Music lovers were spellbound on Saturday and Sunday as they listened to world premiere performances of Symphony of the Passion.
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It took about three years, more than 200 pages of music for Warrnambool's Dr Ken Stott to complete the rare feat of composing a symphony.
The Hamilton and Warrnambool symphony orchestras performed the 45-minute symphony on Saturday evening and Sunday respectively.
About 50 musicians were involved in the performances which included internationally celebrated harpist Vanessa McKeand, and sopranos Christine Heald, Louise Keast and Anita Senior.
Warrnambool Symphony Orchestra (WSO) president John MacInnes said both performances, which each attracted a crowd of more than 150 attendees, were wonderful.
"It went really well, it was excellent," Mr MacInnes said. "There was a standing ovation."
He said it was fantastic for the region's performers and audiences to have access to the new piece of work.
"It's marvellous. A lot of orchestras, including professional orchestras play established music," Mr MacInnes said. "It's not common, particularly for a community orchestra, to get new work written for it and it's a great challenge for the players to master it and present it satisfactorily.
"To have the joy of new music, especially when it's local, is an absolute bonus."
Mr MacInnes said the two orchestras were joined by visiting players including guests from Germany, Melbourne, Ballarat and Mount Gambier.
He said the orchestras had rehearsed separately with Hamilton Symphony Orchestra conductor Angus Christie, who is also the Limestone Coast Symphony Orchestra, the Hamilton String Orchestra conductor and WSO guest conductor, in the lead up to the premiere performances.
"We only all got together yesterday and played for a two-hour rehearsal yesterday afternoon before the performance at Hamilton, and (we had) another rehearsal or sound check in the Warrnambool church today at 1pm," Mr MacInnes said.
The WSO is now busily rehearsing for the annual Mother's Day concert, held on May 12 at St Joseph's Church.
"We've been doing the Mother's Day concert for about 12 years and it's become an annual tradition, that's coming up again," Mr MacInnes said.
"That will be a mix, a good variety of recognisable stuff people know and enjoy because its familiar."
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