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“[Marsalis’] energy level is instantly blistering, but without the usual connotation of vigour: this is more like dancing on air.” – SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2018

American saxophonist Branford Marsalis has long been regarded as one of the world’s greatest living musicians. Born in New Orleans and hailing from a rich jazz heritage, Marsalis is renowned for his boundless musicality that sees him move effortlessly between the worlds of jazz, Latin and classical music. This exceptional versatility, paired with a thrilling virtuosity, makes him the ideal collaborator with the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO), an ensemble that is renowned around the world for its intrepid and adventurous approach to programming and performance.

Marsalis will make his much-anticipated debut with the ACO this May, where he will perform a Latin American inspired program with the Orchestra featuring the music of Villa-Lobos, Piazzolla and Ginastera, directed by ACO Principal Violin Satu Vänskä.

Marsalis hails from what has been referred to as the ‘First Family of Jazz’; his father is pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, and his three brothers, trumpeter Wynton, trombonist Delfeayo and drummer Jason, are all also internationally-renowned jazz musicians. While still a student at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Marsalis was recruited into Art Blakey’s legendary Jazz Messengers,

Saxophone Great Branford Marsalis to make Australian Chamber Orchestra DebutDirected by ACO Principal Violin Satu Vänskä

BRANFORD MARSALIS

9–22 MayWollongong, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney

© NIC WALKER© ROGER THOMAS

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alongside his brother Wynton Marsalis, and went on to tour internationally with the band before the two brothers formed the Wynton Marsalis Quartet, which quickly earnt international acclaim for its virtuosic and uncompromising acoustic jazz style.

Famously diverse in his musical approach, Marsalis went on to collaborate with the likes of Sting, The Grateful Dead, Harry Connick Jnr, and the New York Philharmonic, starred as Music Director on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’, and hosted National Public Radio’s widely syndicated Jazz Set. He is the recipient of three Grammy Awards and has nearly thirty albums to his name.

These concerts with the ACO will see Marsalis perform Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos’s Fantasia for Saxophone and Orchestra, alongside contemporary UK composer Sally Beamish’s serene Under the Wing of the Rock, in an arrangement dedicated to him by Beamish, in a bluesy translation for saxophone.

Marsalis’ performances alternate with Vänskä taking centre stage with her 1726 ‘Belgiorno’ Stradivarius violin to perform Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, a heady mixture of tango rhythms and ingenious references to Vivaldi’s famous concertos. Vänskä regularly performs as soloist with the ACO, with her 2017 performance of Locatelli’s notoriously fiendish Harmonic Labyrinth concerto hailed as ‘a masterclass in technique’ (The Australian) and her 2018 performance of Beethoven’s Romance No.2 praised for being ‘shot through with both light colour and depth’ (SMH).

The ACO’s Branford Marsalis tour is presented by Principal Partner and National Tour Partner, Virgin Australia, who are proud to support the Orchestra’s vibrant and innovative tours. Through their extensive flight network, they are helping to share ACO’s music around Australia.

For interview request, images, media tickets or further information, please contact:

Caitlin Benetatos ACO Communications Manager

e caitlin.benetatos@aco.com.au p +61 2 8274 3825 m +61 422 934693

Branford Marsalis 9–22 MAYWollongong, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney

PROGRAM

STRAVINSKY No.3 from Three Pieces for Solo ClarinetVILLA-LOBOS Fantasia for Saxophone and OrchestraPIAZZOLLA The Four Seasons of Buenos AiresVILLA-LOBOS Ária (Cantilena) from Bachianas Brasileiras No.5SALLY BEAMISH Under the Wing of the Rock: Saxophone Concerto No.2 Australian PremiereGINASTERA Concerto for Strings ARTISTSBranford Marsalis SaxophoneSatu Vänskä Director & ViolinAustralian Chamber Orchestra

PERFORMANCE DATES

WOLLONGONGWollongong Town HallThu 9 May, 7.30pm

CANBERRALlewellyn HallSat 11 May, 8pm

MELBOURNEHamer Hall, Arts Centre MelbourneSun 12 May, 2.30pmMon 20 May, 7.30pm

BRISBANEQPAC Concert HallMon 13 May, 7pm

PERTHPerth Concert HallWed 15 May, 7.30pm

SYDNEYCity Recital HallSat 18 May, 7pmTue 21 May, 8pmWed 22 May, 7pm

Sydney Opera HouseSun 19 May, 2pm

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ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

The Australian Chamber Orchestra lives and breathes music, making waves around the world for their explosive performances and brave interpretations. Steeped in history but always looking to the future, ACO programs embrace celebrated classics alongside new commissions, and adventurous cross-artform collaborations.

Led by Artistic Director Richard Tognetti since 1990, the ACO performs more than 100 concerts each year. Whether performing in Manhattan, New York, or Wollongong, NSW, the ACO is unwavering in their commitment to creating transformative musical experiences.

The Orchestra regularly collaborates with artists and musicians who share their ideology: from Emmanuel Pahud, Steven Isserlis, Dawn Upshaw, Olli Mustonen, Brett Dean and Ivry Gitlis, to Neil Finn, Jonny Greenwood, Barry Humphries and Meow Meow; to visual artists and film makers such as Michael Leunig, Bill Henson, Shaun Tan, Jon Frank, and Jennifer Peedom, who have co-created unique, hybrid productions for which the ACO has become renowned.

Testament to their international reputation, the ACO were invited to commence a three-year residency as International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court in partnership with London’s Barbican Centre from the 2018/19 season. This residency at one of Europe’s most prestigious concert venues follows on from the success of ACO Artistic Director Richard Tognetti’s time as the Barbican’s first ever Artist-in-Residence at Milton Court Concert Hall.

In addition to their national and international touring schedule, the Orchestra has an active recording program across CD, vinyl and digital formats. Recent releases include Water | Night Music, the first Australian-produced classical vinyl for two decades, Heroines, recorded with Australian soprano Nicole Car, and the soundtrack to the acclaimed cinematic collaboration, Mountain.

‘The Australian Chamber Orchestra is uniformly high-octane, arresting and never ordinary.’

– THE AUSTRALIAN

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