Conducted by Sir Andrew Davis with Australia’s violin master Richard Tognetti, this concert features Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending which was placed No. 1 in the ABC’s Swoon Classic 100 countdown in 2015. The work itself remains a glorious evocation of English pastoral life — the solo violin being the evocation of George Meredith’s soaring verse. Benjamin Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes convey all the scrunchy saltiness of the coast of his beloved East Anglia. The program also includes the Partita for Violin and Orchestra by Witold Lutoslawski, and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s vibrant Symphonic Dances.
MSO: Russian Night with Maxim Vengerov
The world-renowned violinist Maxim Vengerov joins the MSO to perform the fiendishly difficult Violin Concerto by Tchaikovsky. Full of soaring melodies, melancholy and virtuosity, this work has rightfully claimed its place amongst the great violin concertos of all time. Scheherazade tells the story of a slave girl having to amuse the gruesome sultan by telling him a new story every night. Several of these come together in Rimsky-Korsakov’s colourful oriental fantasy; a highlight in the Russian orchestral repertoire and the ideal work for an ensemble of virtuosos like the MSO. Allow the MSO to transport you into the world of a thousand-and-one nights.
MSO: East Meets West – A Chinese New Year’s Celebration
Join the MSO and maestro Lü Jia with a stellar cast of guest artists to celebrate the Chinese New Year in a colourful and joyous one-night-only event showcasing Melbourne’s diverse culture. One of China’s most celebrated violinists, Lu Siqing, performs with the MSO for the first time since 2014 as soloist in one of China’s most famous orchestral works, the lush and romantic Butterfly Lovers’ concerto. Written by composers Chen Gang and He Zhahao in 1959, it is the perfect inclusion in this concert. Revel in the textured sounds of traditional Chinese instruments, new works and world-class musicians in the heart of Melbourne, a city with a rich Chinese-Australian history, worthy of celebration. MSO’s annual Chinese New Year celebration has become a highlight on the concert calendar, celebrating the city’s cultural diversity.
MSO: Season Opening Gala
Join us for a concert with two universally admired guest artists – Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire, described by The Guardian as ‘a master of (his) craft’, and Australian heldentenor and Grammy Award nominee, Stuart Skelton. The celebratory program includes: Beethoven’s majestic “Emperor” Piano Concerto; Carl Vine’s Symphony No. 1 “Microsymphony” (a work encompassing the dramatic features of a symphony compressed into just 12 minutes); and highlights from Fidelio, Die Walküre, Otello and Götterdämmerung sung by Stuart Skelton, who was awarded the International Opera Awards Male Singer of the Year.
Christian Thielemann – Schumann Cycle: Symphonies 1 and 2
After Brahms and Bruckner, the Staatskapelle Dresden and its principal conductor Christian Thielemann now devote themselves to the symphonic works of Robert Schumann in a complete cycle. “The phantasmal, the poetry and the abysses of the Biedermeier era are particularly well suited to the orchestra; this music is part of the Staatskapelle’s soul” explains Christian Thielemann. The performance of all four symphonies by this composer, who also lived in Dresden, allows both artists and audience to concentrate on this outstanding repertoire in a unique way.
Christian Thielemann – Schumann Cycle: Symphonies 3 and 4
After Brahms and Bruckner, the Staatskapelle Dresden and its principal conductor Christian Thielemann now devote themselves to the symphonic works of Robert Schumann in a complete cycle. “The phantasmal, the poetry and the abysses of the Biedermeier era are particularly well suited to the orchestra; this music is part of the Staatskapelle’s soul” explains Christian Thielemann. The performance of all four symphonies by this composer, who also lived in Dresden, allows both artists and audience to concentrate on this outstanding repertoire in a unique way.
BEETHOVEN at teamLab Tokyo
On the occasion of his anniversary year the Philharmonic Five bring Beethoven‘s timeless music to life in the extraordinary venue of teamLab Tokyo, the world’s first digital art museum on 10,000 square meters. Some 520 computers and 470 projectors power the digital artworks, which completely transform their physical space using animated graphics, colour and light. The Philharmonic Five, four soloists from the ranks of the Wiener Philharmoniker together with one of the most prolific pianists of our time, combine their sound aesthetics, the art of phrasing and virtuosity with a modern, powerful dynamic of expression and reinvent classical music. The arrangement in film and jazz music style emphasize Beethoven’s truly innovative spirit, and above all his talent for improvisation and his way of anticipating jazz and film music elements long before their birth. In the space of teamLab the Philharmonic Five create a completely new sensory and auditory impression of his oeuvre.
Pierre-Laurent Aimard in Tokyo
“A brilliant musician and an extraordinary visionary” (Wall Street Journal) French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard is widely acclaimed as an authority in music of our time while recognized also for shedding fresh light on music of the past. His international schedule of concerts and recordings is complemented by a career-long commitment to teaching, giving concert lectures and workshops worldwide. In this recital, a special concert for music students given at the Tokyo University of the Arts, the pianist performs works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Schubert and György Kurtág.
Ton Koopman in Japan
This concert shows the magic that happens when a master of his craft meets the most masterfully crafted instrument: On the occasion of his 80th birthday, world-famous organist Ton Koopman plays the pipe organ at the Salamanca Hall in Gifu, Japan for an exclusive recording. The largest work of Tsuji Hiroshi, a pioneering organ builder in Japan, the instrument incorporates the features of the organ at the Salamanca Cathedral in Spain and is unique for its blend of Spanish and German styles. Giving thought to the unending flow of time, Koopman draws out the appeal of the organ to its fullest, playing Spanish Batalha, Frescobaldi, Buxtehude, and Bach.
Filippo Gorini in Japan
Experience the enchanting fusion of classical music and traditional Japanese culture as acclaimed Italian pianist Filippo Gorini performs a captivating recital featuring works by Franz Schubert at the serene Hokokuji Temple. Filippo Gorini, a rising star in the classical music world, has been captivating audiences worldwide since winning the First Prize and Audience Prize at the Telekom-Beethoven Competition in Bonn in 2015. PROGRAM Kurtag: A Ligatura for Màrta; Schubert: Sonata No. 21; Bach/Petri: Schafe können sicher weiden, BWV 208, No. 9