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Aurora Orchestra

Aurora Orchestra
Chamber orchestra
Founded2004
LocationLondon, United Kingdom
Principal conductorNicholas Collon
Websiteauroraorchestra.com

Aurora Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra, co-founded in 2004 by conductors Nicholas Collon and Robin Ticciati. The orchestra is based in London, where it is Resident Orchestra at Southbank Centre and Resident Ensemble at Kings Place.[1] The orchestra was also previously Associate Orchestra at LSO St Luke's, and performs regularly at other venues including St George's, Bristol, the Colyer-Fergusson Hall in Canterbury, and The Apex in Bury St Edmunds. It has developed a particular reputation for creative programming and concert presentation,[2] including pioneering memorised performance as a regular feature of its artistic output.[3] Since its launch in 2005, it has worked with artists ranging from Ian Bostridge, Brett Dean, Anthony Marwood and Sarah Connolly to Edmund de Waal, Wayne McGregor and Björk.[4]

History

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In 2004, Nicholas Collon, Robin Ticciati and fellow members of the National Youth Orchestra established Aurora, which gave its first public performance in 2005.[5] In March 2011, the Arts Council of England included Aurora Orchestra in its new "national portfolio" scheme.[6] Aurora, which had not been a "regularly funded organisation" under the council's previous funding scheme, was awarded this support as one of the "smaller adventurous music ensembles".

Aurora Orchestra first appeared at The Proms in family-themed concerts in 2011 and 2012. The orchestra subsequently returned for late-night Proms in 2013[7] and in 2014,[8] the latter of which featured the premiere of Meld by Benedict Mason. In this and subsequent appearances at The Proms, the orchestra featured major classical works performed entirely from memory:

Recordings

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In June 2011, the Aurora Orchestra's debut album of Nico Muhly's Seeing Is Believing was released.[18] The orchestra has also made commercial albums for Warner Classics,[19][20] and other albums including:

Awards

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In May 2011, Aurora won the Ensemble category of the annual Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards for calendar year 2010.

References

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  1. ^ "Aurora Orchestra to join Southbank Centre Resident Orchestras". Aurora Orchestra. 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  2. ^ Willson, Flora (2017-06-04). "Aurora Orchestra review – squeaks, lederhosen and raspberries in the Alps". The Guardian. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  3. ^ "Why are orchestras learning symphonies off by heart?". Classical Music. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Full biography". Aurora Orchestra. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  5. ^ Nick Shave (2011-07-28). "Nicholas Collon: 'We live in the era of iPod shuffle'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  6. ^ "Arts council funding: get the full decisions list". The Guardian (Data Blog). 2011-03-30. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  7. ^ George Hall (2013-08-01). "Prom 25: Aurora Orchestra/Collon – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  8. ^ Andrew Clements (2014-08-18). "Prom 41: Aurora O/Collon review – an original and compelling score". The Guardian. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  9. ^ George Hall (2015-08-03). "Aurora Orchestra/Collon review – memorable for all the right reasons". The Guardian. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  10. ^ George Hall (2016-08-02). "Aurora O/Collon/BBCSO/Gardner review – pulling out the party tricks". The Guardian. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  11. ^ Prom 32: Inside Shostakovich, BBC, retrieved 2018-08-10
  12. ^ Prom 72: Symphonie fantastique, BBC, retrieved 2019-08-13
  13. ^ Aurora 2020 - BBC Proms Live: Beethoven 7, auroraorchestra.com
  14. ^ BBC Proms 2021: Stravinsky’s Firebird, auroraorchestra.com
  15. ^ BBC Proms 2022: Beethoven 5, auroraorchestra.com
  16. ^ BBC Proms 2023: The Rite of Spring, auroraorchestra.com
  17. ^ Beethoven’s Ninth by Heart at the BBC Proms, auroraorchestra.com
  18. ^ Jolly, James (11 May 2011). "Bravo to the Aurora Orchestra and a Nico Muhly album". Gramophone Blogs. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  19. ^ Andrew Clements (2014-11-27). "Adams: Chamber Symphony; Copland: Appalachian Spring etc CD review – immensely suggestive". The Guardian. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  20. ^ Andrew Clements (2015-08-06). "The Aurora Orchestra: Insomnia CD review – a bit of a ragbag". The Guardian. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  21. ^ "This Is the Day".
  22. ^ "Introit: The Music of Gerald Finzi". Aurora Orchestra. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
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