INSPIRE ❖ EDUCATE ❖ ENLIGHTEN
The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra specialises in historically informed performance (HIP) of late 18th- to early 20th-century orchestral and chamber music repertoire on period instruments and is at the forefront of the HIP scene, staying abreast with the latest research and developments around the world by collaborating with key guest musicians and musicologists. Under the co-artistic direction of Rachael Beesley and Nicole van Bruggen, the orchestra has been highly praised as “rich, impassioned, and faultlessly realised ... a thrilling example of HIP with all the right strings attached” (The Age).
Founded under the artistic direction of renowned musician and educator, the late Richard Gill, the orchestra’s goals of performance, education and connection are delivered through live concerts in Australia’s cities and regions, collaborations, broadcasts, innovative education programs, deep-dive presentations and online resources. With leading Australian and international musicians, the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra brings historical insights and new perspectives to masterpieces from the Classical and Romantic periods.
We embrace historically informed performance as a deeply human, inquisitive and inclusive way of making music; a practice grounded in curiosity about the past and committed to relevance in the present. Our work is founded on the belief that sound, style and expression are shaped by instruments, spaces, languages and ideas of their time – and that by understanding these contexts, we can unlock a more vivid and immediate experience of orchestral and chamber music today. We see HIP not as a fixed set of rules, but as an evolving, imaginative lens through which artists and audiences can re-hear familiar works and discover new possibilities.
PERFORMANCE & REPERTOIRE
We explore and re-examine the orchestral and chamber music of the late 18th to early 20th centuries – from Mannheim to Modernism – challenging modern habits of sound and interpretation. Playing on period instruments or faithful replicas, we seek to rediscover the colour, nuance and rhetorical clarity that composers of the Classical and Romantic eras would have known. Our performances are informed by the latest scholarship, yet driven by direct, communicative musicmaking.
Our programs place much-loved masterpieces alongside lesser-known gems, revealing new connections between composers, styles and eras. By questioning received traditions and performance conventions, we reimagine how this repertoire can be played, heard and understood today. This approach enriches contemporary orchestral culture and contributes to the ongoing evolution of historically informed performance practice.
EDUCATION, RESEARCH & ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT
We extend the practice of historically informed performance beyond the concert stage, embedding learning, research and mentorship at the core of our work. Through our education programs, workshops, side-by-side projects, broadcasts and digital resources, we invite students, emerging artists and professionals to engage with stylistic interpretation, performance practice and historical context.
We collaborate with musicologists, conservatoires and educational institutions to investigate sources, instruments and performance traditions, and to translate this knowledge into practical, creative tools for performers. Our rehearsals, open rehearsals and voyage presentations offer a transparent view of artistic process, encouraging curiosity and critical thinking. In this way, we foster a vibrant community of musicians and listeners who are equipped to question, explore and carry HIP practice forward.
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Whether in metropolitan concert halls, regional centres or online, our projects are designed to include audiences as active participants in the discovery of this music. We believe that context, storytelling and dialogue enhance the emotional and intellectual impact of performance – making historical repertoire more accessible, relevant and alive.
Through spoken introductions, program notes, interactive presentations and outreach projects, we invite audiences into the sound world of Classical and Romantic composers: their instruments, aesthetics, social worlds and ideas. Process becomes as important as product; conversation as vital as interpretation. By building long-term relationships with communities, educators and presenters, we create shared experiences in which listeners and performers meet on equal ground.
These approaches champion curiosity, empathy and open listening. By placing expert practitioners alongside learners and non-specialists, we democratise access to historically informed performance and create a context where every voice and question matters. Music-making becomes a vehicle for dialogue, cultural memory, connection and renewal.
Since 2023, the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra has been the only Australian member ensemble of the prestigious Early Music in Europe (REMA).
SUPPORT US – DONATE!
ARCO is grateful for the grants and audience support we receive – but it’s not enough to keep us going. We depend on the generosity of donors to bring concerts, education, light and joy to all Australians. Join us!