Celebrating its 75th birthday this year, Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) started life on 26 March, 1947, performing its debut concert in Brisbane City Hall under the baton of guest conductor Percy Code. A lot has happened since that defining moment for music in Queensland and the QSO is now the largest and pre-eminent performing arts company in the state. Having recently survived the worst perils of COVID, it certainly has a great deal to celebrate.

Guy Noble conducts the Queensland Symphony Orchestra at its free 75th Birthday Concert. Photo @ Peter Wallis

This free birthday concert was presented in association with Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) and supported by Brisbane City Council. Guy Noble conducted the first four items on the program, commencing with Fire, Sean O’Boyle’s and William Barton’s fourth movement from the emotive Concerto for Didgeridoo.  The heightened sense of urgency and danger that starts Fire is both foreboding and highly-charged. Chris Williams’ didgeridoo was evocative of this frightening world, supported strongly by brass and percussion. Williams played a glorious solo, the rich sonority of his instrument producing musical images of the land, in particular creating...