Chamber Series: Radiant
CHAMBER SERIES
Sunday 25 May 2025, 2pm
Government House Ballroom
West Australian Symphony Orchestra respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and Elders of Country throughout Western Australia, and the Whadjuk Noongar people on whose lands we work and share music.
How to use your Digital Program
Radiant
Jean SIBELIUS String Trio in G minor, JS210: Lento (8 mins)
Olli MUSTONEN Nonet No.2 (16 mins)
Interval (25 mins)
Franz SCHUBERT Octet in F, D.803 (60 mins)
Listen to WASO
This performance is recorded for broadcast Saturday 21 June, 1pm (AWST) on ABC Classic. Date subject to change. For further details visit abc.net.au/classic
WASO On Stage
About the Music
Jean Sibelius
(1865-1957)
String Trio in G minor, JS210: Lento
The G Minor String Trio (1893-94) is a work of Sibelius' mature chamber music period. The only completed movement, Lento, is known for its unique structure. The work is a combination of various forms and in itself traces a symphonic span. Sibelius used a similar one-movement construction in his Seventh Symphony.
A Note From the Players
In our brand new Chamber Series, all concerts have been curated from pieces selected by the musicians themselves. Read on to discover which WASO musician selected this work and why.
I nominated Sibelius’ String Trio in G minor because it is one of his earlier lesser-known works, written while still a student (Sibelius being known more for his later orchestral masterpieces). In this work, Sibelius’ raw intensity and enthusiasm are very much present without compromising the emotional depth that is quintessential to Sibelius’ style. What drew me to the piece was its expressive song-like romantic melodies, giving us an opportunity to explore its spirited interplay and warm lyrical lines that continually pass between violin, viola and cello.
Audiences can expect a compact, emotionally rich, and melodically appealing piece with a sense of Nordic melancholy and atmosphere. The transparent texture of the three string instruments allows an appreciation of the nuance of interaction between these instruments.
— Kylie Liang, Associate Principal 2nd Violin
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About the Music
Olli Mustonen
(b. 1967)
Nonet No.2
Born in Helsinki on 7 June 1967, Olli Mustonen took his first harpsichord lessons at the age of five and was taught to play the piano by Ralf Gothóni at the age of seven. At the age of six, he made his first composition attempts, and from 1975 studied composition with Einoiuhani Rautavaara. Soon, Mustonen was much sought after, both as a conductor and as a concert pianist.
Since 1989, Mustonen has been playing an active role in the musical scene of his home country of Finland; first, he became artistic director of the Korsholm Music Festival and from 1990-1992 of the Turku Music Festival as well. He is co-founder and director of the Helsinki Festival Orchestra, and since 2003 has been conducting the chamber orchestra Tapiola Sinfonietta. Nonetto II (2000) is one of his most frequently performed chamber works.
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About the Music
Franz Schubert
(1797-1828)
Octet in F, D.803
Franz Schubert's Octet in F major, D. 803, is a six-movement work known for its vibrant melodies, charming dances, and moments of profound emotional depth. The Octet was composed at the request of Count Ferdinand von Troyer, a clarinettist who wanted a piece similar to Beethoven's Septet.
The first movement opens with a somber, melancholic Adagio, which then transitions to a joyful, light-hearted Allegro. A slow movement with a rocking string rhythm follows, showcasing Schubert's lyrical talent. A lively Scherzo breaks through for the third movement, before the theme and variations fourth. The work then moves to a graceful Menuetto before concluding with a dramatic then joyful Andante molto - Allegro.
A Note From the Players
In our brand new Chamber Series, all concerts have been curated from pieces selected by the musicians themselves. Read on to discover which WASO musician selected this work and why.
I first heard the Schubert Octet when I was in high school music class. We were taking a melodic dictation and the excerpt was the main theme from the fourth movement, 'Andante'. It was a beautiful melody and became a frequent earworm through high school and beyond. I was first able to play the work in its entirety in my final year at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) and it was a very rewarding experience.
