Tag Archives: Mosman community

community, Mosman Community

Andrew Del Riccio: 25 Years of Service

2023 marks musical director Andrew Del Riccio’s 25th year at the helm of MSO. He has overseen the growth & development of the orchestra to become one of the leading community orchestras in the state. In recognition of his service Mosman Council honored him with the award of Citizen of the Year.

A gifted musician himself, Andrew strives to extract the absolute best from all his players. He has provided opportunities for many musicians, some of whom are students or budding professionals, others who are passionate amateurs, to perform both within the orchestra and as soloists. He has encouraged young composers, and had the orchestra perform their works. He also instigated the formation of our choir, the Mosman Symphony Chorus. During the difficult Covid years, he made sure that the orchestra continued with what limited performance opportunities there were.

All this has helped to raise the orchestra’s profile in the community and seen audience numbers grow from the early days when the orchestra often outnumbered its audience to the present situation where concerts frequently sell out.

But Andrew’s work for the orchestra doesn’t stop at conducting. He attends committee meetings, plans concert programs, and if you arrive early for a concert you’ll probably have seen him moving chairs and setting up lights!

At our From the Heart concert on March 19th Mosman Mayor Carolyn Corrigan spoke to the audience about Andrew’s achievements and the importance of the arts for the community, and the orchestra & choir presented Andrew with a fine bottle of shiraz and a copy of the Letters of Leonard Bernstein.

Thank you, Andrew, and congratulations on your 25 years of dedication and passion.

Community orchestras, Concerts, Guest Book

By Jupiter!

By Jove, what a wonderful weekend of music we have had! The players really appreciated so many people coming to support he orchestra despite the wild weather. Soloists Bridget Bolliger and Rachel Tolmie inspired us all with their consummate musicianship, and players and audience alike thrilled to Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony with its astonishing, climactic finale.

It was great to have a big crowd to give musical director Andrew Del Riccio his well deserved applause as he celebrated 21 years as the conductor of Mosman Symphony Orchestra. Orchestra President Bridget Wilcken presented Andrew with a crystal trophy and a fine bottle of wine. (For those of you who are wondering what was in the mysterious blue package on Sunday, it was Andrew’s beloved Tim Tams – a little extra present from the orchestra.)

Our move from Friday to Saturday evenings was well supported with a bigger than usual evening audience. Some people commented that they’d taken the chance to dine in nearby restaurants before the concert. Sunday was sold out.

There were 2 comments in our Guest Book –  one from a loyal audience member who has watched the orchestra grow; the other a first timer, for whom we hope the concert will be the first of many:

I have enjoyed the orchestra for 20 years. It continues to be wonderful each performance. Many originals are so passionate about the music, each enjoying their chosen instrument, Mark with viola, all the cellos, oboes, flutes…. Congratulations and well done. Marlene R.

Our first time listening to Mosman Symphony Orchestra – enjoyed it so much. Beautiful music and atmosphere! We’ll be back to listen to more. Thank you. William B.

Concerts, Guest Book, Mosman Community

From the Guest Book

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Here’s what some people had to say after our Northern Lights concert last night:

‘What an absolute gem we have on our doorstep! Thank you for a stupendous evening.’ Bettina

‘Loved the concert as usual. Bach was an absolute treat. Can’t wait till next one.’ Jan

And from Sunday:

‘Fantastic – Tears flowed. Thank you.’ Ruth

‘I have enjoyed the 2016 Season, looking forward to next year. Great performances.’ Anne

And this was sent to us from Edward who attended the concert on Nov 11, Remembrance Day:

VISIONARY

In the dark of remembrance I rested, mesmorised by the complex “Concerto for Two Violins in D-minor” – a divine concertante: and blossoming from the Mosman Symphony, it delivered my mortality to the sweetest glimpse of infinite Grace.

Three cheers for all those sonorious gems that have ever poured from your vat of loveliness, Richard Wagner: your vintage continues to intoxicate classical culture-vultures everywhere. “Siegfried Idyll” was a very satisfying selection from the orchestra’s music cellar, and we quaffed on that rare beaujolaise enough to quench a sailor’s thirst. Pour me another damn it – and another! “Sorte’ Sobriete”! And why not? It caused the earth to move for me, and apparently did wonders for the enraptured juices of Cosimo, until Richard flogged-off this beloved gift to her, presented with some ritual and ceremony, to all and sundry; and that’s men for you!

