WASO announces 2021 season

The season opens in January with a world-premiere event, Birds of Tokyo in Concert with WASO. The Perth band’s stadium-sized rock anthems including ‘Lanterns’, ‘Plans’ and ‘Anchor’ as well as new singles from their recent album, Human Design, are fully orchestrated in this not-to-be-missed concert.

Sixteen years after his first orchestral concert with WASO, Ben Folds returns for two performances of Ben Folds with WASO. There’s no better way to experience one of the modern world’s most distinctive singer-songwriters than with the full power of this world class orchestra.

Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser Asher Fisch comes home to WASO in March with Romance and Mystery, Asher Fisch conducts Elgar and An American in Paris which features Principal Trumpet Brent Grapes as soloist traversing an enthralling musical landscape from Hollywood noir, to French impressionism and jazz.

At the Riverside Theatre, and moving from their planned 2020 dates, the next instalment of the ever-popular Harry Potter in Concert Series, the spectacular Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in Concert and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – in Concert will be presented in March and October respectively.

Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra will be performed in two very different productions as part of the Masters Series with Perth Festival director Iain Grandage and the Family series with celebrated educator Thea Rossen, providing unique insights on this classic for the young and young at heart.

WASO’s Education Artist in Residence, Paul Rissmann returns in August for an exciting musical adventure featuring Jason Chapman’s much-loved dog and cat duo, Stan and Mabel. This interactive and imaginative program brings the story to life with original illustrations adding to the magic of the performance.

A highlight of the 2021 season, Eumeralla, a war requiem for peace shines a spotlight on an important part of Australia’s shared history in an outstanding and powerful work by leading composer Deborah Cheetham. Combining moving poetry, two choirs, orchestra and the platform of the Requiem mass, a history of heartbreak and horror is revealed in this monumental new work. With a fusion of Western classical tradition and First Nations culture, Eumeralla soars with resilience and reconciliation.

The annual barnstorm of flag-waving favourites, Last Night of the Proms is back with a cavalcade of classical hits and patriotic anthems. It wouldn’t be Proms without the traditional sing-along including Jerusalem and Rule, Britannia. Celebrate the reign of one of the world’s most successful Broadway writing teams with two of the brightest shining stars in musical theatre today in The Best of Rodgers and Hammerstein, all backed by WASO. You'll sing along to all the hits including ‘Climb Ev'ry Mountain’ from The Sound of Music and ‘Shall We Dance?’ from The King and I.

WASO’s award-winning Community Engagement and Education programs continue to go from strength to strength in 2021 with Crescendo and Composition Project.

In a new partnership supported by Woodside and presented as part of Perth Festival, Dreams of Place will be a side-by-side collaboration between the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Western Australian Youth Orchestra, with over 100 musicians joining forces with local Noongar song-writers and the work of classical composers to deliver a concert exploding with evocative images of place.

From the centre of Perth to the furthest corners of Western Australia, every year since 1928, WASO set hearts racing with extraordinary music and exhilarating performances for all West Australians to share.

Asher Fisch appears courtesy of Wesfarmers Arts.

WASO 2021 Subscription Tickets

Season packages on sale now.

For bookings phone WASO on 9326 0000 or here

WASO 2021 Single Tickets

Tickets on sale from 9am, Wednesday 25 November 2020

For bookings phone WASO on 9326 0000 or here