The very young and gracefully older are all catered for within Melbourne Recital Centre’s April program, including a serious heavy hitter.
We most certainly know by now that Melbourne Recital Centre can be relied on for a range of genre-bending acts, with a host of local and international talent to keep us all very entertained. They’ve already kicked the year off with some absolute wins, and the roll continues into April with even more quality for young and old.
Needless to say, the big one, Blind Boys of Alabama, is a huge highlight but honestly, you can’t lose with any of the offerings this April at Recital Centre; check them out.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Music Play
- When: Wednesday April 3rd & Thursday April 4th
- Where: Melbourne Recital Centre
- Tickets here
The month kicks off for the kids with Music Play, which is perfectly timed for the school holidays. It’s the ultimate musical adventure for kids and families, with performances, workshops, installations and more.
On the main stage, catch awesome acts like Teeny Tiny Stevies and Bunny Racket, delivering catchy tunes and punk rock mayhem. Plus, there’s a chance for kids to conduct themselves. You can also explore musical installations like Pivot, HEXADECA, Melodius, and Rainbow Paths, where the kidlets can climb, spin, and learn along colourful trails and take interactive workshops like ABC of Beatboxing and Kidstruments.
With multiple sessions across both days, there’s no need to worry about nap schedules; plus, there are coffee and quiet zones to make sure the parents maintain their sanity during the noisy but fun mayhem.
Blind Boys of Alabama
- When: Saturday, April 6th
- Where: Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
- Tickets here
This April, you can witness the living legends of gospel music, the Blind Boys of Alabama. These iconic gentlemen have been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and have five Grammy Awards under their belts across a mind-blowing 70-year career.
Their harmonies are simply stunning, and you will not find a sweeter delivery of timeless gospel classics and covers you love from artists like Eric Clapton, Prince, and Tom Waits. The Blind Boys have worked with everyone from Lou Reed to Stevie Wonder, and they are even bringing a special guest to Melbourne with support from Kee’ahn. Witnessing this show will be a real treat, and it should be at the top of your to-do list in April.
Andrea Lam
- When: Thursday, April 18th
- Where: Primrose Potter Salon
- Tickets here
You are simply guaranteed to feel better after an evening of piano with the captivating Andrea Lam. After two decades in New York and performances with esteemed orchestras like the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, Lam’s piano mastery, flawless technique, spirited eloquence, and profound sensitivity return to Melbourne.
In this soul-restoring Salon experience, Lam delves into the depths of emotion with iconic pieces from Beethoven’s haunting Moonlight Sonata to Chopin’s evocative Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op. Posth. Lam breathes new life into these timeless “sad piano” classics to hit you right in the soul.
Accompanied by the meditative compositions of Australia’s own Matthew Hindson, Lam’s performance promises to be a moving antidote to life’s everyday trials and triumphs. Expect solace, reflection, and profound beauty.
Quartz – Schubert’s Cello Quintet
- When: Tuesday, April 23rd
- Where: Primrose Potter Salon
- Tickets here
Melbourne’s acclaimed string quartet, Quartz, features violinists Kathryn Taylor and Philippa West, violist Merewyn Bramble, and cellist Zoe Wallace, all of whom offer world-class techniques and captivating performances that make for an otherworldly night out.
In April, Quartz takes on Schubert’s monumental String Quintet in C, D.956. Regarded as one of the composer’s crowning achievements, this masterpiece journeys through exquisite melodies and spirited vitality. Written in the twilight of Schubert’s life, the quintet reflects the composer’s profound musical maturity and emotional depth.
Quartz will be joined on stage by guest cellist Rachael Tobin, Associate Principal Cello of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. This addition promises a powerful and unforgettable performance of Schubert’s masterpiece.
JACK Quartet – String Creatures & Up Late
- When: Wednesday, April 10th at 7pm & 9:30pm
- Where: Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
- Tickets for String Creatures
- Tickets for Up Late
Plan your night right for a double dose of JACK Quartet at Elisabeth Murdoch Hall as part of MRC’s Exquisite Classical Experiences 2024 series. JACK Quartet brings their daring interpretations of contemporary string quartet music to String Creatures, the Australian premiere of a new work by renowned composer Liza Lim. This performance will also include pieces by Ruth Crawford Seeger and Elliott Carter, with Lim popping on stage for a discussion about her new work and more after the set!
In their encore performance, JACK Quartet offers an intimate, up-late concert experience featuring works by American contemporaries, including Caleb Burhans’ Contritus. This little nightcap will be unlike any previous JACK Quartet gig as they will be up close and personal in the intimate setting of the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall stage. What a night.
Melbourne Recital Centre’s April program runs from April 3 to 28. For the full program, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Melbourne Recital Centre.
