The Australian Chamber Orchestra will present its first live concerts in six months at Sydney’s City Recital Hall this September. The orchestra – which has been unable to present live performances since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of concert halls and theatres around the country – will play a week-long season of socially distanced concerts under the title ACO Transfigured, featuring an arrangement of Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in D Major Op. 44, No 1, and Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night).

Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Photo © Prudence Upton

The ACO has said it will work closely with City Recital Hall to adhere to strict COVID-Safe guidelines and ensure the safety of patrons, musicians and staff. Social distancing measures will see 400 seats available out of City Recital Hall’s normal capacity of 1,238 for the hour-long concerts, with additional health and safety measures in place. While the ACO and City Recital Hall have stopped short of making face masks mandatory for audience members – as they are for Sydney Theatre Company’s upcoming performances at the Roslyn Packer Theatre – they are “strongly recommended” and will be...