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MELBOURNE | Sir Andrew Davis, chief conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (“MSO”), is well aware that Melbourne is chock-full of musically inclined individuals. Having a world-renowned orchestra in our own backyard may not feel like novel news anymore. However, if the mention of MSO’s 2018 season doesn’t rouse your intrigue, Davis returns with a cheeky “you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
The Opening Gala, kicking off the season on March 3rd, will feature classic compositions by Beethoven, Wagner and Verdi, but receive a new age twist with a symphony by Carl Vine, the contemporary Australian composer.
2018 welcomes back its Master Series, designed for classical music connoisseurs, with sounds from the likes of Beethoven, Debussy, Brahms, and Stravinsky. The Great Classics Series, showcasing local and international artists, will run as usual from Friday through to Monday. And of course, the MSO Chorus will be featured over a few evenings.
This year’s Melbourne Town Hall Series returns as usual, creating a platform for emerging Australian artists. Among the up and coming faces, we’ll hear music by Ade Vincent, a musical writer for bands as well as film. His personal repertoire includes performing in his own folk band, making him an invigorating and unconventional addition to the orchestra. As a self proclaimed Fleet Foxes groupie and folk music aficionado, I love to see an orchestra that welcomes modern voices and reinterpretation of tradition.
New for the 2018 season, the MSO will be dedicating a series to the celebration of Leonard Bernstein. The American composer and pianist, widely known for his music from West Side Story, Peter Pan, and On The Town, celebrates his 100th birthday in 2018. The series aims to tell the life story of Bernstein, including his passion for music, education, and humanitarianism, through music.
2018’s Mid Season Gala will feature world superstar violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter. Making her debut performance in Melbourne, Mutter will also be an artist in residence, teaching master classes and giving presentations.
MSO is also debuting a Morning Series for the new season. These are essentially concerts with commentary, featuring selected world class artists over a one-hour program. Sunday mornings you can catch the Chamber Series, showcasing MSO’s artists in an intimate venue with a small audience. To enjoy a play/ direct concert, attend one of the three evenings dedicated to The Recital Centre Series.
To wrap up the year, The Season Finale Gala will feature Maxim Vengerov performing the Australian premiere of Violin Concerto followed by MSO’s former Chief Conductor, Markus Stenz, conducting Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.
For a complete listing of the 2018 Season, check out the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s website.