Voting is underway for the first People’s Choice Concert to be presented by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra on 17–19 November. It is the brainchild of Chief Conductor Simone Young, who recently spoke with Limelight about the format she first introduced in Hamburg. The voting categories not only span the globe, but also champion Australian composers, two of whom recently shared their joy with us at being nominated. Another category draws upon the operatic repertoire, with titles ranging from the effervescent The Marriage of Figaro to the nail-biting Salome. With voting due to close on 11 November, SSO Concertmaster Andrew Haveron talks to Limelight about the unique challenges of performing such dramatic works in concert, which he likens to cooking, as well as his thoughts on the upcoming People’s Choice Concert.

Concertmaster Andrew Haveron and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Photo © Nick Bowers

“It’s a fabulous concept and a great way to get our audience involved and invested in the concert that we’re going to give them. We are aware of what repertoire brings in a crowd – what is popular and what is less popular. The risk of...