L-R Louise Elaerts (double bass), Michael Waye (piccolo), Ellie Lawrence (violin) and Adam Mikulicz (bassoon).
Camera IconL-R Louise Elaerts (double bass), Michael Waye (piccolo), Ellie Lawrence (violin) and Adam Mikulicz (bassoon). Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie.

WASO celebrates with 10th annual Symphony in the City at Langley Park

Tanya MacNaughtonEastern Reporter

WEST Australian Symphony Orchestra will perform the 10th Symphony in the City at Langley Park on Saturday, December 10 at 7.30pm.

Principal piccolo Michael Waye has played with the orchestra since before the annual concert began in 2007.

“The first Symphony in the City was down where Elizabeth Quay is, so where we played is under water now,” Waye said.

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“The orchestra has always enjoyed doing outdoor concerts.

“Langley Park is an area that’s perfect for these outdoor concerts because everyone knows where it is and everyone loves to come along.

“You do get the odd hoon driving by honking his horn but that’s the way locals like to contribute to the cultural life of the city.”

Waye has played in every Symphony in the City except last year when he had a family wedding in his home city of Sydney.

He said he looked forward to performing in WASO’s last concert for the year.

“It’s a fabulous send-off for the orchestra and is usually repertoire we all know,” he said.

“This year we have The Sorcerer’s Apprentice which is one of the harder songs I have in my entire repertoire; just to finish the year on a nice, easy, soft note.”

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While relaxing on their picnic blankets, the audience will also get to enjoy a program of Star Wars by John Williams, Bizet’s Carmen, Offenbach’s Barcarolle and the traditional finale, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

Guy Noble conducted the first Symphony in the City and returns to lead WASO and vocalists mezzo-soprano Fiona Campbell and soprano Jennifer Barrington.

“The whole event is so laid back and when you have someone like Guy Noble conducting, who is really funny, he’s always got some witticism up his sleeve or a social or political comment about where we live and what’s going on in the world,” Waye said.

“It’s a good, fun event and long may it last.”

Pre-concert activities at Langley Park start from 5pm including face-painting, balloon artistry and live jazz.

THE ESSENTIALS

What: Symphony in the City

Where: Langley Park, Perth

When: 7.30pm, December 10

Entry: free