

Melbourne Recital Centre acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, live, perform, and learn. We pay our respects to people of the Kulin Nation, to Elders past and present and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. We acknowledge and celebrate their wisdom, cultures, languages, songs, and stories, as well as their enduring connection to Country.
You may arrive through curiosity, encouragement or nostalgia.
You may have visited many times before.
No matter which it is, know that you are always welcome solo or in seasoned company.
Listen with your eyes closed or watch with keen intent.
Perch at the edge of your seat or settle back and let the music wash over you.
Dress up because it feels special or dress casual for comfort.
This is where bold and brilliant international artists become catalysts for inspiration and evolution.
Where global meets local.
Discover how history’s classical masters shaped the musical language that powers today’s trailblazers.
The future is classical.
This season is yours.
On behalf of the whole Melbourne Recital Centre team, it brings us great joy to present the 2026 International Season: Heritage to Horizon, packed with an extraordinary collection of artists from around the globe.
This is a program that marries masterful tradition with artistic evolution and revolution, featuring returning virtuosi, celebrated ensembles and some of the most exciting new voices in the world of classical music.
This season embodies MRC’s commitment to creating transformative musical experiences, and it’s just the beginning of what promises to be an extraordinary year of diverse programming ahead, with much more to come.
Our sincere thanks to Marshall McGuire, El Chantry and especially Matthew Hoy whose fertile imaginations conjured this shining series for you.
We look forward to welcoming you for these unforgettable performances.
Iain
AM, Director of Programming &
Wills, Chief Executive Officer
WED 11 FEB 7.30PM
Roomful of Teeth is the Grammy-winning vocal band distinct from any vocal group you’ve ever heard. Eight voices will soar in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, revealing an extraordinary sonic landscape that reminds us how the boundaries of the human voice are never what they seem. The band defies traditional conventions with their adventurous world-building and contemporary classical precision. Presenting works from their lauded album Rough Magic and a kaleidoscope of compositions from the band’s catalogue, this high-powered and poignant octet lives between the ancient and cutting-edge experimentation.
Roomful of Teeth has partnered with artists, thinkers, and community leaders from around the world, including celebrated composers Caroline Shaw and Missy Mazzoli. The North American ensemble exhibits their ‘consistently yet freshly cutting-edge’ (Gramophone) style of music-making by awakening forgotten sensations and reimagining choral music for the 21st century.
Roomful of Teeth vocal band
REPERTOIRE
Caroline Shaw The Isle
Leilehua Lanzilotti On Stochastic Wave Behaviour
Missy Mazzoli Vesper Sparrow
Gabriel Kahane ‘Speaking in Tongues’ from Elevator Songs
Angélica Negrón Math, the one which is sweet
William Brittelle Psychedelics
TUE 24 FEB 7.30PM
MELODY MEETS SOUL
Virtuoso Irish fiddler Martin Hayes and guitarist Kyle Sanna transform long-revered melodies into pathways for profound emotional experiences. Fostering connection between melody and human spirit, Hayes strips away musical pretence, revealing how traditional tunes can be vehicles for personal revelation.
A legend for his ability to make concert halls feel as intimate as living rooms, The Irish Times says ‘in the decades to come, we’ll surely talk of having seen this man in the way others talk of Miles Davis or Jimi Hendrix.’
ARTISTS
Martin Hayes fiddle
Kyle Sanna guitar
REPERTOIRE
Trad. The Lark In The Clear Air Trad. Toss The Feathers Trad. The Wild Irishman Trad. The Kilavill Jig Trad. The Kerfunken Jig Trad. The Slip Jig Trad. The Night Before Poor Larry Was Stretched
Martin Hayes Maghera Mountain
Martin Hayes In Memory of the Mellows
WED 25 FEB 7.30PM
The legendary Brodsky Quartet celebrates fifty years, joining forces with master yidaki player William Barton. In musical dialogue between traditions, baroque precision meets ancient breath where European chamber music encounters First Nations wisdom.
From Henry Purcell’s beauty to works reflecting Australia’s burning landscape, two musical worlds create something new. An opportunity to ‘replenish our souls’ (NZ Herald), the Brodsky’s artistry and Barton’s spiritual power inspires true musical connection.
