50 extraordinary ACO moments at the Sydney Opera House
In 2025, our resident company the Australian Chamber Orchestra celebrates 50 years of extraordinary performances with a spectacular season that pays homage to the past while embracing a bold and ambitious vision for the future.
Take a look back at 50 of our favourite ACO moments, inside and outside the House.
1
The ACO's inaugural concert took place at Sydney Opera House on 21 November 1975. The Orchestra was led by violinist Robert Ingram, and members included John Painter and Richard Tognetti’s former teacher Alice Waten.
2
The rehearsal for the inaugural concert took place in the Opera House's Rehearsal Room.
3
The Australian Chamber Orchestra, 1989-style, led by Richard Tognetti at the Sydney Opera House.
4
That same year, the ACO made the Opera House the star of their brochure cover.
5
Fast-forward to 2022: ACO StudioCasts: Love & Transfiguration is projected onto our sails, part of the launch of Sydney Opera House's 50th Anniversary celebrations.
6
Five of the Australia Chamber Orchestra’s leaders in those memorable magenta seats: Robert Ingram, Dene Olding, John Harding, Carl Pini and Richard Tognetti.
7
Here’s looking at you, ACO 1990-1991 Season.
8
The Orchestra dazzles under the petal-shaped acoustic reflectors in the renewed Concert Hall, 2022.
9
The Australian Chamber Orchestra has long produced recordings, including at the Sydney Opera House, where this Stravinsky Pulcinella disc was recorded in 1988.
10
The Orchestra recorded Schubert with conductor Sir Charles Mackerras at Sydney Opera House in the same year.
11
ACO Cello Julian Thompson caught on camera at Sydney Opera House during filming for the ACO 2015 Season.
12
Artistic Director Richard Tognetti conducts a monumental Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 in 2012.
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Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 ‘Choral’, from the choir stalls.
14
Richard, Helena and Satu perform Bach’s Concerto for Three Violins under the iconic Sydney Opera House ‘Doughnuts’, before the Hall’s renovation that was unveiled in 2022.
15
Joy for the Orchestra on stage at the Opera House.
16
ACO Violin Liisa Pallandi on the plush purple carpet backstage at the Concert Hall, in 2018.
17
Doesn’t everybody look young!
18
In 2000, the ACO performed Carnival of the Animals, with narration by Michael Leunig, for music fans little and large.
19
Sound checks in the Concert Hall.
20
The Orchestra performs The Crowd & I in the recently refurbished Concert Hall in 2022 – the first year it returned to full touring activity after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and disruption.
21
Richard Tognetti finds the Opera House’s best vantage point, during the Orchestra’s 40th Anniversary year – and Richard’s 25th year as Artistic Director.
22
Two decades earlier, Richard is pictured with lead violinists, from left, Robert Ingram, Dene Olding, Carl Pini and John Harding.
23
The ACO’s feature film collaboration with director Jennifer Peedom, Mountain, sees sell-out crowds fill the Concert Hall.
24
Richard Tognetti with Mountain director, Jennifer Peedom, and the narrator of the film, actor Willem Dafoe before the world premiere of the film.
25
ACO Cello Julian Thompson inside the Opera House’s iconic sails.
26
The Orchestra present their very first ACO Families production, There’s a Sea in my Bedroom, in partnership with Sydney Opera House in 2019.
27
ACO Violin Ike See on the distinctive steps in the Sydney Opera House foyers.
28
ACO Cello Melissa comes up for air, 2018.
29
A moment’s reprieve on the concert hall stage during rehearsals with flautist Emmanuel Pahud in 2017.
30
The Orchestra performs sold-out shows of The Four Seasons with oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros, and his brother James on riq, in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall in 2023.
31
Warming up backstage.
32
While Australia is still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, ACO Principal Bass Maxime Bibeau performs in a beautiful new space at the Opera House – bringing a moment of beauty to you in your home.
33
Cellist Steven Isserlis joins the Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House in 2018 for Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto.
34
The stage is set, and the seats are waiting. Now all Richard needs is an Orchestra, an audience, and his violin.
35
Australian Soprano Nicole Car greets and runs to join the Orchestra to perform Mozart and Beethoven in 2018. You can relive the concert with our live recording, Heroines.
36
The Sydney Opera House Concert Hall organ towers above ACO Principal Violin Satu Vänskä.
37
Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto performs with ACO Collective at the House, in February 2016.
38
The Orchestra performs The Reef, Richard Tognetti’s immersive concert film capturing two weeks spent at Ningaloo Reef with musicians and surfers, at Sydney Opera House in 2017.
39
Richard leads the Orchestra in The American, including as a soloist in our new commission from Sam Adams - Echo Transcriptions - for electric violin, in the refurbished Concert Hall in 2022.
40
Standing ovations and 'whoops' from all sides in the Concert Hall, during The Four Seasons in 2023.
41
The same hall, the first year Richard Tognetti was Artistic Director.
42
ACO Violin Aiko Goto snapped under the recognisable industrial beams in the Opera House’s foyers, in 2018.
43
Ascending to the stage, 2022.
44
This is 2016, when the Orchestra performed with British rock and dance band, New Order, at the Opera House for Vivid Live.
45
Richard Tognetti and Jonny Greenwood get ready for the Orchestra’s performance of Water, Greenwood’s new piece for the ACO, at the Opera House in 2017.
46
The Orchestra has become known for its breathtaking film collaborations. There's nothing quite like catching them at Sydney Opera House during national tours.
47
The ACO present Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, the ACO Families show which goes on to win Best Production for Children at the Sydney Theatre Awards 2021.
48
One of the best settings for an ACO pre-concert talk.
49
When the sun gets low and the shadows get long. This is ACO Violin Mark Ingwersen at Sydney Opera House in 2018.
50
Richard Tognetti conducts Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in a sold-out performance at Sydney Opera House in 2017.
