Earth and Sky, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra’s 2024 season, will be “an exciting program of orchestral concerts, chamber music matinees, and evenings dedicated to Australian voices and stories that explore our understanding of Earth and the universe,” CEO Rachel Thomas announced at the season launch today.  

The season will include Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, his exploration of childhood and innocence, with its famous sleigh bells; Sibelius’ wild and uplifting Second Symphony, “a confession of the soul” and seen by many as a symbol of Finnish liberation; and Nigel Westlake’s Toward Takayna, inspired by the ancient Tasmanian forests.

Performances also include Beethoven’s “tremendous” Ninth Symphony, the ‘Choral’, culminating in his setting of Schiller’s Ode to Joy; and Miriama Young’s Daughters of Elysium, also inspired by Schiller’s poem.  

The CSO will present two special events in 2024: Handel’s timeless Messiah, a hit in 2022, and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, led by concertmaster Kirsten Williams.  

“The 2024 season reflects our artistic identity and our place in the Canberra community.
We look forward to sharing a wide range of music that connects with all Canberrans,” Ms Thomas said.  

“For the CSO’s 2024 season, I wanted to explore a musical view of our world — and beyond —
from a very human perspective,” Jessica Cottis, CSO’s chief conductor and artistic director, said.

“Gustav Mahler once expressed a deep sense of wonder at the ‘infinite mystery’ of the earth, remarking that ‘in every work of art, there is a trace of this infinity’. This idea is at the heart of our next season.”

The season was launched at an official opening celebration with the CSO’s patron, the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC, DSC (Retd).

The Governor-General expressed his pleasure in launching another season.

“The CSO has long been a champion of Australian voices and stories, and this season will be no exception,” he said.  

Ms Thomas acknowledged the many organisations and individuals who support the CSO’s work: Creative Australia, artsACT, corporate and community partners (including Canberra Daily), generous philanthropists, and dedicated Canberra audiences.

“We can’t wait to welcome both long-term supporters and newcomers to classical music, both young and old, both music aficionados and those exploring cultural experiences for the first time,” she said.

Tonight (Wednesday) and tomorrow night (Thursday), the CSO will perform Winter Dreams, featuring Tchaikovsky’s First Symphony, and music by Erich Korngold, Annie Hui-Hsin Hsieh, and Frank Martin.

For more information and the full list of CSO’s 2024 events, including dates, venues, ticket information and pricing, visit cso.org.au.