ARTISTS
Brodsky Quartet
Krysia Osostowicz violin
Ian Belton violin
Paul Cassidy viola
Jacqueline Thomas cello
William Barton didgeridoo
REPERTOIRE
Henry Purcell Fantasia upon One Note in Three Parts, Z.731
Henry Purcell Fantasia in D minor, Z.739
Peter Sculthorpe String Quartet No.11, Jabiru Dreaming
Robert Davidson Minjerribah
Leoš Janáček String Quartet No.2, Intimate Letters
Igor Stravinsky Three Pieces for String Quartet
Salina Fisher Tōrino
Andrew Ford String Quartet No.7, Eden Ablaze
Trad. She moved through the fair
William Barton Square Circles Beneath the Red Desert Sand
Step into Claude Debussy’s impressionist cathedral as Jean-Yves Thibaudet performs the landmark composer’s complete set of 24 Preludes. Thibaudet’s legendary refinement awakens seasoned concertgoers and first-time discoverers alike by turning these iconic works into living, breathing landscapes of sound.
Performing Books I and II, journey through Debussy’s revolutionary sound-world commanded by one of its greatest interpreters. Thibaudet’s recordings have defined French piano music for three decades, and his live performances exhibit his signature suave artistry, glowing tone, and expressive range.
Jean-Yves Thibaudet piano
REPERTOIRE
Claude Debussy Preludes, Book I, L.117
Claude Debussy Preludes, Book II, L.123
By leaving a gift in your Will, you help MRC flourish into the future. Every gift is appreciated and benefits the community for generations to come. Scan the QR code or visit page 40 for contact details.
FRI 6 MAR 7.30PM
Anna Meredith revolutionalises Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, crafting a bold, enlivening and brilliant new work. ANNO is a genre-exploding wonder that alternates cutting-edge electronics with a baroque masterpiece to create a multi-sensory experience that’s both intellectually stimulating and emotionally thrilling.
Illuminated by the energy of Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, this regeneration of one of the world’s most popular iconic works unites classical roots with contemporary electronics and mesmerising visuals. This is music for ‘the head, the heart, and the feet’ (NPR), where Anna Meredith’s compositional genius feeds mind, body, and soul.
ARTISTS
Anna Meredith concept, composer and electronics
Eleanor Meredith visual design and animation
Simon Hendry sound design
Jack Ross lighting design and visuals operator
Sophie Rowell solo violin
Melbourne Chamber Orchestra
REPERTOIRE
Anna Meredith/Antonio Vivaldi ANNO: Four Seasons
MON 4 MAY 7.30PM
Berlin’s Leonkoro Quartet, fresh from triumphs across the globe, bring their artistry to Melbourne. From Henriëtte Bosmans’ forgotten treasure to Felix Mendelssohn’s sparkling craftsmanship and Franz Schubert’s profound and renowned ‘Death and the Maiden,’ these stars transform familiar repertoire with expert clarity.
In their hands, centuries-old conversations between composer and performer become contemporary, reminding audiences why chamber music remains one of humanity’s most intimate art forms. Experience the next generation of musicianship, where youthful energy meets fearless interpretation.
Leonkoro Quartet
Jonathan Schwarz violin
Amelie Wallner violin
Mayu Konoe viola
Lukas Schwarz cello
REPERTOIRE
Henriëtte Bosmans String Quartet
Felix Mendelssohn String Quartet No.2 in A, Op.13, MWV R 22
Franz Schubert String Quartet No.14 in D minor, D.810
‘Death and the Maiden’
WITH ORION WEISS
FRI 19 JUN 7.30PM
Master violinist James Ehnes and pianist Orion Weiss unite for an exquisite evening of chamber music spanning two centuries of violin-piano repertoire. Playing his legendary 1715 ‘Marsick’ Stradivarius violin, Ehnes brings his signature ‘silkiest tone in the business’ (The Guardian) to works by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy, and Edvard Grieg.
Praised for his effortless virtuosity and emotional intelligence, Ehnes transforms technical perfection into profound musical storytelling. In sensitive musical partnership with Weiss, this program comprises chamber music at its most refined – intimate, intelligent, and utterly compelling.
James Ehnes violin
Orion Weiss piano
Erich Wolfgang Korngold Suite from Much Ado About Nothing Johannes Brahms Violin Sonata No.1 in G, Op.78
Claude Debussy Sonata for Violin and Piano in G minor, L.140 Edvard Grieg Sonata No.3 in C minor for Violin and Piano, Op.45
Your tax-deductible donation will help sustain the breadth and scale of MRC’s programs. Scan the QR code or visit page 40 for contact details.
FRI 31 JUL 7.30PM
GRAMMY-winning Attacca Quartet revolutionise what chamber music can be, bringing electrifying intensity to every note. From Caroline Shaw’s shimmering modernism to the illuminating architecture of Ludwig van Beethoven, this program traces an extraordinary arc through time.
The quartet create as one, transforming familiar repertoire and championing bold new voices. With precision meeting spontaneity, and tradition dancing with innovation, experience dissolving boundaries alongside the future of chamber music.
