
• Cat #: ABC4768366
Michael Easton, Concerto on Australian Themes, An Australian in Paris State Orchestra Of Victoria, Brett Kelly, Bernadette Conlon, Len Vorster, Margaret Haggart
• Released: Jun, 1998
• Label: Naxos
• Cat #: 8.554368
Franz Lehar, The Merry Widow State Orchestra Of Victoria, John Lanchbery
• Released: 1999
• Label: ABC Classics
• Cat #: 465 426-2
Don Quixote State Orchestra of Victoria
• Released: 1999
• Label: Unknown
• Cat #: 59567129
Graeme Koehne, 1914: ballet music. Mark Sommerbell, State Orchestra of Victoria
• Released: 1999
• Label: ABC Classics
• Cat #: 4652092
Sean O'Boyle, Villean Sunrise, Robert John, State Orchestra of Victoria
• Released: 2000
• Label: ABC Classics
• Cat #: 465682-2
Constant Lambert The Bird Actors: Pomona; Romeo and Juliet. John Lanchberry, State Orchestra of Victoria.
• Released: 2000
• Label: Chandos
• Cat #: CHAN9865
Various Composers, Australia Unite! The road to federation: Songs and dances of colonial Australia.
Richard Divall, Merlyn Quaife, John Bolton Wood, State Orchestra of Victoria.
• Released: 2001
• Label: ABC Classics
• Cat #: 00028948141203
Ferdinand Hérold, La Somnambule Richard Bonynge
• Released: 2008
• Label: Melba Records
• Cat#: MR301087
Various composers, Villains: sinister songs and arias. John Wegner, Richard Divall, State Orchestra of Victoria.
• Released: 2001
• Label: ABC Classics
• Cat #: 00028948141272
Various composers, Dance of the hours: Beautiful Music for Every House of the Day Richard Divall
• Released: Oct, 2005
• Label: ABC Classics
• Cat #: ABC4768366
Georges Bizet, Divergence State Orchestra of Victoria, The Australian Ballet, Stanton Welch.
• Released: 2007
• Label: West Long Branch, NJ: Kultur
• Cat #: D4252
Camille Saint-Saëns, Hélène/Nuit Persane Rosamund Illing, Steve Davislim, Leanne Kenneally, Zan Mckendree-Wright, Belle Époque Chorus Guillaume Tourniaire
• Released: 2008
• Label: Melba Records
• Cat #: MR 301114-2
Richard Strauss, Seduction State Orchestra of Victoria, Simone Young, Steve Davislim
• Released: 2008
• Label: Melba Records
• Cat #: MR301108
Rhapsodie: Fantasie: Poème Ben Jacks, Orchestra Victoria, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Barry Tuckwell
• Released: 2008
• Label: Melba Records
• Cat #: MR301117
Franz Lehar/John Lanchbery, The Merry Widow: the ballet music based on the Lehar opera ar. John Lanchbery. Alan Abbott, State Orchestra of Victoria.
• Released: 2009
• Label: Naxos Digital Services/ABC Classics.
• Cat #: ABC465426-2
Camille Saint-Saëns, ELAN Orchestra Victoria, Guillaume Tourniaire
• Released: 2010
• Label: Melba Records
• Cat #: MR301130
Giacomo Puccini, Puccini = Passion Orchestra Victoria, Cheryl Barker, Richard Bonynge
• Released: Jan, 2011
• Label: Melba Records
• Cat #: MR301110
The Australian Cities Suite Orchestra Victoria with Judith Durham
• Released: 2012
• Label: Decca
• Cat #: 279 7918
Various Composers, The Australian Ballet – The Music of Dance: Celebrating 50 Years. State Orchestra Of Victoria, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Richard Mills, John Lanchbery, Werner Andreas Albert, Vladimir Verbitsky, Nicolette_Fraillon, David Stanhope, John Hopkins, David Porcelijn
• Released: Jan 2012
• Label: ABC Classics
• Cat #: 480 6403
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Sleeping Beauty Orchestra Victoria, Nicolette_Fraillon, David Wenham
• Released: 2015
• Label: ABC Classics
• Cat #: 481 2234
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker Orchestra Victoria, Nicolette_Fraillon , Geoffrey Rush
• Released: Nov, 2016
• Label: ABC Classics
• Cat #: 4814668
Léo Delibes, Coppélia Orchestra Victoria, Nicolette_Fraillon
• Release: 2018
• Label: ABC Classics
• Cat #: 481 7212