Subscribe to our
FREE Newsletter 'Great Things to do in Melbourne - the White Hat guide' |
|
The White Hat Guide to the Melbourne Recital Centre
 |
Mostly Mozart: Drama!
|
|
Orchestra Victoria
and the Australian National Academy of Music with Alexander Morris (clarinet)
perform:
The urgent opening gesture of Mozart's Symphony No.40 ushers us into a dark
and dramatic world of turbulent operatic emotion, in the words of one critic it
is "a work of passion, violence and grief". This most famous of Mozart's
symphonies is instantly recognisable and gripping. Equally powerful is Carl
Weber's First Clarinet Concerto, a glittering star turn for an instrument with a
mercurial temperament and a gift for virtuoso 'vocal' acrobatics. Clearly talent
ran in the family: Weber was Mozart's cousin-in-law. In the spotlight is ANAM
clarinettist Alexander Morris and Orchestra Victoria (no strangers to opera)
directed from the violin by Concertmaster Adam Choulabi. Join us for tea and a
morning of danger, drama and dazzling playing. Morning tea available from
10:45am. |
|
11.30am, Wednesday 15th February 2012 |
Melbourne Recital Centre
-
|
|
|
Bookings: (03) 9699 3333 |
|
|
|
|
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra - Venice Secrets
|
 White
Hat suggests that for those interested in an introduction to the period
instruments of a Baroque orchestra it would be hard to find a better concert
than this one. Vivaldi, writing to develop and show off the remarkable
instrumental skills of the girls of the Ospedale Dell Pieta made sure
there were passages to parade each instrument briefly in the spotlight as well
as integrating them into the orchestral colour. And for those who need no
introduction to Baroque period instrument performances this concert will provide
you with the opportunity to see whether you agree with White Hat that the
Australian
Brandenburg Orchestra (Artistic Director Paul Dyer) is now of
international standard in its performance on period instruments. The concert
will feature Federico Guglielmo from Italy as guest director and violin soloist.
- Vivaldi
Ciaccona from Concerto for
Strings in C major RV 114
- Vivaldi
Concerto for several instruments in G minor RV 576
- Vivaldi
Concerto for several instruments in F major RV 572, Il Proteo
- Vivaldi
Concerto for several instruments in D major RV 562
- Vivaldi
Concerto for several instruments in F major RV 574
- Vivaldi
Concerto for two violins and two cellos RV 564
- Vivaldi
Concerto for several instruments in G minor RV 577
|
|
7pm, Sat 25th Feb; 5pm Sun 26th Feb 2012 |
7pm, Sat 25th Feb; 5pm Sun 26th Feb 2012
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1300 782 856 |
|
|
|
|
Tafelmusik - The Galileo Project Music of the Spheres
|
Canadian ensemble Tafelmusik will take you on an epic space odyssey, performing
period music before stunning images from the Hubble deep
space telescope. Combining music, photography and story-telling, The Galileo
Project brings to life the brilliant minds of the early astronomers and the
music that inspired them, as a large-scale, ever-changing backdrop of stars and
planets unfolds.
The publicity states "Using the best of
Bach,
Handel,
Monteverdi and
Vivaldi, come
and hear the tunes that were probably stuck in Galileo’s head when he discovered
the moons of Jupiter." Now you are probably thinking, like White Hat how
could tunes of composers who hadn't been born yet be stuck in his head. However
we are sure that this program has been meticulously researched so all will be
revealed. The program will also feature works by Lully,
Purcell,
Rameau,
Telemann & Michelangelo Galilei
brother of the astronomer). From the reputation of the group and the reviews of
this concert, White Hat suggests you go out of your way to attend.
[For those wanting a little background
to the history of the concept that over the centuries was known as The Music
of the Spheres, White Hat suggests that you consult the
program notes of Music of the Spheres
- given by Ars Nova of Melbourne. This concert is unrelated to the one above
but was also based on the relationship composers, mathematicians and scientists
long saw between music, mathematics and the heavenly bodies.] |
|
8pm,Sat 3rd March & 7pm, Tue 6th March 2012 |
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1800 688 482 |
|
|
|
|
Australian String Quartet - Towards Light
|
|
The Australian String Quartet have new personnel for 2012 and White Hat feels
it is appropriate that for their first concert the new ensemble should emerge
out of the dreamtime with Peter Scunthorpe's Jabiru Dreaming (String Quartet
No.11). Dvořák as at his tuneful best in his String Quartet No.10 then
the concert finishes with one of the great 20th century chamber works -
Shostakovich's Piano Quintet. This work captures Shostakovich in one of his rare
moments of relaxation and seeming contentment. We have rated this concert at 4
hats on potential and, who knows, after this new ensemble has been heard for the
first time this may become 5 hats.
