It’s an exciting time for the WA Symphony Orchestra this month. The orchestra has just launched its 2017 program and is gearing up for the China tour in October. Asher Fisch is in town conducting Mozart’s Requiem on the 2/3rd. Later in the month on Sept 29/30th/Oct 1st the orchestra will showcase its tour repertoire: Mahler’s Symphony No 5, Saint-Saens’ Piano Concerto No 5 (with Jean-Yves Thibaudet) and Sculthorpe’s Kakadu. There was scandal on the eve of the 2006 tour to China; the pressure and energy will be intense. These concerts will sell-out for sure. 
On the 2/3rd wunderkind conductor Christopher Dragon (more on him in the next Celebrity Soft Spot) returns to Perth to conduct the WAAPA Faith Court Orchestra.  The program includes Stravinsky’s Firebird and student soloists competing for the Academy’s concerto award. It will be a great showcase of emerging talent.  Maestro Dragon will also conduct a season of Ariadne auf Naxos for Opera Box, opening on the 9th. Hooray for another platform for emerging singers and a (much needed) expansion of opera repertoire for Perth audiences. 
On the 4th September Sara Macliver will give a recital for the Swan Song series with songs (including Barber’s Hermit Songs) inspired by solitude. 
Legendary Russian pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja features as soloist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra on the 9th performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 9. Also orchestral arrangements of Strauss Sextet from Capriccio and Beethoven String Quartet in Eb.

The Italian Tenors arrive at the Regal Theatre on the 10th if you want to check out the latest pop-opera European export.  On the 13th the Jerusalem Quartet begin their national Musica Viva tour in Perth with a program including string quartets by Beethoven and Dvorak alongside Australian composer Ross Edwards Summer Dances.

The Sound of Music begins its season at Crown on the 14th – the first musical I ever saw and my favourite! It’s going to be a bit of karaoke sing-a-long I think!
Tura new music’s Reflections Kimberley Tour concludes in Perth on the 21st with a performance at Studio Underground. This will be a rich (and rare) authentic cross-cultural collaboration with indigenous musicians. 
Fresh from their triumphant performance at Carnegie Hall in New York, Collegium Symphonic Chorus has returned home to present Rachmaninoff’s Vespers on the 24/25th. 
And finally on the 25th UWA Percussion will perform Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the premiere of this minimal masterpiece.
Enjoy your concerts!