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The White Hat Guide to the Melbourne Arts Centre

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Melbourne Arts Centre Spire

Melbourne Arts Centre
St Kilda Road
Southgate
Tel: (03) 9281 8000

The Melbourne Arts Centre (known as the Victorian Arts Centre until 2003) is the major performing arts venue in Melbourne. The complex consists of a major concert hall and theatre as well as a number of smaller performance and gallery spaces, cafes, restaurants and other facilities. It is adjacent to the National Gallery of Victoria (International Collection) and nearby is Federation Square with the NGV Australian Collection, Australian Centre for the Moving Image and BMW Edge performing space. Also in the Southbank precinct is the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and the Malthouse Theatre. Thus the Arts Centre forms a hub for much of the larger scale arts activities in Melbourne.

The complex consists of two major buildings - one housing the theatres and the other housing the concert hall.

State Theatre

The State Theatre is the major venue for the Melbourne-based Australian Ballet and Melbourne Theatre Company. It is also the major venue used by Opera Australia when they are in Melbourne.

Madama Butterfly

Opera Australia present Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly. Moffatt Oxenbould's classic production, designed by Peter England and Russell Cohen, captures the grace and delicacy of Puccini's exquisite creation. Translucent bamboo screens, red silk and balletic graces define an imagined world for an all too real story, and the vivid colours are echoed by the tantalisingly evocative music and melting arias of this glorious romance. Nicole Youl broke hearts in her Sydney debut as Cio-Cio-San. She now brings her moving interpretation of Madama Butterfly to Melbourne. She is joined by Sally-Anne Russell in the role of Suzuki and Rosario La Spina as the fickle Pinkerton. And to conduct, Opera Australia welcomes back Taiwanese conductor and Puccini-expert, Shao-Chia Lu. Performed in Italian with English surtitles.

1pm on 22 November 2008 and 7.30pm on 11, 15, 19, 26 & 19 November 2008 and 4, 6, 9 & 13 December 2008

State Theatre, Melbourne Arts Centre -

Otello

Otello

Book tickets for Otello
at the Sydney Opera House

Verdi's Otello. Shakespeare's story, Verdi's music, an extraordinary production and the soaring voices of Opera Australia. Harry Kupfer, legendary director of the Vienna State Opera, has created a production which exposes the psychological storm within the hearts of Otello and Desdemona, and set designer Hans Schavernoch's opulent but war-torn palace mirrors their chaotic emotions. As for the music, it is magnificent, deliciously poised between surging choruses, exquisite arias and the heady passion of the main protagonists. Performed in Italian with English surtitles.

1pm on 6 December 2008 and 7.30pm on 18, 22, 25 & 28 November 2008 and 3 & 11 December 2008

Click here for prices and bookings for the Sydney Opera House Dinner and opera package for Otello. Be warned - These packages usually book out weeks in advance.

State Theatre, Melbourne Arts Centre -

Orlando

Orlando

Book tickets for Orlando
at the Sydney Opera House

Opera Australia presents Handel's wild and magical opera, Orlando, in a new production created by the same team who brought Alcina to such spectacular life. The outstanding cast is drawn from a new generation of talent. In Sydney we welcome Italian contralto Sonia Prina, while in Melbourne young Australian, Dominica Matthews makes her debut in the title role. Emma Matthews is the intoxicating Angelica while Tobias Cole, who last year triumphed as Julius Caesar, plays Angelica's lover, Medoro. Performed in Italian with English surtitles.

12.30pm on 13 December 2008 and 7pm on 27 & 29 November 2008 and 2 & 10 December 2008

Click here for prices and bookings for the Sydney Opera House Dinner and opera package for Oralando. Be warned - These packages usually book out weeks in advance.

State Theatre, Melbourne Arts Centre -

 

Hamer Hall

The Melbourne Concert Hall was renamed Hamer Hall in 2004 to honour the contribution Sir Rupert Hamer made to the arts in Victoria. It is the major venue used by the Melbourne Symphony. It is also the major venue used by the Australian Chamber Orchestra when they are in Melbourne.

Pekka Kuusisto & Simon Crawford-Phillips

Musica Viva presents Pekka Kuusisto (violin) and Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano) performing

  • Schubert Sonatina in D major, D384
  • Sibelius Sonatina in E major, op 80
  • Corigliano Violin Sonata (1963)

and other works by composers including Kreisler, Copland, Gershwin and traditional works.