ARTISTS
Attacca Quartet
Amy Schroeder violin
Domenic Salerni violin
Nathan Schram viola
Andrew Yee cello
REPERTOIRE
Caroline Shaw Entr’acte
Radiohead/Nathan Schram 2 + 2 = 5
Caroline Shaw Three Essays: Second Essay (Echo)
Maurice Ravel String Quartet in F, M.35 i. Allegro moderato – très doux
Caroline Shaw The Evergreen; IV. Root
Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet No.15 in A minor, Op.132
MON 24 AUG 7.30PM
Known for possessing something musically rare, the Jussen brothers transform into one extraordinary voice. Making their MRC debut, Lucas and Arthur deliver intuitive synchronicity where boundaries between individual artistry dissolve.
From Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s elegance through Franz Schubert’s passionate depths to Maurice Ravel’s seductive waltz, the evening culminates with Igor Stravinsky’s explosive The Rite of Spring, a monument few piano duos dare tackle. With magnetic stage presence, these virtuosos prove that classical music’s future lies not in preserving the past, but in making it breathe with contemporary life.
ARTISTS
Lucas and Arthur Jussen piano
REPERTOIRE
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Sonata for Two Pianos in D, K.448
Franz Schubert Fantasie in F minor D.940
Maurice Ravel La Valse, M.72
Igor Stravinsky The Rite of Spring
NURTURE MUSICAL TALENT
Your support will enable unique artist and career development opportunities for local musicians and emerging artists. Scan the QR code or visit page 40 for contact details.
TAKE YOUR SEAT AMONGST THE MUSIC
Celebrate your love of live music, honour a loved one, or commemorate a special occasion with a seat dedication in the extraordinary Elisabeth Murdoch Hall at Melbourne Recital Centre. Your seat plaque is a recognition of your $2000 tax-deductible donation to Melbourne Recital Centre and will be displayed on your chosen seat in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall for 10 years.
Following the installation of your plaque, you will be invited to view your dedicated seat and to enjoy a private behind-the-scenes tour.
Dedicating a seat is not only a wonderful way to celebrate your connection to Melbourne Recital Centre, it also helps to make our vibrant musical program possible!
To learn more about donating and receiving a seat dedication, scan the QR code or contact us: (03) 9207 2648 development@melbournerecital.com.au
This popular membership provides great savings and:
• Waived transaction fees on all bookings
• Ticket discounts on selected performances
• 10% discount at Melbourne Recital Centre foyer bars and Blondie
• Free access to Guided Tours for you and a friend
• Exclusive special offers and priority access to events and more!
Enjoy all the benefits of a Music Lover membership, plus:
• 20% discount on select performances
• One complimentary Music Lover Membership for a friend
• Free exchanges between select performances
Unlock a great range of yearly benefits, including $15 Student Rush tickets to MRC Presents concerts:
• $15 Student Rush tickets from 48 hours prior to an event
• Ticket discounts on selected performances
• 10% discount at Melbourne Recital Centre foyer bars and Blondie
• Ticket offers especially for students
• Free access to Guided Tours for you and a friend
FRI 4 SEP 7.30PM
When Thomas Dunford’s fingers meet lute strings, he creates moments where ancient wisdom meets contemporary soul-searching. Hailed as the ‘Eric Clapton of the lute’ (BBC Music), Dunford presents time-honoured music with impressive finesse and immediacy.
From John Dowland’s haunting Lachrimae (Flow My Tears) to J.S. Bach’s monumental Chaconne, Dunford’s program transforms Elisabeth Murdoch Hall into an intimate salon, making space for rest and reflection.
ARTISTS
Thomas Dunford lute
REPERTOIRE
John Dowland Praeludium
John Dowland Fortune My Foe
John Dowland A Fancy
John Dowland Semper Dowland Semper Dolens
John Dowland Mrs. Winter’s Jump
John Dowland A Dream
John Dowland The King of Denmark’s Galliard
John Dowland Lachrimae (Flow My Tears)
John Dowland Frog Galliard
Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger Toccata No.6 from Libro primo d’intavolatura di lauto
Joan Ambrosio Dalza ‘Calata alla Spagnola’ from Intabulatura de lauto, libro quarto
Robert de Visée Sarabande
Robert de Visée Chaconne
Marin Marais Les Voix Humaines
Johann Sebastian Bach Violin Partita No.2 in D minor BWV 1004 v. Chaconne
WITH PIERS LANE
TUE 15, THURS 17, FRI 18 SEP 7.30PM
Fearless cellist Pieter Wispelwey returns to MRC alongside famed pianist Piers Lane for three evenings of intimate musical experiences. Benjamin Britten’s complete solo Cello Suites anchor the journey through Soviet shadows and spiritual reflection with soaring, rhythmic and haunting melodies to rouse heart and soul.
