GERTRUDE EDITIONS AT GEELONG GALLERY

St John’s Passion

■ The Melbourne Recital Centre on Good Friday (April 7) at 2.30pm will feature the grandeur of Bach’s St John Passion - for the first time performed by MBC with a small choir.

Rturn on Sunday, April 9 at 7pm to hear the full massed choir in Handel’s Messiah.

On Saturday afternoon, April a8, t 5pm - violin virtuoso Rachael Beesley performs Bach Sonatas and Partitas.

For Good Friday’s St John Passion, Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir is joined by a superb group of soloists.

Andrew Goodwin’s masterful narration as the Evangelist and Elwood's Christopher Hillier’s moving Jesus frame the commentary of soloists Lorina Gore, SallyAnne Russell (Maidstone), Henry Choo (Vermont South), Jeremy Kleeman (Kensington) and James Emerson (Essendon) as Pilate.

Brunswick East's Rick Prakhoff conducts with Rachael Beesley (Richmond) leading a full orchestra;

Rachael returns the next afternoon, Saturday 5pm, with her virtuosic rendition of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas.

Melbourne audiences will have the opportunity on Easter Sunday to experience Handel’s Messiah at Easter, the festival for which Handel conceived this masterpiece.

The full massed Melbourne Bach Choir bring the incredible richness of Handel’s iconic score to the spectacular atmosphere and stunning acoustic of the Melbourne Recital Centre, with soloists Lorina Gore (soprano), Belinda Paterson (mezzo-soprano), Andrew Goodwin (tenor) and Simon Meadows (bass-baritone).

All bookings: www.melbourne recital.com.au

More information www.mbc.asn.au

- Geoff Sirmai

■ The Gertrude Editions is a series of limited edition works released annually by Gertrude Contemporary since 2002.

The Gertrude Editions promotes the connection between leading Australian artists and new studio artists at what is widely acknowledged as the prime incubator for visual artistic talent in Victoria.

In 2020, Geelong Gallery received the gift of 15 Gertrude Editions from local collectors Robert and Gail Bett and family, who had collected works since the release of the first edition by Ricky Swallow.

The Gertrude Editions exhibition provides an unique and valuable overview of Australian contemporary art from 2002 to 2019.

Exhibition closes March 13. ★

A Tale of Two Cities – Prints from the Colin Holden Collection

This exhibition is drawn from the extensive Colin Holden Collection of prints held at Geelong Gallery, it presents a selection of early 20th century depictions of Melbourne and Sydney by key members of the Australian Painter-Etchers’ Society: John Shirlow, AH Fullward, Sydney Ure Smith and Jessie Traill.

TheAustralian Painter-Etcher’s Society was established in 1920 by artists committed to the practice and promotion of etching in Australia.

Exhibition closes March 13. ★

Future Creatives 2023

In this inaugural exhibition, Geelong Gallery celebrates the achievement and creative practice of young emerging artists living in the Geelong and surrounding region who completed their Certificate of Education in 2022.

Future Creatives showcases young people’s creative talent and design and provides a valuable opportunity to support the professional development of career pathways and future tertiary studies in art and design.

Exhibition closes March 13.

Geelong Gallery

60 Little Malop St, Geelong

■ Make the most of the sunshine and take the opportunity to explore the hid-