8.15pm, Saturday 5 July 2008

Melbourne Arts Centre, Hamer Hall -

Enquiries: 1800 688 482

Australian Chamber Orchestra - The Red Tree

The Australian Chamber Orchestra with Richard Tognetti (Artistic Director and Lead Violin) and Gondwana Voices (with Lyn Williams - Gondwana Voices Artistic Director) perform:

  • Shostakovich (arr. Tognetti) String Quartet No.15 Featuring projected images from Shaun Tan's The Arrival
  • Yezerski/Tognetti/Williams The Red Tree [2008 Barbara Blackman Commission] Featuring projected images from Shaun Tan's The Red Tree
2.30pm Sun 13 July, & 8pm Mon 14 July 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne -

Bookings: 1800 444 444

Toward the Light

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with Thomas Dausgaard (conductor) and Simon Trpceski (piano)  perform:

8pm, 17. 18 & 19 July 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne Arts Centre -

From The New World

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with Eivind Aadland (conductor) and James Ehnes (violin) perform:

2pm 26 July 2008 and 8pm 28 July 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne Arts Centre -

Takacs Quartet

Musica Viva presents the Takacs Quartet performing:

  • Haydn String Quartet in G minor, op 74 no 3
  • James McMillan String Quartet no 3 (2008)
  • Beethoven String Quartet in C major, op 59 no 3, ‘Razumovsky’
8.15pm, Tues 29 July 2008

Melbourne Arts Centre, Hamer Hall -

Bookings: 1800 688 482

Passionate Panorama

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with Christopher Seaman (conductor) and James Ehnes (violin) perform:

8pm,2 August 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne Arts Centre -

Australian Chamber Orchestra - Intense

The Australian Chamber Orchestra with Richard Tognetti (Artistic Director and Lead Violin) and Steven Isserlis (Cello) perform:

  • Schnittke Concerto Grosso No.3
  • CPE Bach Cello Concerto W.171 in B flat major
  • Bargiel Octet in C minor Op.15a
  • Bartók Divertimento for Strings
2.30pm Sun 3 Aug & 8pm Mon 4 Aug 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne -

Bookings: 1800 444 444

Opera in Concert - The Flying Dutchman

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with Oleg Caetani (conductor), Lisa Gasteen (soprano), Stuart Skelton (tenor), John Wegner (baritone). Sian Pendry (mezzo), Adrian Dwyer (tenor), Bjarni Kristinsson (baritone), MSO Chorus and Men of the Victorian Opera Chorus perform:

8pm, 25, 28 & 30 August 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne Arts Centre -

The Broken Silence

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with Oleg Caetani (conductor), Pavel Kudinov (baritone), Men of the MSO Chorus and Men of the Victorian Opera Chorus perform:

8pm, 7, 8 & 9 August 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne Arts Centre -

Australian Chamber Orchestra - Vivacious

The Australian Chamber Orchestra with Alina Ibragimova (Guest Director and Lead Violin) perform:

  • JS Bach from The Art of Fugue
  • György Kurtág from Signs, Games & Messages
  • Berg Lyric Suite - 3 Pieces
  • Vivaldi The Four Seasons
2.30pm Sun 31 Aug, & 8pm Mon 1 Sep 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne -

Bookings: 1800 444 444

Beethoven and Tchaikovsky

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with Bramwell Tovey (conductor) and Christian Tetzlaff (violin) perform:

2pm 13 Sept 2008 and 8pm 15 Sept 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne Arts Centre -

Eggner Trio

Musica Viva presents the Eggner Trio performing:

8.15pm, Tuesday 23 September 2008

Melbourne Arts Centre, Hamer Hall -

Bookings: 1800 688 482

Handel's Water Music

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with Bernard Labadie (conductor) and David Hansen (counter-tenor) perform:

  • Handel Solomon: The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
  • Handel Giulio Cesare: Va, tacito
  • Handel Giulio Cesare: Aure, deh, per pieta
  • Handel Alcina: Suite - Overture, Musette, Menuet, Gavotte, Menuet, Gavotte
  • Handel Rodelinda: Vivi, tiranno
  • Handel Water Music (complete)
8pm, 2, 3 & 4 October 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne Arts Centre -

Jerusalem Quartet

Musica Viva presents the Jerusalem Quartet performing:

  • Ravel String Quartet in F major, op 34
  • Richard Mills String Quartet no 3 (2008)
  • Smetana String Quartet no 1 in E minor, From My Life
8.15pm, Wednesday 15 October 2008

