Young, charismatic, and innovative, the 17-member Australian Chamber Orchestra has inspired other new ensembles with its collaborative ethos -- it has no conductor -- and innovative approaches. Steeped in a history but always looking to the future, ACO programs embrace celebrated classics alongside new commissions and adventurous cross-artform collaborations.
The ACO was founded in 1975 by cellist John Painter. The group took on its current emphasis in 1990 when Richard Tognetti, then just 25 years old, became the group's leader and artistic director. Since then, the ACO has ...