The gradual return of audiences to concert halls, theatres and performance spaces across Victoria buoyed the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2022. Generous support from donors, Patrons and government allowed the company to deliver its first full program since 2019 and mark the first season from Chief Conductor Jaime Martín.
The 2022 Annual Report shows an organisation that is gradually returning to pre-pandemic engagement levels. A resurgence in annual box office revenue to $10m (up from $3.7m in 2021 and $2.9m in 2020) and $4.5m additional support from State and Federal governments allowed the MSO to continue along its road to recovery.
MSO Chairman David Li AM acknowledges “the great support of the Australian Government through the Office of the Arts, and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria for their significant contribution in 2022 to sustain the Orchestra. This additional funding ensured we were able to return an operational surplus of $76,889”.
In 2022 the MSO engaged more than 500 employees, 228 additional artists and 187 volunteers, remaining one of Australia’s largest employers in the performing arts.
The Orchestra played 148 performances reaching a live audience of 230,954 music lovers who returned to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, concert halls, regional arts centres, and outdoor spaces across Victoria.
Across the 2022 season, the MSO performed 135 Australian works and featured 138 guest Australian artists, soloists, and ensembles. The MSO performed 12 commissioned works from Australian composers including MSO Composer in Residence Paul Grabowsky AO, Bianca Gannon, MSO Cybec Young Composer in Residence Alex Turley, and Melissa Douglas, among many others.
The MSO undertook its first full regional tour in several years travelling around Victoria and across the border into Albury. The program of 38 concerts, workshops and events connected with more than 6,000 people in nine regional centres.
An ongoing focus on audience resulted in a digital reach of 1.4m in 59 countries through the online streaming platform MSO.LIVE, and an additional 22m views in China of the MSO’s Chinese New Year concert.
Reflecting on his first year with the MSO, Maestro Martín praised the musicians and acknowledged the unique opportunity to engage and collaborate significantly with First Nations artists.
“Throughout the season, I was constantly astounded by the artistry and commitment of the musicians of our orchestra, who set such a high standard of orchestral excellence.”
“As an orchestra, we were privileged to share the stage with extraordinary First Nations artists including Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO whose stirring new work and MSO commission, Baparripna, opened our season and William Barton whose masterful playing of the Yidaki was a highlight,” Martín said.
New initiatives in 2022 celebrated First Nations artists and creativity, including the launch of two new programs for emerging artists: Dutala Ensemble Residency and the First Voices compositional program. On stage, the MSO celebrated NAIDOC Week through performances with Electric Fields and Spinifex Gum, and history was made when Noongar man Aaron Wyatt became the first Indigenous person to conduct an Australian state symphony orchestra.
The MSO’s ongoing support of Australian artists extended to the successful piloting of its new MSO Academy, providing young instrumentalists a vital final bridge to a professional career.
The MSO forged new partnerships internationally, with the signing of a historic, four-year agreement with the London Symphony Orchestra. Members of the Orchestra also returned to Indonesia for the fifth Youth Music Camp where a new memorandum of understanding was signed between the MSO and the Vice Governor of Yogyakarta Special Region to extend the cross-cultural partnership for another three years.
MSO Managing Director Sophie Galaise extended the MSO’s gratitude to its broad array of stakeholders. “The ongoing recovery of the MSO has been made possible by the people of Victoria, our Patrons and donors, live audiences and digital viewers, players and musicians, staff and volunteers. We are extremely grateful to Victoria’s ongoing commitment to the MSO and look forward to delivering growing success in the years ahead.”
