The MSO reveals the power of spring with Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du printemps and Perséphone: one wild, rebellious and revolutionary, the other a lyrical, little-known masterpiece. In his final year at the helm, parting Chief Conductor Sir Andrew Davis conducts this extraordinary Stravinsky double bill, in which Perséphone is performed for the first time in Australia since more than 50 years. Tenor Paul Groves, as Priest Eumophalus, is accompanied on stage by another 180 voices: the MSO Choir, the Australian Girls Choir and the National Boys Choir. The mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean is a convincing narrator.
MSO: Beethoven 9, Circa and Cheetham
The epic struggle for peace and ultimate triumphant bliss of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is physically embodied by ten world-class circus artists from Circa, Australia’s premier contemporary circus, in the Season Opening Gala of Melbourne Sypmphony Orchestra. This revolutionary world-first staging of Beethoven 9 is performed alongside a world premiere by revered Australian composer Deborah Cheetham. Her work “Dutalla, star filled sky” has been created in response to Beethoven’s Ninth.
MSO: Hector Berlioz ” L’Enfance du Christ”
The 150th anniversary of Hector Berlioz’s death in 1869 will be commemorated in 2019. An ancient story with a modern parallel, Berlioz’s L’Enfance du Christ tells the story of the Holy Family fleeing their homeland and relying on the kindness of strangers as they journey across the desert to safety. Tender, intimate and intensely evocative, this oratorio is a stark musical contrast to the wild pagan dervishes, choruses of the damned and huge orchestral forces more commonly associated with Hector Berlioz. In almost cinematic style, Berlioz paints the human elements of the story in a series of visual tableaux: an uneasy night in Rome, the world-weariness of Herod, the blind fanaticism of the soothsayers, the joys and griefs of Jesus’ parents, the shepherds’ kindness and the bustling welcome of the Ishmaelite household. Prepare to be moved to tears, Berlioz would be proud! Why it’s a must-see: “This piece is very unusual for Berlioz as most of it is quite intimate. This work has wonderful writing for the chorus, it’s very varied and the narrator (sung by Andrew Staples) is so colourful. The final chorus is to die for!” (Sir Andrew Davis).
MSO: Eumeralla – A War Requiem for Peace
Eumeralla, a war requiem for peace brings into focus a period of Australia’s history that is yet to be fully understood. Written and composed by acclaimed Yorta Yorta soprano and composer Deborah Cheetham, this requiem for peace will be sung entirely in the ancient dialects of the Gunditjmara people. Benjamin Northey is “superbly conducting” the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, receiving “well-deserved and spontaneous standing ovations” (Limelight Magazine). Above all, this performance is a sign of willingness to continue on the path of reconciliation, in which Eumeralla represents a significant step.
MSO: Handel/Davis: Messiah
This performance by the MSO stands apart – firstly, as Sir Andrew Davis’ farewell performance after six years as Chief Conduct, and secondly, as the Australian premiere of Davis’ own orchestration of Handel’s classic which has been nominated at the 2018 Grammy Awards. The all-Australian cast of soloists including soprano Shiobhan Stagg – “sparkling all night“ – (Herald Sun) and tenor Topi Lehtipuu sing excellently, the well-prepared MSO choir performs masterfully.