BY CUTCOMMON
What do Philip Glass, Jane Austen, and Nat Bartsch have in common?
Not much at all. And that’s exactly why we’ve chosen them for this month’s What’s On. If you like to chase the novelty of a different artist every time you book a ticket, we’ve got some exciting concerts to share with you. But if you’re the type of concertgoer who will only listen to Bach, we have some of that for you, too.
We’re going to start with Philip Glass on what sounds like an entirely random choice of instrument, and then we’ll see where the month takes us.
You can experience all of these concerts in one location — Melbourne Recital Centre. If your tastes are even more expansive than what’s on our list, you can check out the full event calendar for the month of May.
Erwan Keravec – 8 Pipers for Philip Glass + Nat Bartsch
Could you imagine the music of Philip Glass performed on bagpipes? It’s a mind-bending concept, but it works to perfection. Not many composers can create such a hypnotic atmosphere, and not many instruments are designed to produce a “continuity of sound to induce trance in listeners”. That’s how Erwan Keravec sees it, and this bagpipe virtuoso will use these textures to perform some of the trippy music Glass composed in the ’60s.
You can read more about it in our interview with Erwan (pictured above and below with bagpipes). It’s one of the more unique concerts you’ll have the opportunity to attend.
On an equally fascinating note, Australian composer-pianist Nat Bartsch will also play some music by Philip Glass (although she’ll be sitting at the keys instead of blowing hot air into a bag). You’ll hear some of her own compositions too, which come from her new album Forever Changed. Her music is designed to make you feel good by stimulating and soothing your senses.
Hear these artists in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, 7.30pm May 5.
Jane Austen’s Music – Pemberley Revisited
If you’re a fan of Jane Austen, this could be the biggest celebration of our generation: the author’s 250th birthday year! It’s a party you definitely won’t want to miss, with festivities happening across the world in 2025. In Melbourne, her stories and characters will come to life in one of the most beautiful ways imaginable: a concert of the music from her literary world.
Rachael Beesley is the music director of this event that features pianist Aura Go and the gorgeously titled Lizzy Bennet’s Band. They’ll play waltzes that Austen’s characters might’ve danced to, back in the day — and music from contemporary retellings of her stories, including Dario Marianelli’s score from the Pride and Prejudice film.
Hear it all from 4pm May 10 in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall — and, if you’re a true booklover, hang around for the post-concert talk with two of today’s impressive literary figures, Jaclyn Crupi and Sharmini Kumar.
Daniel Lozakovich
Who is Daniel Lozakovich? Only one of the most impressive violinists of his generation. The Stockholm-born artist has been playing violin since he was 7 years old, and not long after that he started performing with the world’s biggest orchestras. At 15, he signed with Deutsche Grammophon — then immediately went on to win a bunch of international awards for his promise as a young artist. Now in his 20s, his career brings him to Elisabeth Murdoch Hall where he’ll play three solo works by Bach. Be there to hear Daniel (pictured below) at 7.30pm May 12.
Genesis Baroque with Sara Macliver
The official event listing for this concert reads “songs of rest and renewal“. It’s basically the event we all need right now, right? It’s a concert of love and joy through the music of Bach and Handel, Purcell and Buxtehude. You’ll hear a collection of soothing strings, an oboe, and a harpsichord — the latter of which is played by Genesis Baroque Emerging Artist Justice Karol.
Headline soprano Sara Macliver (pictured below) will join them in the Primrose Potter Salon, and you’re welcome to be part of this feel-good event when you sit back to listen at 6pm or 8pm (or both!) May 16.
Mostly Mozart – Serenade
Just two works feature on this particular concert program — and both of them are worth getting excited about. Why? Because you’ll hear them performed by the newest generation of talent in this country: musicians from the Australian National Academy of Music. They’ll play Mozart’s Serenade No.9 in D, nicknamed Posthorn (literally a horn that signalled the arrival of your mail — and wouldn’t life be so much more enjoyable if that was still a thing?). They’ll also play Debussy’s dreamy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.
These early career instrumentalists will be joined by ANAM Faculty flutist Alison Mitchell (pictured below) and double bassist Damien Eckersley. Their concert starts at 11am May 20 in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall.
Images supplied. Bagpipes by Christophe Raynaud de Lage; Erwan Keravec by Jean de Pena; Daniel Lozakovich by Lyodoh Kaneko; Sara Macliver by Rhydian Lewis.
