Wow of a directorial bow for Alondra de la Parra

Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s music director Alondra de la Parra has assembled a program that boasts some of the world’s best symphonic music.

Alondra de la Parra.

For her debut as Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s music director, Alondra de la Parra has assembled a program that boasts some of the world’s champions of symphonic music, a fitting way to celebrate the orchestra’s 70th anniversary.

Highlights of next year’s season will include Bizet’s Carmen, to be performed by an international cast led by Bulgarian mezzosoprano Vesselina Kasarova in her debut Australian performance, and the premiere of acclaimed composer Philip Glass’s long-awaited 11th symphony, in partnership with international orchestras in Austria, Turkey and New York.

Renowned Israeli violinist and conductor Maxim Vengerov will be the QSO’s artist in residence; and former conductors Johannes Fritzsch and Muhai Tang will again lead the orchestra in the Maestro series, with works in the program ranging from Mahler’s Titan and Berlioz’s Harold to Tchaikovsky’s Manfred and Wagner’s Tannhauser.

De la Parra says she is proud to have designed “a diverse program sourced from many traditions and styles over several centuries”.