March 2013 - Queensland Symphony Orchestra

CHAMBER PLAYERS
The QSO Chamber Players series is
programmed by QSO musicians. Concerts are
offered within QSO’s mainstage subscription
season for the first time in 2013, representing
an exciting new addition to the orchestra’s
broad concert offering.
Chamber music has long played a key role in
QSO’s activities, with small ensembles from
the orchestra touring regularly to schools
and community outreach events throughout
Brisbane and regional Queensland.
QSO Chamber Players has grown out of the
Ferry Road Chamber Players (FRCP) series
which was administered as an entity separate
from QSO between 1992 and 2011. Founded
by Mark Vickers (timpani), John Harrison
(bass clarinet) and Vivienne Collier-Vickers
(horn), FRCP began as a recital series for QSO’s
principal musicians. Early recitals featured
David Lale (cello), Paul Dean (clarinet),
Leesa Dean (bassoon) and Jason Redman
(trombone). From the 1993 season chamber
music became the dominant musical aspect of
the series, with a number of QSO string, wind,
brass and percussion ensembles featuring in
the series each year. In memory of former QSO
clarinettist Jenny Reuther, the QSO clarinet
section performed a biennial charity benefit
concert within the FRCP series. For many
years John Harrison also organised regular
art exhibitions in the foyer of the orchestra’s
former studio at Ferry Road, West End to
accompany FRCP concerts and add to patrons’
concert-going experience.
QSO Chamber Players will continue the longestablished
tradition of excellence in chamber
music performance at QSO during the 2013
season and beyond.
JOHANNES FRITZSCH
CHIEF CONDUCTOR
Johannes Fritzsch was born in Meissen,
Germany, in 1960. He received his first musical
tuition in piano and organ from his father, a
Cantor and Organist. He also studied violin and
trumpet. His higher education was received at
the Carl Maria von Weber Music Academy in
Dresden, majoring in conducting and piano.
In 1982, after completing his studies, Maestro
Fritzsch was appointed 2 nd Kapellmeister
(Conductor) at the Volkstheater in Rostock. In
1987, Mo. Fritzsch accepted the position of
Kapellmeister with the Staatsoper Dresden,
Semperoper, where he conducted more than 350
opera and ballet performances within five years.
After the German reunification, Mo. Fritzsch
was able to accept engagements outside of
Eastern Europe. In 1992/3 he worked as 1 st
Kapellmeister at the Staatsoper Hannover.
During that time, Mo. Fritzsch was appointed
Chief Conductor and Artistic Director at the
Städtische Bühnen and the Philharmonisches
Orchester in Freiburg. There he remained until
1999 enjoying widespread acclaim.
The Verband Deutscher Musikverleger
(association of German music publishers)
honored his 1998/99 season with the
distinction of having the ‘Best Concert Program’.
Mo. Fritzsch has performed with many
orchestras, both within Germany and
internationally. These include: Hamburger
Sinfoniker, Düsseldorfer Sinfoniker,
Philharmonie Essen, Nationaltheater-Orchester
Mannheim, Staatskapelle Schwerin, Berliner
Sinfonie Orchester, Staatskapelle Dresden,
Norddeutsche Philharmonie Rostock,
Staatsorchester Halle, the Swedish Radio
Orchestra, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra,
the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the
Orchestre Philharmonique Strassbourg,
the Orchestra National de Montpellier, the
Orchestra National du Capitole de Toulouse,
the Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmanian,
Queensland and West Australian Symphony
Orchestras and Orchestra Victoria.
Opera Companies with which he has worked
include: Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden,
Opernhaus Köln, Deutsche Oper Berlin,
Komische Oper Berlin, Opera Bastille Paris,
Grazer Oper, the Royal Opera Stockholm,
Malmö Operan and Opera Australia in Sydney
and Melbourne (including Wozzeck, Don
Giovanni, Carmen, Tosca, Rigoletto, Salome,
Der Rosenkavalier).
Mo. Fritzsch recently held the position of
Chief Conductor of the Grazer Oper and
Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester, Austria;
he is currently the Chief Conductor of the
Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
34 2013 | QSO MARCH PROGRAM
2013 | QSO MARCH PROGRAM 35