Orchestral Odyssey
At Townsville Civic Theatre on 15th March 2025 at 5:30pm
Great Barrier Reef Orchestra’s concert Orchestral Odyssey takes audiences on a breathtaking journey through the landscapes of musical history and imagination.
From Monteverdi’s majestic Overture to Orfeo, marking the dawn of opera, to Prokofiev’s powerful Montagues and Capulets (From Romeo and Juliet) and the enchanting Incidental Music from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the program explores the beauty and drama of classical repertoire.
Beethoven’s sublime Piano Concerto No. 4, performed by Australian Concerto & Vocal Competition 2023 winner Nicholas Kennedy on piano, showcases a masterful blend of lyrical elegance and dramatic intensity, while John Powell’s dynamic How to Train Your Dragon – Symphonic Suite brings a thrilling, cinematic finale.
This concert offers an unforgettable voyage across time and genres, celebrating the transformative power of orchestral music.
Featuring our guest conductor Peter Morris
Professor Peter Morris is Head of Ensembles and Orchestral Conducting at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, where he has shaped Australia’s next generation of musicians while conducting everything from symphony orchestras to cutting-edge contemporary performances.
With an international career spanning Hollywood film sessions, orchestral tours, and live concerts with music icons, Peter brings a dynamic and visionary approach to conducting.
Music Programme
Claudio Monteverdi
- Overture to L’Orfeo
Ludwig van Beethoven
- Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58 (featuring Nicholas Kennedy, piano)
Felix Mendelssohn
- Incidental Music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61
Sergei Prokofiev
- Montagues and Capulets (From Romeo and Juliet)
John Powell
- How to Train Your Dragon
Guest Artist: Nicholas Kennedy
Pianist
Pianist and scholar Dr Nicholas Kennedy performs with the Great Barrier Reef Orchestra after winning the Open Instrumental section of the Australian Concerto and Vocal Competition in 2023. Nicholas has appeared in Germany, the UK, the USA, and throughout Australia.
Concert Programme:
