Have viola, will travel

LAKE Macquarie musician Christopher Moore could play the violin before he could tie his shoelaces.

He has since switched to the viola and mastered that as well. Now the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s principal viola player, Moore has travelled Australia and the world on the basis of his musical talent.

He will return to Newcastle on February 16 for the first of four Australian Chamber Orchestra performances at City Hall this year.

Moore spent his early childhood in Valentine and moved to Belmont North during high school.

‘‘Mum and dad are still in Belmont North – we were there for Christmas, actually,’’ he said.

‘‘Mum has sung in the Newcastle University Choir since its inception, and still does.

‘‘She plays a bit of piano and used to drive me to lessons when I was younger, all the way to Sydney. So yes, she played a big role in my musical development.’’

Like most children, Moore wasn’t always keen on practising his craft, but said it soon became part of his life.

‘‘I didn’t play sport much, it was music, music, music,’’ he said.

‘‘Yeah, it was difficult at times but I can’t imagine doing anything else now.’’

Moore was five when he first picked up the violin, but had begun playing the piano at the age of four.

He learned how to read music by ear with the help of his Suzuki teacher – a method of teaching very young children to read music first by ear, then by sight.

After completing a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Newcastle, Moore went ‘‘straight into the workforce’’, playing with symphony orchestras and working his way through the ranks.

He played the violin with the Adelaide and New Zealand symphony orchestras before turning his attention to the viola. He became associate principal viola with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra after an 18-month stint there as a rank-and-file violist.

In 2006 he appeared as guest principal violist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and was eventually promoted to principal viola player.

‘‘It’s a big deal to get into the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO), full stop. Someone has to lead the section, and that person is me. Being principal viola player means I’m the first among three,’’ Moore said.

‘‘ACO is top-level music-making, pretty much the highest level in Australia. It’s a chamber orchestra with 17 string players, as opposed to a symphony orchestra, which is a freight train.

‘‘It’s like a family, we travel together everywhere and we spend a lot of time together.’’

Moore is on the road about 110 days a year, which includes a three-week international tour.

‘‘Vienna stands out in my memory as a destination, it’s just an extraordinary-looking city. And the concert hall is amazing. There wasn’t a spare seat and we fed off the energy in the room and played very well, I think,’’ he said.

‘‘Paris is great, too, but we never really get a chance to see a lot of those places. We tend to just fly in and fly out.’’

One of Moore’s biggest claims to fame is playing in a symphony that supported rock band KISS. Not that he talks it up.

‘‘Oh that, that was before the ACO. I really should take it out of my biography.’’

Why?

‘‘Well, I guess it was pretty exciting at the time. The KISS symphony was in Melbourne about eight years ago, and you’re right, it was an incredible buzz – 30,000-odd people in an auditorium just screaming at the top of their lungs.

‘‘During rehearsal those guys (KISS) were arguing with each other and we were worried the gig would fall apart, but when they put on their make-up and got on stage they were just completely different creatures.

‘‘I took something from that.’’

When not at work, Moore likes to spend time with his three-year-old daughter, Isabella, and listen to jazz with his partner, Jill, at their home in Newtown.

‘‘Jill is very much into jazz and plays a bit of jazz bass. Come to think of it, she’s playing more ukulele than anything else at the moment, actually,’’ he said.

‘‘If I’m on tour I talk to them at the beginning and end of every day on Skype.’’

The Australian Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1975 and will this year perform four concerts in Newcastle under the direction of Richard Tognetti.

The opening concert on February 16 will feature Russian pianist Polina Leschenko performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1 and one of classical music’s most delightful pieces, Mendelssohn’s Octet.

On July 12, ACO principals will perform two moving chamber works, Schubert’s Trout Quintet and Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time.

On October 18, Satu Vanska will perform a Vivaldi violin concerto on the ACO’s $2million Stradivarius violin and Richard Egarr will play Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.12 and direct a program of baroque music.

On November 22, Richard Tognetti will direct an all-Russian program, including Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence.

Moore is particularly looking forward to the first concert, featuring Polina Leschenko.

‘‘She is a wonderful, beautiful person and an amazing pianist, so that’ll be fun.

‘‘Our shows in Newcastle normally sell out. We’ve got a very dedicated audience. And of course my mum and my aunty will come along,’’ he laughed.

For concert details and to book, visit aco.com.au or contact the Civic Theatre box office.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra will perform at Newcastle City Hall on Thursday, February 16. Tickets from the Civic Theatre box office or aco.com.au. Book a subscription and see all four shows for just $216 ($120 if you are under 30).

Giveaway

THE Australian Chamber Orchestra is performing four concerts in Newcastle this year (see below), and the organisers are feeling generous.

The opening concert at City Hall on February 16 will feature Russian pianist Polina Leschenko performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1 and Mendelssohn’s Octet.

The other concerts will be on July 12, October 18 and November 22.

One reader is being offered the opportunity to win two A-Reserve subscriptions to all four performances in Newcastle.

To enter, send the keyword ‘‘orchestra’’, along with your name, address and phone number, to 0427 842 179 or email livefreebies@theherald.com.au.