This evening, British conductor Alpesh Chauhan kicks-off a series of concerts with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. For his first visit to Perth, Chauhan takes to the podium for Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 12 and Elgar’s Violin Concerto in B minor with violinist and WASO Concert Master Laurence Jackson. Next weekend, the orchestra is joined by 144 singers from the WASO Chorus and UWA Symphonic Chorus and a notable team of soloists for Beethoven’s exuberant Symphony No. 9. Himself an enthusiastic advocate for new music, Chauhan also conducts the world premiere of James Ledger’s The Last Thing, commissioned by WASO and composed for celebrated Australian soprano Sara Macliver, who joins the performance.

On his return, Chauhan embarks upon Tippett’s New Year with Birmingham Opera Company — of which he is Music Director — in a production directed by opera legend Keith Warner. Recently renewed as Principal Guest Conductor of Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, Chauhan returns to the orchestra in May for Schumann’s Symphony No. 2 and Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Düsseldorf native, pianist Severin von Eckardstein.