Was it a mere rush of blood to the head on sighting the panorama of a new century, that sparked pleasant and optimistic harmonies in the first movement of Jean Sibelius’ second symphony? – I think not! They’re a mask for what was to come – and it wasn’t pretty! – MoSO you nailed it! This great work is no walk-in-the-park, and should not be misunderstood or underestimated: its calibre is on par with Beethoven, however, the similarity ends there. Beethoven was on the whole a reactionary for his time, Sibelius channelled the future with dark tones, warning of the disaster that was to unfold onto a humanity flawed with the deadly emotions of pride and greed – “Art” with a capital ‘A’! His carefully considered timings, intricately designed-rhythms and sumptuous harmonies? – Well, we can surmise their veiled or implied meanings, and argue the toss infinitum – but we’re bound to enjoy the ride, as we did! By the way, it was the best interpretation I’ve heard.

Reflect at this time.

Lest we forget

PS: Looking forward to more of your great performances.

reviews

A Night of Magic

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Apart from wonderful classical music in a lovely venue, one of the  really great things about Mosman Symphony Orchestra concerts is the champagne and nibblies afterwards, when the players get to relax and chat to the audience. When people talk about music that has stirred them they are often very eloquent – sometimes poetic.

We thought it was about time that we had a permanent record of some of the lovely things that people say to us after our performances, so we now have a Guest Book.

 

Here are some of the first comments after the Friday night performance of Mosman Symphony Orchestra goes to the movies:

‘A wonderful night of magic music. Thank you so much!’

‘I was absolutely enthralled by the guest conductor and loved the choice of music, a wonderful night!’

If you’re coming to our Sunday performance, we’d love you to share your thoughts in the guest book. There are still some seats available, but you’ll need to be quick!

And from Sunday…

‘Wonderful. Thank you to the conductor for “bringing in the audience”. Fabulous selection of music and professional and talented musicians.’

‘Yet another wonderful performance. Congratulations. Looking forward to the next event’

‘Can’t wait for the next concert! Fabulous!’

‘It was a fabulous concert, my first time at a concert of the Mosman Symphony, and I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. My spirits needed lifting, and Mosman Symphony Orchestra most certainly did that! The music choices were perfect, the order of play was so well organised and the acoustics were fabulous!

I would really appreciate being placed on the mailing list and am really looking forward to attending the next concert and into the future.

My thanks to you and, to the entire orchestra.’

This last piece is not in our Guest Book, but was emailed to me. Thank you to Edward for taking the trouble to write such a lovely review:

Spring has Sprung

Spring arrived when the flowers bloomed last week, and as the charming conductor, Carlos Alvarado took to the rostrum, raising his baton elegantly to lead our sublime Mosman Symphony Orchestra through a selection of music from cinematic history.

Composers Johann Strauss and Edward Elgar to “Harry Potter’s” themes of haunting mysticism were on the program, and the orchestra confidently performed for an appreciative audience that yearned for more.

A memorable arrangement from the movie, “Schindler’s List” elevated my mind to a space where only tolerance and peace prevail. Anny Bing Xia achieved a seamless, sweet hypnotic interpretation in that violin performance, and blew me away. Anny, you’re a “Musician’s Musician” – play on!

“Jaffas” were not rolled down the aisles, and precedents can’t be tolerated I’m sure – however, it wouldn’t have taken much for exemptions to be brought forth as the exhilaration of “Radetzky’s March” raised the house, and closed a fabulous evening of block-buster music.

See you at the next concert.

Edward

Mosman Community

Mosman Community Showcase

Mosman Community Connects

Bridget, Bob and Linda (along with their respective spouses) had a great day at the Mosman Community Showcase. What an amazing diversity of  volunteer community organisations we have in this town! Thank you to Mosman Rotary and to Mosman Council for the great job you did organsing the event. It was good to catch up with some of our supporters including Councillor Tom Sherlock and also Virginia Howard, who is a not only director on the board of Mosman Bendigo Bank,  generous sponsors of the orchestra for many years, but who also does sterling volunteer work for Taldumande Youth Services.

It was a pleasure to meet members of the community who have been coming to our concerts and who gave some very encouraging feedback and also to connect with future players and audiences.