My Melbourne Music - MSO in the bowl

“Get there early…apparently last year people were locked out because it was so popular!” were the words of advice from my friend regarding the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) concert at the Sidney Myer Bowl last night. This was the first of four MSO concerts that will take place over the next couple of weeks, each with their own theme, such as ‘Opera Showcase’ or ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

The friend who issued the advice of arriving early plays in MSO so trusting her previous experience we arrived, picnic blanket and snacks in hand an hour before the event started. We claimed a spot on the hillside, looking down into the bowl and set up our picnic headquarters. The free colour programme issued to each guest on entry provided several pages of information on the concert, keeping us informed, entertained and excited while we waited for the event to commence. Details on the composers, the conductor and special guest, Maxwell Foster were included in the programme.

The theme of this concert was ‘Romantic Favourites’ and included Verdi’s The Force of Destiny: Overture, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Brahms’s Symphony No. 1. The conductor for the evening was Lutz Koehler, who is currently visiting Australia from Europe. Koehler has extensive experience; he was a professor at Hannover Hochschule for 25 years, Professor of Conducting at the Berlin University of the Arts and has most recently been appointed Professor of Conducting at the Escola Superior do Musica de Catalunya in Barcelona.

Maxwell Foster, winner of the 2008 ABC/Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards made a special guest performance on piano. Having already completed an AMusA in Queensland, Maxwell has moved to Melbourne to study with Rita Reichman and attend the Australian National Academy of Music. Maxwell has been invited to perform with numerous Australian orchestras and with such extensive talent, has a bright future ahead.

Above: MSO tuning before the concert commenced

As evening approached and the clear-blue skies darkened, stars emerged and the surrounding lights of Melbourne grew bright. This was the perfect setting to relax and listen to a beautiful selection of pieces. The crowd were friendly and relaxed, consisting of people of all ages but bound by a common love of music.

Above: MSO during the evening

This concert was recorded for later broadcast nationally on ABC Classic FM.

Other concerts in the series include:
Concert 2 – ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Sat 20th Feb 7pm
Featuring Smetana’s The Bartered Bride (Overture) and My Country: The Moldau and Dvořák’s Cello Concerto and Slavonic Dances (Selection).

Concert 3 – ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Weds 24th Feb 7pm
Featuring Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (excerpts), Bruch’s Violin Concerto No.1, R.Strauss’s Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks

Concert 4 – ‘Opera Showcase’ Sat 27th Feb 7pm
Featuring work from Bizet, Wagner, Mozart, Verdi and many more opera greats.

For further info, visit the MSO website: www.mso.com.au