The picturesque town of Siena was home for the Orchestra on Friday 3 October. After a long bus trip the day before (Milan - Siena), the musicians were ready for a bit of rest and relaxation before the night's performance. About 30 musicians took a bus trip to a village called Pitigliano, about a 2.5 hour drive from Siena. This is where the family of Sydney Symphony clarinet player Frank Celata originally comes from. (The town is pictured above).The other musicians walked around the beautiful streets of Siena doing a spot of shopping or people watching in the town square.
The performance in Siena was at the stunning Chiesa di S'Agostino. The old church with its marble pillars provided a fitting setting for the night's music which included Beethoven Symphony No.7 and music by Ravel.So as to fit in with the Italian way of life, once the performance was over at 11.30pm (the Orchestra's concerts in Italy start rather later than in Sydney, usually 8.30pm or 9pm), the Orchestra headed to the main town square for a nightcap and catch-up before the next day's bus trip: Siena to Caserta (400kms).
