The Australian Classical Era Orchestra’s Artistic Inspiration

The ideas that created the Western Australia we know today all came out of the Classical Era. The years between 1740 and the mid-1800s sang about the urge to discover, the power of optimism, the belief in human dignity — regardless of race or culture.

At all of her brightest moments of progress, on the days when Western Australia has been at her best, these values have been front of mind. And they are all contained in the music of the Classical Era. In the live performance of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and others, we can literally hear the grace, beauty, hope and reason of this time.

For Tim Blomfield, the Artistic Director of the Australian Classical Era Orchestra, it’s only natural that his orchestra has its home in Western Australia. In many ways it still embodies the optimism of the Classical Era. Its commitment to discover, to bring the best out of its young people is still shaping this great state.

After all, it’s not just raw materials it produces. It’s raw talent. Something that Tim was struck by while living and studying in Europe. Western Australia produces an inordinate amount of remarkably talented young musicians. And they’re musicians with a passion for historically informed performance.

Tim recognised the opportunity to bring these musicians together to create an orchestra which is unique within Australia — an orchestra specialising exclusively in the historically informed performance of music from the Classical Era. This came together with Tim’s vision to bring historically informed performances to Australian audiences in a way that would be easily understandable and inspiring to the general public. He recognised that history would be the key catalyst.

We will never know what visionaries like Commander George Vancouver or the first settlers on the Swan River looked like. But through this music, we can know their minds, and experience the hope and drive of this period.

It is these values that the Australian Classical Era Orchestra aims to bring to Western Australian audiences, particularly in light of WA’s history. Music affords a certain transcendent experience to take people away from the rigours of daily life and give them the opportunity to engage in these higher ideals. The Australian Classical Era Orchestra aims to do this for Western Australian audiences, uplifting their lives today through the key driving forces of the Classical Era.