|
|
|
|
|
|
St Lawrence String Quartet and Diana Doherty
|
 White
Hat suggests that lovers of the oboe should head out of their way for this
concert. Diana Doherty is an Australian oboist who has won international
acclaim. In this concert she joins with the fine St Lawrence String Quartet
to perform Mozart's F major oboe quartet which is tuneful and refined - you
would expect nothing less of Mozart and later performs Australian composer
Matthew Hindson's Rush with its driving rhythms borrowing strongly from
rock and pop music. Mozart's quartet is flanked by string quartets from fellow
Viennese, Haydn and Beethoven.
 |
|
7pm, Tuesday 24th April 2012 |
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1800 688 482 |
|
|
|
|
St Lawrence String Quartet and Diana Doherty
|
|
A fine string quartet, one of the best oboists in the world, a Mozart chamber
work full of tuneful grace and a Dvorák quartet ending with a movement of
exuberant optimism. White Hat suggests it would be a dreary soul indeed who
wouldn't enjoy this concert.
|
|
8pm, Saturday 28th April 2012 |
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1800 688 482 |
|
|
|
|
Trio Dali
|
The young and glamorous French trio are named after a Chinese marble, rather
than the Spanish artist. With two of the great works from the piano trio
repertoire, White Hat suspects this may turn out to be a memorable concert.
|
|
7pm Tue 22nd May & 8pm Sat 26th May 2012 |
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1800 688 482 |
|
|
|
|
Australian String Quartet - Legacy
|
The Australian
String Quartet's second concert in their 2011 combines early Beethoven, late
Brahms and the Australian composer Brett Dean who will also be playing viola.
White Hat suggests that the richness of texture provided by the additional viola
should make this a particularly satisfying concert.
-
Beethoven
String Quartet in D, Op 18 No 3
-
Brett Dean Epitaphs for Viola and String Quartet
-
Brahms
String Quintet in G, Op 111 (with Brett Dean, viola)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Takács Quartet
|
|
Two of the finest string quartets of the 20th century performed by one of the
world's most respected chamber groups. White Hat suggests that you attend both
of the Takács Quartet concerts if you can. That way you can hear the pair pair
of Janáček quartets and the Ravel & Debussy Quartets (often regarded as a
'pair') both separated across tow nights - in our opinion the best way to hear
them.
|
|
7pm, Tuesday 26th June 2012 |
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1800 688 482 |
|
|
|
|
Takács Quartet
|
White Hat expects that this may well be on of the standout chamber music
concerts of the year in Australia. Debussy's delicate and atmospheric string
quartet together with Janáček's passionate first quartet both played by the
ensemble most acknowledge to be one of the finest string quartets in the world.
|
|
8pm Saturday 30th June 2012 |
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1800 688 482 |
|
|
|
|
Trout Quintet & Quartet for the End of Time
|
A rare treat. Two of what White Hat regards as the finest works in the chamber
music repetoire presented in the one concert. The Schubert
Trout Quintet is full of sunshine
and youthful optimism while Messiaen's
Quartet for the
End of Time is, in White Hat's opinion, one of the great works of the
20th century. A prisoner of war, Messiaen wrote the Quartet for the End of Time for the
musicians he found in the camp, premiering it to an audience of inmates and
guards. “Never” he said, "was I listened to with such rapt attention and
comprehension."
Australian
Chamber Orchestra Principals are joined by clarinettist Paul Dean and
dynamic young pianist Saleem Abboud Ashkar, making his Australian debut.The
performers are Helena Rathbone (violin), Christopher Moore (viola), Timo-Veikko
Valve (cello), Maxime Bibeau (double bass), Paul Dean (clarinet) and Saleem
Abboud Ashkar (piano).
|
|
8pm, 16 July; 2.30pm, 22 July; 8pm, 23 July 2012 |
Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank, Melbourne
-
|
|
|
Buy tickets direct from ACO
here |
|
|
|
|
Amarcord
|
|
White Hat suggests that if you want to become a world class a capella ensemble,
a good tsarting point is growing up singing Bach as boy sopranos in the Leipzig
church where Bach himself presided. Since that time Amacord have gone on to be
regarded as one of the finest male vocal ensembles in the world.
The Singing Club – Four Centuries of Song Renaissance madrigals, part-songs
by Schubert,
Schumann,
Elgar,
Dvorák,
Grieg and others, alongside folk songs
from around the world. |
|
8pm ,Thursday 26th July 2012 |
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1800 688 482 |
|
|
|
|
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra - Dazzling Virtuoso
|
|
Most people know of the surprising loud chord in Haydn's Surprise Symphony.
White Hat suggests that fewer people realise how surprising the opening three
notes by the soloist of Haydn's trumpet concerto were at the time. The
natural trumpet had
already become an accepted part of larger Baroque orchestras but, just like a
bugle, it could basically play fanfares - melodies only being possible at the
top of its range. By the end of the 18th century a
keyed trumpet had been
created to overcome this limitation. It was for this keyed trumpet and the same
particularly skilled player that both Haydn and Hummel wrote their trumpet
concertos. Hummel introduces the trumpet with a suitable fanfare flourish but
Haydn creates the real surprise by having the trumpet play the first three notes
of the major scale in the middle of its range. To see why this was such a
surprise go to The
White Hat Guide to Haydn's Trumpet Concerto.
