A cherished date in the Canberra Symphony Orchestraโs (CSO) calendar, the Canberra Daily Classic Afternoon is fast approaching, on Saturday 14 September.
The performance will occur under an unusual set of circumstances as a slightly smaller orchestra will take the stage without a conductor to perform a program hand selected by 2019 CSO Artist in Focus, Diana Doherty.
An acclaimed oboist, Doherty will be both the soloist and director of the concert.
She tells Canberra Daily the dual role is relatively new to her, and presents a challenge she finds both exciting and daunting.
โA long time ago when I lived in Switzerland it wasnโt uncommon to do chamber concerts where you donโt have a conductor, but to be honest I havenโt done it often except for the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
โI think the challenge for me is playing, and also having an extra ear out for the orchestra. Because I canโt talk as I play, Iโm going to have to be multitasking, firing on all cylinders,โ Doherty says.
The repertoire for the afternoon consists of two works by Mozart, his Symphony No. 25 in G minor and Oboe Concerto in C major; Bachโs Oboe Concerto in D minor, and 20th Century composer Vaugh Williamsโ Oboe Concerto in A minor.
The program is a variety of baroque, classical and 20th Century music.
According to Doherty, Williamsโ work is a โvery melodic, pastoral, melancholy, beautiful workโ thatโs very close to her heart.
โIt was one of the first things I ever played with an orchestra as a soloist when I was just 18; that performance in particular is very special to me as it helped me choose music as my career.โ
With Bach being one of Dohertyโs all-time favourite composers, including his Oboe Concerto was a no brainer.
โI love this work, in particular it has a famous flow in it โฆ And the other movements, one is quite expressive and intellectual and the other is quite like a dance.โ
Mozartโs Oboe Concerto is also special to Doherty, as she played it in the national Young Performers Competition aged 18
โThat was the piece that I won that competition with and had to play a number of times in the second, third and fourth rounds. Also, subsequently as a prize winner, I had to play it a lot, Iโve lost count of how many times Iโve performed it over the years,โ she says.
โIt has a very youthful, happy spirit to it, so it never feels old and is very uplifting.โ
Doherty says being the CSOโs 2019 Artist in Focus is an honour, and she has loved being able to build a sense of familiarity with the orchestra.
โEvery orchestra has its own characteristics. What Iโve noticed about the CSO thatโs quite striking is how disciplined they are responding to a conductorโs beat.
โSome play quite far behind, but CSO really respond immediately to the beat, but this will be different because there wonโt be a beat,โ she says.
โIt will be interesting to see how they respond, not a visual thing as much as having to listen and respond to each other.โ
Doherty has also relished the opportunity her involvement with the CSO has given her to spend more time in town.
โI have played in Canberra over the years but Iโve never had the opportunity to establish a rapport with the audiences to this extent.
โI have a lot of family here, so itโs super nice to play for them, see them a bit more and get to know the orchestra.โ
She says the one issue thatโs faced her here is that the weather can be very dry, which presents challenges for the oboe.
โOboe reeds in particular are very, very temperamental with humidity so that might be a challenge if itโs very dry, they can also crack,โ she says.
The CSOโs Canberra Daily Classic Afternoon will be held at Llewellyn Hall, ANU on 14 September 2pm; cso.org.au
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