35/07 Wednesday 11 April 2007

Minister welcomes conductor to Sydney Symphony Orchestra

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today welcomed the announcement of the appointment of internationally renowned pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as the new Artistic Director.

The Board of the Sydney Symphony today announced that world renowned conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy has been appointed to the newly created position from January 2009 to December 2011.

“Mr Ashkenazy is a well respected international artist with a wealth of experience,” Senator Coonan said.

“It’s a great coup for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and for Australia.”

“He first performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2004 as a guest conductor and returns this year to conduct a program of Rachmaninov as part of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s 75 th Anniversary program.”

Russian-born Icelandic Ashkenazy originally studied music in Moscow and has held a number of highly regarded positions across Europe. He is best known for his world class performances of Romantic and Russian composers.

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra is funded by the Australian Government through the Australia Council’s Major Performing Arts Boards.

The Sydney Symphony received $8.9 million in 2006. The Orchestra will receive a further $1.3 million in additional funds over the next four years, as part of the Strong Review of orchestras.

“Mr Ashkenazy brings a long and diverse musical career to the Orchestra,” Senator Coonan said.

“His breadth and depth of experience will only add to the high regard already enjoyed by the Sydney Symphony.”

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Media Contact: Fiona Telford 02 6277 7480