The keyed trumpet never found widespread use in the orchestra and was
eventually replaced by the
valve trumpet. However Gabriele Cassone from Italy has become a
skilled performer on the keyed trumpet so when he joins with the
Australian
Brandenburg Orchestra (Artistic Director Paul Dyer) you know you are in for
a truly surprising concert.
|
|
7pm, Sat 28th July; 5pm 29th July 2012 |
Melbourne Recital Centre
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1300 782 856 |
|
|
|
|
Amarcord
|
 White
Hat suggests that if you love unaccompanied singing you take several weeks off
work and visit "a cappella" - the annual international festival of
unaccompanied vocal music in Leipzig - where you will hear great a cappella
ensembles from around the world. If you don't have that time or cash to spare, a
much cheaper but highly satisfying option is to head along to this concert
performed by the ensemble who initiated the festival and who are recognised as
one of the finest male vocal ensembles in the world.
Tales of Love and Murder. Renaissance madrigals by Encina,
des Prez,
Lassus,
Gesualdo and others, and
part-songs by Saint-Saëns,
Schubert,
Mendelssohn,
Poulenc, and folk songs from
around the world. |
|
7pm, Tuesday 31st July 2012 |
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1800 688 482 |
|
|
|
|
Kuss Quartet & Naoko Smizu
|
 The
Kuss Quartet is a regular at Carnegie and Wigmore Halls and Shimizu was the
first female Principal Viola of the Berlin Philharmonic so this concert promises
to deliver string quintet playing of the highest level
- Gordon Kerry String Quintet (2012)
- Bedrich Smetana
String Quartet no 2 in D minor (c 1882-3)
- György Kurtag Officium Breve in Memoriam Andreae Szervánszky,
op 28
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
String Quintet no 3 in C major, K515
|
|
7pm, Tuesday 18th September 2012 |
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1800 688 482 |
|
|
|
|
Australian String Quartet - Sunrise
|
|
When ABC listeners voted on their top 100 chamber works, Bartók's 3rd and 4th
string quartets didn't get a guernsey. However In White Hat's list of top 100
chamber works both came within the top 20. Why not go along to this concert by
the Australian
String Quartet with Paul Dean (clarinet) and judge whether you think the ABC
listeners are right or whether White Hat is right. Mores seriously, why not go
along and experience some seriously good music performed by some seriously good
performers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kuss Quartet & Naoko Smizu
|
|
The Kuss Quartet is a regular at Carnegie and Wigmore Halls and Shimizu was
the first female Principal Viola of the Berlin Philharmonic so this concert
promises to deliver string quintet playing of the highest level.
- Gordon Kerry String Quintet (2012)
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
String Quartet no 21 in D major, KV575
- György Kurtag Officium Breve in Memoriam Andreae Szervánszky,
op 28
- Johannes Brahms
String Quintet no 2 in G major, op 111
|
|
8pm, Saturday 22nd September 2012 |
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1800 688 482 |
|
|
|
|
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra - Beautiful Minds
|
|
In
an age when "awesome" has come to mean fleetingly interesting rather than
inspiring awe, you could be forgiven for ignoring the publicist's attachment of
the word "beautiful minds" to this concert. However in this case White Hat
believes the hype is well founded. To have written magical works by your mid
teens and by your death in your mid thirties to have left the world with some of
its most glorious music does require a beautiful mind and both Mozart and
Mendelssohn possessed one.
Mozart's clarinet concerto was written fro the basset clarinet of the period
but is most often heard today on the modern orchestral clarinet involving the
minor rewriting of some of the passages featuring the lower notes. Only a few
notes you may say, but with Mozart every note is important. Here is a rare
opportunity to hear Mozart's clarinet concerto featuring the instruments for
which he wrote it.Craig Hill (bassett clarinet) and Madeleine Easton (period
violin) perform with the
Australian
Brandenburg Orchestra (Artistic Director Paul Dyer)
|
|
7pm, Sat 27th Oct & 5pm Sun 28th Oct 2012 |
Melbourne Recital Centre
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1300 782 856 |
|
|
|
|
Anthony Marwood and Aleksandar Madžar
|
Beethoven's Kreutzer
Sonata is justifiably well-known and loved as one of the great works of
the violin sonata repertoire. However White Hat believes that
Debussy's Violin
Sonata, the last work he completed and the last that he performed in
public, is yet to be afforded the status it deserves by the public. This fine
pair of instrumentalists are sure to do them both justice.
|
|
7pm Tues 13th Nov & 8pm Sat 17th Nov 2012 |
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
-
|
|
|
Enquiries & bookings: 1800 688 482 |
|
|
Click on the Melbourne Recital Centre link to the right of the map. Use the controls to zoom on 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.
|
|
TOURISM NEWS
Qantas In Flight Magazine chooses
White Hat
Cemetery Tour as its featured Australian tour for May
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. |
|