In Wispelwey’s hands, familiar masterworks breathe with contemporary life through music that is a channel for audience contemplation. Here, past and present dissolve, and masterful storytelling takes hold.
Pieter Wispelwey cello
Piers Lane piano
REPERTOIRE
NIGHT I
Sergei Prokofiev Cello Sonata in C, Op.119
Dmitri Shostakovich Cello Sonata in D minor, Op.40
Benjamin Britten Cello Suite No.1, Op.72
NIGHT II
Franz Schubert Sonata for Cello and Piano in A minor, D.821 Arpeggione
Benjamin Britten Cello Suite No. 2, Op.80
Felix Mendelssohn Cello Sonata No.2 in D, Op.58, MWV Q 32
NIGHT III
César Franck Sonata for Violin and Piano in A, FWV 8
Benjamin Britten Cello Suite No.3 Op.87
Frédéric Chopin Cello Sonata in G minor, Op.65
X SYDNEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
FRI 25 SEP 7.30PM
Two-time Grammy Award-winner Bryce Dessner, founding member of alt-rock band The National, brings his intrepid electric guitar prowess to MRC in a truly unmissable collaboration with musicians from Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The National is only one facet of Dessner’s multi-dimensionality. He has ascended to become one of contemporary classical music’s most vital voices, creating epic, immersive soundscapes that transcend boundaries. This program, including Aheym, Lachrimae, Impermanence Suite, and Garcia Counterpoint, propels audiences into an experience that is emotionally sharp and thoughtfully gratifying. This is stirring orchestral music transformed for our modern age.
Bryce Dessner electric guitar
Musicians from Sydney Symphony Orchestra
REPERTOIRE
Bryce Dessner Aheym
Bryce Dessner Lachrimae
Bryce Dessner Impermanence Suite
Bryce Dessner Garcia Counterpoint
Make a donation to bring transformative music and lifelong learning opportunities to children and people from all walks of life. Scan the QR code or visit page 40 for contact details.
WITH QUATUOR AGATE & JONATHAN WARE
TUE 6 OCT 7.30PM
Australia’s luminous soprano Siobhan Stagg returns home with a program that explores creation through feminine eyes. With pianist Jonathan Ware and Quatuor Agate, Stagg places Gabriel Fauré’s ambitious Chanson d’Ève alongside Hildegard von Bingen’s mystical visions, and compelling contemporary voices.
From ancient chant to Jean Sibelius’ mythic landscapes, this Melbourne-exclusive program traces the female journey from medieval to modern awakening. Experience music that entertains, and invites reflection with timeless questions of identity and belonging.
ARTISTS
Siobhan Stagg soprano
Quatuor Agate string quartet
Jonathan Ware piano
REPERTOIRE
Hildegard von Bingen O vis aeternitatis
Gabriel Fauré La Chanson d’Ève
Anna Korsun Last Flight
Anne Cawrse Advice to a Girl
Ernest Chausson Chanson perpétuelle, Op.37
Hildegard von Bingen o quam mirabilis est
John Rodgers Failure of communication
Gabriel Fauré La bonne chanson Op.61 viii. N’est-ce pas?
ii. Puisque l’aube grandit
v. J’ai presque peur, en verite
David Hirschfelder To A Child
Andrew Ford After the Visitors
Jean Sibelius Luonnotar, Op.70
Nikolay Medtner The Angel, Op.1bis
Nikolay Medtner 7 Poems, Op.46
i. Praeludium
FRI 9 OCT 7.30PM
The future of classical piano arrives as Isata KannehMason shares her electrifying artistry. Spanning centuries of masterworks, Kanneh-Mason showcases why she has earned international acclaim.
Experience Ludwig van Beethoven’s ever-popular ‘Moonlight’ Sonata, and Maurice Ravel’s virtuosic Gaspard de la nuit alongside contemporary works by Dobrinka Tabakova. Described as ‘the real deal’ (The Boston Music Intelligencer), Isata continues to carve her own path, affirming global praise that she is one of the world’s most compelling young pianists.
ARTISTS
Isata Kanneh-Mason piano
REPERTOIRE
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Sonata No.14 in C-sharp minor, Op.27 No.2, ‘Moonlight’
Maurice Ravel Gaspard de la nuit, M.55
Dobrinka Tabakova Nocturne
Dobrinka Tabakova Halo
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Sonata No.21 in C, Op.53, ‘Waldstein’
Follow an experience pathway or forge your very own. All paths lead to experiences that are specially yours.
