The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra (ABO) is an Australian period instrument orchestra specialising in the performance of baroque and classical music.

Founders

The orchestra's founder and artistic director is Paul Dyer.[1]

In 2013 Dyer was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his "distinguished service to the performing arts, particularly orchestral music as a director, conductor and musician, through the promotion of educational programs and support for emerging artists".[2] In 2003 Paul was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for his services to Australian society and the advancement of music and in 2010 the Sydney University Alumni Medal for Professional Achievement.

The other founder and current managing director is Bruce Applebaum.

History

The orchestra was formed in 1989 by Paul Dyer and Bruce Applebaum and their name pays tribute to the Brandenburg Concertos of J. S. Bach, who was central to the Baroque period.

Since the beginning in 1989, the orchestra has become the leading voice in the Australian cultural landscape due to the purity of their work when compared with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

The group under Paul Dyer and Bruce Applebaum's leadership commenced life as the Brandenburg Ensemble, then as the Brandenburg Orchestra, and finally the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. Its first concert was in January 1990, in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House.

Venues and Programming

The orchestra has hired the Sydney City Recital Hall as its main venue since it opened in 2000. This venue was custom made for the ABO. The group makes regular appearances in the major concert halls and cultural venues in Australian east coast cities of Brisbane and Melbourne.

The Orchestra's name pays tribute to the Brandenburg Concertos of J.S. Bach, whose musical genius was central to the Baroque era, as Paul Dyer is today. The concerts include both the music of well-known composers such as Mozart, Vivaldi and Handel, as well as lesser-known composers, rare works and unusual replica instruments. The musicians always play from original edition scores on replica instruments of the 18th century.

The group has performed with guest artists such as Andreas Scholl, Emma Kirkby, Derek Lee Ragin, Andrew Manze, Philippe Jaroussky, Avi Avital, Dmitry Sinkovsky, Federico Guglielmo, Christina Pluhar and Elizabeth Wallfisch. Every December, the orchestra plays O Come All Ye Faithful and Stille Nacht in churches across Sydney, which is a highlight for families across the Eastern and Northern suburbs.

Discography

Charting albums

List of albums, with Australian chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[3]
Vivaldi: Il Flauto Dolce
  • Released: August 2001
  • Format: CD
  • Label: ABC Music (461 828–2)
 78

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
AIR Awards of 2015[4][5] Brandenburg Celebrates Best Independent Classical Album Won
AIR Awards of 2017[6] Brandenburg Celebrates Best Independent Classical Album Nominated

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1993 The Brandenburg Orchestra Best Classical Album Nominated [7]
1995 Handel: Opera Arias (with Graham Pushee & Paul Dyer) Nominated
1998 Handel: Arias (with Yvonne Kenny & Paul Dyer) Won
1999 If Love's a Sweet Passion (with Sara Macliver & Paul Dyer) Nominated
2001 Vivaldi – Ii Flauto Dolce (with Genevieve Lacey & Paul Dyer) Won
2005 Sanctuary Won
2009 Handel: Concerti Grossi Opus 6 (with Paul Dyer) Won
2010 Tapas – Tastes of the Baroque (with Paul Dyer) Won
2015 Brandenburg Celebrates Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Meet Paul Dyer". Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "Dyer, Paul William". It's An Honour. Australian Government. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  3. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 20.
  4. ↑ "1 Dads, Courtney Barnett Lead This Year's Independent Music Award Nominations". MusicFeeds. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "History Wins". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "A.B Original dominates 2017 AIR Awards nominations". theindustryobserver. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  7. ↑ ARIA Award previous winners. "ARIA Awards – Winners by Award". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 November 2018.
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