Melbourne Arts Centre, Hamer Hall -

Bookings: 1800 688 482

Australian Chamber Orchestra - Euphoric

The Australian Chamber Orchestra with Richard Tognetti (Artistic Director and Lead Violin) and Timo-Veikko Valve (Cello) perform:

  • Prokofiev Classical Symphony, Op.25 (Symphony No.1)
  • Brahms Concerto for Violin and Cello, Op.102, in A minor
  • Beethoven Symphony No.8, Op.93 in F major
2.30pm Sun 9 Nov, & 8pm Mon 10 Nov 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne -

Bookings: 1800 444 444

The Voice of the Sea

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with Oleg Caetani (conductor), Jian Wang (cello), Virgilio Marino (tenor), Jacqueline Porter (soprano) and MSO Chorus perform:

  • Mozart Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K.525
  • Haydn Cello Concerto in D major, Hob.VIIIb:2
  • Enescu Vox Maris
2pm 22 Nov 2008 and 8pm 24 Nov 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne Arts Centre -

Hesperion XXI

Musica Viva presents Hesperion XXI performing works by Tobias Hume, Marin Marais, Tarquinio Merula and Diego Ortiz, traditional and ancient melodies and dances from the Orient and Occident and new songs and improvisations created by Arianna and Ferran Savall.
8.15pm, Tuesday 25 November 2008

Melbourne Arts Centre, Hamer Hall -

Bookings: 1800 688 482

The Apotheosis Of The Dance

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with Oleg Caetani (conductor) and Susanna Stefani-Caetani (piano) perform:

8pm,6 December 2008

Hamer Hall, Melbourne Arts Centre -

Audio descriptions for the vision impaired are available at selected performances in this theatre. For more information phone (03) 9864 9222 or go to www.vionaustralia.org.au

Sunday Market at the Arts Centre

An undercover and outdoor market with a wide range of arts and crafts.
10am-5pm (6pm during summer), Sundays

 

Melbourne Arts Centre, - Southgate
Enquiries: (03) 9281 8000

The complex also contains the smaller Fairfax Theatre.

Jeffrey Smart - Container Train
Jeffrey Smart
Container Train in Landscape
Click here to buy this print online

Jeffrey Smart's Container Train in Landscape was commissioned in 1983 to hang in the foyer of the Fairfax Theatre of the Melbourne Arts Centre. The painting comes into view at the top of the entrance stairs, and by cunning use of forced perspective the train appears to remain at the same distance as the viewer descends the stairs. It is painted on five panels. As a consummate craftsman, Smart integrates the painting with the colours and columns of the foyer, and as a consummate artist uses numbers of visual devices to extract beauty form a seemingly unpromising subject.

Those who know the painting well may notice that the above image (from the website of the organisation selling the print) is in fact a mirror image of the original. Never fear - if you buy the print it is the right way round.

 

Where is the Melbourne Arts Centre?

Click on the State Theatre or Hamer Hall link to the right of the map. Use the controls to zoom in or out on the map or change to satellite view.

 

 

 

If you wish to keep up to date with current shows, finishing soon alerts of performances and forthcoming shows we recommend that you subscribe to our free newsletter.

White Hat works hard to make information on these pages current and correct. However with many thousands of entries, much of it changing daily, errors may occur. Always verify the information by using the phone numbers supplied with each event or venue before making a special trip or using this information for any other purpose. If you believe some information is incorrect, please contact us at corrections@whitehat.com.au and we will attempt to verify or change the information
DISCLAIMER: White Hat makes no claim as to the accuracy of this information and takes no responsibility for incorrect or incomplete information  or for actions based on the information in these pages, and accepts no liability to any person or organisation for the information contained in these pages.
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There are many fine historical tours throughout Australia including cemetery tours. From these, the prestigious Qantas In Flight Magazine has chosen the White Hat Tour of Melbourne Cemetery as its featured Australian tour for the May 2007 edition. This tour was also featured by ABC radio on 24 May and will feature in a documentary series on Burke and Wills to be shown on European television in 2008. The tour has been operating for many years and has won praise from a wide range of sources. This is not a dry and stuffy tour but in keeping with all White Hat offerings it is Informed, Intelligent, Independent (and occasionally) Irreverent. You can find details of the tour at White Hat Tour of Melbourne Cemetery and view the article at Qantas In Flight Magazine.

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