Perth Voice Interactive

FREMANTLE’S home-grown, world-class chamber orchestra will be performing the first two concerts in it’s 20th Anniversary celebration series this weekend.

The Fremantle Chamber Orchestra, which performs around 10 concerts a year and has performed around 240 since it’s founding, started when cellist Hans Hug brought together a group of musos in 2005 to allow Balkan war refugee and guitarist Milica Illic to perform Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez; at the time WASO was the only professional-level vehicle.

An advert in the Herald and Voice prompted the now-Parisian Ollivier-Philippe Cunéo to sign on as conductor, and Rebecca Glorie as concert master/first violinist, and the FCO was off to a flying start.

Mr Hug takes great pride in the FCO’s work performing obscure and under-appreciated pieces, along with international, Australian and WA premieres.

He’s put a great deal of hard work and time into continuing the FCO, from organising the band for each performance, to “using the Herald’s printer so every performer has their own piece,” editor Steve Grant said.  

As a result of this dedication, the FCO has given numerous young and talented musicians an important step-up, including 15-year-old solo violinist Audrey Jarvis, 14-year-old violinist/composer Ellie Malonzo, and 18-year-old cellist Max Wung.

Miss Jarvis and Miss Malonzo will both be preforming as part of the 20th anniversary series, playing Bruch’s Violin Concerto 1 and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons recomposed by Max Richter respectively. Composers such as Grebla, and the previously mentioned Malonzo and Cunéo have premiered with the FSO. 

“I’ve been very lucky that FCO has supported me as a composer and as a violinist,” Miss Malonzo said. 

I have been very lucky to get the opportunity for such skilled and responsive orchestra to bring my compositions to life. 

“As a young artist it can be very difficult to get the opportunity to play as a soloist with an orchestra, and it is a vital experience to build your career,” she said.  

Popularity

The FCO has consistently had Rudolf Koelman, one of the world’s best violinists, play with them, greatly boosting FCO’s popularity. 

“Recordings with Mr Koelman resulted in two acclaimed CDs which were often broadcast on ABC Radio National Classic FM and in over 65 European radio stations,” Mr Hug said. 

The March program consists of Rameau’s Pygmalion Overture, Boccherini’s symphony The Devil’s House, Massenet’s Cantique, and Bruch’s Violin Concerto No 1, the crown jewel of the concerts, performed by Miss Jarvis, who along with Miss Malonzo is currently being taught by Winthrop professor Paul Wright. 

Mr Hug said the program “truly touches your heart”, and aims to “complement and contrast”.

“[The Rameau is] short and happy, very unplayed” he said. 

The Devil’s House or La casa del Diavolo is next in the line-up. Mr Hug explained: “Paul [Miss Jarvis’s teacher] says ‘it is like the Devil throwing lightning at Earth’.”

Massenet’s Centique is a “very calm blissful technique, that resolves before the Bruch No 1,” he said. 

This afternoon (Saturday March 29) the concert starts at 3pm at the Fremantle Town Hall, while a second is at Government House Ballroom tomorrow at the same time.

The FCO enjoys “subsidised use” of the Fremantle Town Hall. 

In the past the FCO has received financial support from Fremantle Ports, and currently is sponsored by the Fremantle Herald and Perth Voice in the form of promotional material. 

Wright Burt Foundation chair Lyn Harding is also a donor to the FCO. 

Mr Hug is confident they’ll keep putting out world class performances. 

“We survive on nothing,” he said, “It’s all about the music.”

The 20th anniversary series will start performances on March 29 and 30, continuing on June 7 and 8, August 9, 10, and 22, and November 1 and 2. For info head to fremantlechamberorchestra.com

by AMY PERROT