Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is offering an exciting series of beautiful classical concerts this Autumn.
Enjoy performances by one of Australia's most promising musical prodigies Christian Li, international music sensation Ben Folds and Swedish trumpet virtuoso and new music pioneer, Hĺkan Hardenberger.
Other concert highlights include An Alpine Symphony, Symphonic Dances, The Five, Beethoven Emperor Concerto and The Lark Ascending
It is set to be a fabulous season of classical music in the heart of Melbourne! Tickets are now on sale and selling fast. Check out the program below to plan your MSO Autumn experience.
2 March | Melbourne Recital Centre | $30
A unique musical journey hosted by Cybec Assistant Conductor, Nicholas Bochner. Nicholas together with the musicians of the MSO will deconstruct Schumann's Symphony No.2 to uncover the context, history and story behind this well-known work. You will get into the mind of the composer, will hear the musicians perform what is being explained, and you will dive deeply into the piece.
5 & 7 March | Hamer Hall | $60–$152
An extraordinary concert featuring the world premiere of Australian composer Gordon Hamilton's Far South followed by Grieg's Piano Concerto featuring Roman pianist Alexandra Dariescu, and finishing with Strauss' epic An Alpine Symphony. A beautiful concert; one not to miss.
13, 14 & 16 March | Hamer Hall | $42–$125
There are 1001 reasons to fall in love with the music in this concert. You will be treated to Kodály's Dances of Galánta – a complex and romantic piece, followed by Dutch cellist Harriet Krijgh performing Édouard Lalo's beautiful Cello Concerto. Your evening is completed with great Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade; the symphonic suite based on One Thousand and One Nights (also known as The Arabian Nights).
19 March | Melbourne Town Hall | $59–$135
One of Australia's most promising musical prodigies, Christian Li, tackles the great Violin Concerto by Mendelssohn in a performance as moving as it is astonishing. You will also enjoy Beethoven's Symphony No. 7; a work of effortless melodic phrasing, featuring a second movement beloved even by its very first audience. It will enchant you from its opening bars.
22 March | Iwaki Auditorium, Southbank | $64
MSO Composer in Residence Deborah Cheetham joins a stunning septet of Melbourne musicians for a world premiere, in a concert that celebrates those outside the spotlight.
22 March | Plenary, Melbourne Convention Centre | $70–$120
International music sensation Ben Folds returns to Melbourne to perform live with the MSO for his Symphonic Tour. Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our time; a renowned pop artist as well as a critically-acclaimed classical music composer, and best selling author.
26 March | Melbourne Recital Centre | $64–$102
MSO Concertmaster Sophie Rowell leads the Orchestra through this concert which sees the genius of Bach refashioned, with classical accordionist James Crabb performing as soloist. The Scottish accordion virtuoso has been praised the world-over for his versatile musicianship and has appeared with the London Philharmonic, BBC Scottish, MSO and countless contemporary world-class ensembles.
Metropolis 2020: Hĺkan Hardenberger
8 April | Melbourne Recital Centre | $65
An innovative one-night-only event headlined by Swedish trumpet virtuoso and new music pioneer, Hĺkan Hardenberger. All corners of Melbourne Recital Centre will come alive in a journey of sound. In this artist-led musical discovery exploring the relationship between creator and performer, Metropolis' artistic director Hardenberger leads the MSO both playing and conducting across a four-part program celebrating a constellation of connections he has forged through his global musical journey.
16 & 18 April | Hamer Hall | $60–$152
It's utterly unlike anything you've heard before. HK Gruber composed his uncanny and haunting contemporary masterpiece, Aerial, specifically for the world's leading trumpeter and his personal friend Hĺkan Hardenberger. Keen to expand the limits of what the trumpet can do, Gruber asked Hardenberger if he could play trumpet and sing simultaneously – experience the result, live at this captivating concert.
1, 2 & 4 May | Hamer Hall | $42–$125
One of the world's leading interpreters of Beethoven, pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet brings his expertise to bear on the beautiful Piano Concerto No. 4, followed by Rachmaninov's final composition, Symphonic Dances – all conducted by Ben Northey. Symphonic Dances is typically lush and rhythmically dynamic and is much-admired on the concert platform today.
The Five, Beethoven Emperor Concerto
14 & 16 May | Hamer Hall | $60–$152]
You will be treated to Brett Dean's Gneixendorf Music – A Winter's Journey; his answer to a challenge thrown out by American pianist Jonathan Biss. Over five years, Biss commissioned five composers to write their own piano concertos in response to those composed by Beethoven. Dean's is the final in the series. The orchestra will also perform Brahms Symphony No.4, and the much-loved Emperor Concerto by Beethoven, featuring Jonathan Biss.
21 May | Melbourne Recital Centre | $53–$102]
The crown jewels of British music! MSO Concertmaster Dale Barltrop takes you on a journey through the greats of English composition including Ralph Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending – a musical response to overwhelming loss. Your evening of music also includes_ St Paul's Suite_ by Gustav Holst, Williams' Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus, Benjamin Britten's Les Illuminations, and more.
24 May | Iwaki Auditorium | $64
A concert that captures the curiosity of youth. Featuring Mládí, the title of Czech composer Leoš Janáček's wind sextet, followed by a world premiere by the MSO's 2020 Cybec Young Composer in Residence Jordan Moore, and finishing with Beethoven's Quintet for piano and winds – a delicate and nuanced piece of music.
For more information on the MSO Autumn season, please visit www.mso.com.au
