QSO opens the year with The Rite of Spring

An audacious and innovative staging of The Rite of Spring will challenge perceptions of live performance when Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) opens its 2025 Season in February.

QSO joins forces with the internationally acclaimed contemporary circus company, Circa, to present The Rite of Spring, a bold and stunning interpretation of Igor Stravinsky’s extraordinary work adding gravity-defying physical artistry.

Under the baton of Chief Conductor Maestro Umberto Clerici, the Opening Gala at QPAC Concert Hall from 20 to 22 February promises an unmissable multi-disciplinary experience.

This ambitious program reflects QSO’s commitment to showcasing its musicians’ versatility and collaborating with exceptional Australian talent such as the Brisbane-based Circa.

The 2025 Opening Gala begins with the evocative Prélude à L’après-midi d’un faune by pioneering French composer Claude Debussy, whose compositional style created a “mythic dream” of orchestral impressionism.

Audiences will then experience Ottorino Respighi’s ethereal Concerto Gregoriano, a masterpiece of the violin repertoire inspired by ancient Gregorian chants and performed by QSO’s Artist-in-Residence, leading violinist Kristian Winther.

The concert experience culminates in a ground-breaking performance of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, brought to life by the dramatic physicality of 10 elite Circa acrobats.

A revolutionary composition, The Rite of Spring has captivated and shocked audiences since its infamous 1913 premiere in Paris, where its raw energy and modernity sparked an audience riot.

This landmark work was always intended to accompany choreography, with Vaslav Nijinsky creating the original movements for its first ballet performance.

Today, Circa adds an audacious new dimension to this marvel, transforming the stage into an arena of pulsating rhythms and physical virtuosity.

Maestro Clerici said this production epitomised QSO’s commitment to innovation and collaboration, emphasising the power of music to transcend boundaries and connect deeply with audiences.

“ “The Rite of Spring is one of the most revolutionary works of the 20th century, conceived as a ballet exploring themes of pagan rites and sacrifice.” ”

“It is also one of the most physically engaging musical works. In partnering with Circa, leaders in contemporary circus, we’re making this extraordinary concert even more vivid, dynamic and visually stunning.

“Our audiences will feel immersed and moved, experiencing music in an entirely new way.”

For Circa’s Artistic Director, Yaron Lifschitz, this collaboration continues his passion for Stravinsky’s work and its physical intensity.

“The Rite of Spring pulses with primal energy and our artists embody that energy through movement that is raw, ferocious and utterly captivating,” he said.

“ “Audiences will witness bodies ricocheting, cascading and twisting in synchronicity with Stravinsky’s intense rhythms, evoking the same visceral reaction that famously caused riots at the work’s 1913 Paris premiere.” ”

QSO’s 2025 Season Opening Gala, The Rite of Spring, promises to be a defining cultural moment for Brisbane. With limited performances, audiences are encouraged to secure their tickets early at qso.com.au