Once your experience pathway is ready to go, your booking form on page 42 awaits.
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These cutting-edge concerts make for the perfect dinner party discussion.
Roomful of Teeth Page 7
Barton & Brodsky Page 11
Anna Meredith Page 15
Attacca Quartet Page 21
Bryce Dessner Page 31
Isata Kanneh-Mason Page 35
Enjoy your favourite instruments up-close and intimately as they shape music in real time.
Martin Hayes Page 9
Barton & Brodsky Page 11
James Ehnes with Orion Weiss Page 19
Lucas & Arthur Jussen Page 23
Pieter Wispelwey Page 29
Siobhan Stagg with Quatuor Agate & Jonathan Ware Page 33
OUR TOP PICKS
Unsure where to begin your Heritage to Horizon adventure? We recommend these four concerts across 2026.
Jean-Yves Thibaudet Page 13
Leonkoro Quartet Page 17
Lucas & Arthur Jussen Page 23
Siobhan Stagg with Quatuor Agate & Jonathan Ware Page 33
Lose yourself, find meaning, feel more and appreciate music’s ability to take you to a place of rest and relaxation.
Jean-Yves Thibaudet Page 13
Thomas Dunford Page 27
Siobhan Stagg with Quatuor Agate & Jonathan Ware Page 33
Isata Kanneh-Mason Page 35
Accessible seating in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
Melbourne Recital Centre has identified locations within the auditorium where patrons do not need to use stairs to reach their seats. These seats are located in row U of the Stalls, row A of the Circle, and seats 11 - 15 of both Upper Wings.
The Centre accepts Companion Cards for all ticketed events, upon presentation of a valid Companion Card at the time of booking.
Patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing may access our hearing loops in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall. Please switch your hearing aid to the ‘T’ position to access this service, or request a receiver and headphones from the Front of House team. In Elisabeth Murdoch Hall the hearing loop is available in Stalls only.
Accessible car spaces are available throughout Southbank, including at the Arts Centre Melbourne car park, on Sturt Street outside the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, and on Dodds Street outside Melbourne Theatre Company’s Southbank Theatre.
Lift access is available to all foyer levels of the building. Escalator access is also available between Ground Level and Level 1 foyer.
Information on signage, accessible toilets, and assistance animals, as well as access resources including a Welcome to the Centre Guide, Social Script, Communication and Picture Boards, and Large Print Venue Map are available at melbournerecital.com.au/visit-us or by contacting our Box Office.
Thank you to all of our generous donors, whose support plays a crucial role in ensuring that we can continue to present a broad range of the greatest musicians and ensembles from Australia and around the world.
Melbourne Recital Centre relies upon the support of our generous donors to bring our stages to life with great music. For more information on how you can play a part please contact: (03) 9207 2648 development@melbournerecital.com.au
PATRONS & LIFE MEMBERS
Founding Patron
The late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE
Benefactor Patrons
Lady Primrose Potter AC
The late Betty Amsden AO DSJ
Peter McMullin AM & Ruth McMullin
Founding Benefactors
The Kantor Family
The Calvert-Jones Family
Lyn Williams AC
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
Robert Salzer Foundation
The Hugh Williamson Foundation
Life Members
Lin Bender AM
Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO
Jim Cousins AO
Kathryn Fagg AC
Margaret Farren-Price & Ronald Farren-Price AM
Richard Gubbins
Penny Hutchinson
Julie Kantor AO
Stephen McIntyre AM
Richard Mills AO
Jordi Savall
Lady Primrose Potter AC
Mary Vallentine AO
Anonymous
The Aranday Foundation
Alan & Mary-Louise Archibald Foundation
The Peggy & Leslie Cranbourne Foundation
The Marian & E H Flack Trust
Gailey Lazarus Foundation
The Peter Griffin & Terry Swann Foundation
Margaret Lawrence Bequest
The Sentinel Foundation
Sirius Foundation
CNR SOUTHBANK BLVD & STURT ST
SOUTHBANK, VIC 3006
Board Directors
Peter McMullin AM, Chair
Andrew Apostola
Anthony Cavanagh
Kate Duncan
Assoc. Prof Jody Evans
Mark Freeman
Liz Grainger
Monica Lim
Executive Team
Sandra Willis, Chief Executive Officer
Sharon Li, Chief Operating Officer
Iain Grandage AM, Director of Programming
Latoyah Forsyth, Director of Engagement and Experience
Alistaire Bowler, Head of Development
Jasja van Andel, Head of Operations
Information in this publication is correct at time of printing and is subject to change. This brochure uses paper from responsibly managed, FSC-certified forests.