SASO in the 50s-60s

The Subscription Concerts in the Adelaide Town Hall became an important part of Adelaide concert life in the 1950s and 1960s.  In addition, the orchestra presented Youth Concerts and free Sunday Concerts in the open air, and toured country centres each year.  The orchestra was associated with the Adelaide Philharmonic Choir and the Adelaide Singers; both ensembles were trained by the Conductor Norman Chinner.  Under Krips, the orchestra performed the standard repertoire and introduced a number of major works to Adelaide audiences, including symphonies by Mahler and Shostakovich, concertos by Poulenc and Bartok, symphonic works by Richard Strauss and Rubbra, and compositions by Australian composers including Alfred Hill, Robert Hughes, Dorien Le Gallienne, Horace Perkins, Hooper Brewster Jones and Krips.  Henry Krips’ compositions include opera, ballets, film scores, including the Australian film Smithy, numerous songs and instrumental pieces.

Conductors from interstate who visited to work with the South Australian Symphony Orchestra included Sir Bernard Heinze, Joseph Post and Tibor Paul.  Patrick Thomas was appointed Assistant Conductor in 1965 and Conductor of the Adelaide Philharmonic Choir and the Adelaide Singers.

- Robert Brown