The West Australian Symphony Orchestra presents first event under eased COVID restrictions

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) will deliver one of the first events in line with the State Government’s easing of public health measures to Level 1 settings.

The orchestra will take to the stage of Perth Concert Hall in front of a 75% capacity audience at 11am on Thursday 31st March, with an additional 480 seats available to the public compared to that under Level 2 public health measures.

Since the implementation of the Western Australian Government’s Level 2 public health measures on Thursday 3rd March, WASO has had to refund hundreds of tickets to audience members for concerts across the month. These March concerts were put on sale in September 2021 and when Level 2 measures were initiated, most had sold significantly over the sudden 50% mandated capacity.

Returning to Level 1 settings as part of the Western Australian Government’s easing of restrictions will see WASO present their concert on Thursday morning to an increased audience of up to 1,400 people, with the release of excellent seats yesterday following the Government’s announcement.

The concert is the first in a series of three performances of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Sold-out to a 50% capacity cumulative audience of 2,800, the addition of 1,433 seats across the three concerts now opens the opportunity to experience this classical masterpiece to over 4,200 people.

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is recognised as one of the most popular pieces of classical music of all time. The series of four violin concertos have continued to provide the soundtrack to so many of our favourite TV shows and movies, from Netflix’s The Chef’s Table and The Simpsons to The Hangover and Pretty Woman.

WASO Concertmaster Laurence Jackson will lead his colleagues in The Four Seasons, 2022 WASO Assistant Conductor Jen Winley conducts Haydn’s Farewell Symphony and Associate Principal Double Bass John Keene makes his WASO conducting debut in Handel’s regal Water Music Suite.

Perth Concert Hall continues to require proof of vaccination and mask wearing for all people Year 3 and over under the Western Australian Government’s public health measures.

WASO continues to employ its own preventative measures to ensure that the orchestra can continue to perform, including:

• Rapid Antigen Testing for all staff and musicians entering the rehearsal space

• Daily disinfection of chairs, stands and equipment

• Mask wearing for all musicians when rehearsing and performing, with masks wearing for wind and brass players required during breaks or long periods of rest

• Non-essential staff and guests restricted access from backstage area

• The provision of towels for wind and brass players to clean condensation from instruments

WASO Executive Manager, Artistic Planning, Evan Kennea notes “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons depicts spring, summer, autumn and winter in four distinctive violin concertos, each featuring three movements. Just like the movements of each concerto, this shift in restrictions has been fast, slow, and then fast again, but we are pleased to share this work with more people - good news for our audiences and musicians.

"We are doing all we can to keep WASO safely on stage because it remains our privilege to share music with our community.”

Morning Symphony
Thursday 31st March 2022,
11am Perth Concert Hall
George Frideric HANDEL Water Music – Suite
Antonio VIVALDI The Four Seasons
John Keene conductor
Laurence Jackson violin/director

MACA Classics Series
Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd April 2022,
7.30pm Perth Concert Hall
George Frideric HANDEL Water Music – Suite
Joseph HAYDN Symphony No.45 Farewell
Antonio VIVALDI The Four Seasons
John Keene conductor
Jen Winley conductor
Laurence Jackson violin/director

Tickets via waso.com.au