The work is immense in scale, with each movement adding new colours and characters to Schubert’s tapestry: a grand opening movement with an exciting urgency, a reverent and nostalgic 'Adagio’ which reminds me of his famous Ave Maria, a frolicking scherzo evoking a hunt, the kaleidoscopic theme and variations, the pastoral minuet and trio, and the triumphant finale which Schubert clouds with moments of Sturm und Drang (storm and stress). I particularly love the wonderful blend of sound Schubert creates between these eight instruments. I jumped at the chance to play it again with my amazing WASO colleagues and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
— William Huxtable, Violin
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Meet the Musicians
Samantha Wickramasinghe
Violin
What was it like performing with stars such as Elton John, Rod Stewart and Wynton Marsalis?
They were all gracious, supremely talented and generous artists. Performing with Sir Elton was one of the first gigs I did in London, aged 18. It was on stage at the stunning Royal Opera House in Covent Garden (little did I know that building would basically become my “office” for 15 years), filmed by the BBC – I could hardly believe my luck back then!
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Meet the Musicians
Giovanni Vinci
Double Bass
Is there anything special about your instrument?
I am incredibly privileged to be playing on a double bass crafted by Gabriel Jacquet-Gand, circa 1875. It has been recently restored by luthier and former WASO double bassist, Andrew Tait. Remarkably, Andrew was alerted to this double bass while it was disassembled in a fishing shed south of Perth. The owner of the double bass, a 93-year-old gentleman remarked to Andrew, “I’ve always wanted to learn the double bass, but I think the opportunity has passed me by!”
The instrument had never been taken apart since it was made; attempted repairs had planks of jarrah fixed from the outside. The double bass retains its original scroll, neck and French pegs, and is of fine craftsmanship of the distinctive ‘Vuillaume Model’. It is a wonderful piece of unique history to have access to and I am forever grateful to my parents for funding this acquisition.
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Meet the Musicians
Adam Mikulicz
Acting Principal Bassoon
What’s your earliest memory of playing music?
My earliest musical memory was playing with my Belarusian grandfather's steal string guitar, that I believe he used while singing with his church buddies in the early days as an immigrant. It was a steal string acoustic (brutal on small fingers) that was stored in a brown cloth drawstring sack for safekeeping. My parents found a guitar teacher for me soon after, at the age seven. I started playing bassoon through a band program at Eltham High School, Victoria when I was 12.
About WASO
Engage | Excite | Experience | Educate
From the centre of Perth to the furthest corners of the state, we have provided the soundtrack to life in WA since 1928.
As the State Orchestra, Perth’s first and finest, WASO is the largest employer of performing artists in Western Australia and reaches two million people with musical experiences each year on stage, in our community, and online.
From concert stages to classrooms, hospitals to aged care, we bring joy, inspire learning, and nurture participation in our community, because everybody deserves the opportunity to experience live music. Every year, through community and leading industry partnerships, we engage a new generation of young and emerging artists to help secure a bright future for music in Australia.
We celebrate our rich classical music heritage with great artists from all over the world and commission and perform new repertoire to renew and expand it. The Orchestra collaborates widely with major arts companies and independent artists, performing opera to ballet, movies to musicals, jazz to rock.
Asher Fisch is Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser of our Orchestra. We champion the diversity of music in all its forms, with a team of talented and passionate people who create unforgettable experiences for all West Australians to enjoy.
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Your Concert Experience
Get the best out of your concert experience at Government House Ballroom.
- Clap with enthusiasm
Whether you are welcoming your favourite artist to the stage, or showing appreciation at the end of a piece, we love thunderous applause. - Share with your friends
Snap a selfie from your seat, capture the artist bows and share the experience with friends. Don’t forget to tag us! #WASymphonyOrchestra - Respect those around you
Ensure your mobile phone is on silent and does not disrupt the experience of those around you. If you need to cough or sneeze, please do this into your elbow. - Accessible services available
Access to Government House Ballroom for WASO performances is via the Council House Laneway, which is wheelchair accessible. - Latecomers admitted at a suitable time
If you arrive late or leave your seat during a performance, your auditorium entry will need to wait until a suitable break. - First Aid available
St John First Aid officers are present at every WASO concert. Please notify a team member if you require any first aid assistance. - Box Office is open
Get tickets to your next WASO experience at the WASO Mobile Box Office located in the Government House Ballroom Foyer. The WASO Mobile Box Office is open 60 minutes before each performance. Alternatively, you can visit waso.com.au to buy online or book an in-person ticketing appointment by calling (08) 9326 0000 (Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm).
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