Sunday Arts Magazine

Performance of a Lifetime:LIVE:  On December 13 and 14, an all-star line-up of performers from across Melbourne’s live music, arts companies and theatre shows will join with the MSO for Performance of a Lifetime: LIVE, a heartfelt celebration of live entertainment’s triumphant return, as well as the resilience, tenacity, and community spirit of Melburnians.   Stars of the social media campaign Rhonda Burchmore OAM, Deborah Cheetham AO, Virginia Gay, Ali McGregor, Meow Meow and artists from The Australian Ballet will be joined by some of the biggest names in Melbourne theatre including Lucy Durack, Josh Piterman (The Phantom of the Opera), Alinta Chidzey & Des Flanagan (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Jemma Rix & Courtney Monsma (Frozen The Musical) and Gillian Cosgriff (Harry Potter & the Cursed Child). Contemporary music stars including hip hop, indie artist Kaiit, ARIA Award nomineeMo’Ju, and singer songwriter Liz Stringer will each make their debut with the MSO alongside Tim Rogers, Kate Ceberano, Kylie Auldist & Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos), Emma Donovan, Paul Grabowsky AO, Lior and Felix Riebl premiering brand new solo material.  Conducted by Benjamin Northey with Zan Rowe hosting.

Classical Hits:  Classical music lovers will also return to Melbourne’s favourite outdoor venue on December 6 and 7 for Classical Hits at the Bowl, featuring a specially selected repertoire from the more than 80 shows the MSO had to cancel across 2021. Under the baton of hometown hero, Benjamin Northey, the Classical Hits at the Bowlwill feature an exclusive performance by 14-year-old violin sensation and MSO Young Artist in Association, Christian Li performing the first movement of Tchaikovsky’s magnificent Violin Concerto. The MSO will perform some of the most popular repertoire of all time by Holst (The Planets), Elgar (Enigma Variations) and Beethoven (Symphony No.6), culminating in Ravel’s Boléro.

Also at the Bowl on December 8 is the rescheduled screening of the James Bond hit film Skyfall in Concert with MSO’s live performance of Thomas Newman’s award-winning score, conducted by Nicholas Buc.