Melbourne Recital Centre has something for every listener this November as innovative music and infectious energy takes centre stage.
A venue famous for pushing boundaries and showcasing trailblazers, it’s no surprise that this November at Melbourne Recital Centre is setting up to be another month of unmissable performances.
From Afro groove to octaphonic sound experiences, no corner of the musical spectrum is out of bounds this month at MRC. November welcomes a program of new friends making debut performances at the venue and old friends rejoicing in celebration of decades of transformative music.
There’ll be performers from all across the world and performers from around the corner, each of them coming together to take you on a journey of memorable musical exploration. Read on to find out which artists will be coming to MRC’s stages this November.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Penny Quartet: INPOUR
- November 1
- Tickets here
Melbourne Recital Centre is kicking off its November season with a performance from the innovative Penny Quartet. This renowned quartet are paving their own path through Australia’s chamber music landscape, combining a passion for both core quartet repertoire and the experimentation of new approaches.
This intimate show in the Primrose Potter Salon will include three works that showcase Penny Quartet’s thoughtful yet animated approach to performance, including the world premiere of a new work commissioned by Melbourne Recital Centre and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.
Lior: The Blue Parade
- November 2
- Tickets here
Get ready to experience the intimate as the cinematic with Lior’s performance of his newest album The Blue Parade. Comparing his songwriting to writing a diary, the grand scale of the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall is no match for the heartfelt sincerity and raw honesty that Lior communicates through his music. The Blue Parade marks an exciting change in the sonic landscape Lior is exploring. Even still, the poetic intimacy that grounds his music is still as prevalent on this album as ever.
Qais Essar: Worlds Within Worlds
- November 6
- Tickets here
Critically acclaimed contemporary Afghan composer, instrumentalist and producer Qais Essar is bringing his virtuosic playing of the rabab to MRC this November. A lute-like instrument from Afghanistan, Qais’ mastering of the rabab proves that music from the heart knows no bounds. Moving between the rich sounds of Indian and Afghan folk to classical music, Qais’ sound also garners inspiration from across the musical spectrum. A kaleidoscope of chamber music, American folk, contemporary rock and much more, this will be a journey that seamlessly traverses between worlds.
The Resonant Heart: The Heart Whispers and Whirls II
- November 7
- Tickets here
The Resonant Heart don’t just push boundaries, they eliminate them. Whether that be boundaries between countries, people or cultures, The Resonant Heart regards above all else the art that connects us. This multi-disciplinary ensemble of international women and female-identifying artists is an unmissable act this month at MRC. Drawing on their rich cultural backgrounds, The Resonant Heart perform original music in Nuer, Hindi, Ladino, Bosnian, Farsi and Serbian languages as a tribute to love and belonging.
MESS Sonorous X: Lauren Squire and Joel Stern
- November 14
- Tickets here
The Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS) is back with a show that is bolder than ever before. Celebrating their tenth edition of the Sonorous series, this octaphonic concert sees electronic music producer Lauren Squire and sound artist Joel Stern join forces in what is setting up to be an innovative exploration of the endless possibilities of electronic sound and performance. This is the kind of musical performance that you don’t just hear in your ears, but feel in your bones.
The Boîte: Firetail x Gamelan DanAnda
- November 15
- Tickets here
The Primrose Potter Salon will be ignited with jazz-tronica this month as Firetail and Gamelan DanAnda take the stage. Electro-jazz-fusion band Firetail joins the Balinese gamelan orchestra Gamelan DanAnda for a night of soulful rhythms. Expect infectious beats and heartfelt melodies throughout their performance. The Boîte is transported right to the middle of the MRC stage as the music comes alive around you in a demonstration of virtuosic ability and shimmering sounds.
Australia Art Orchestra 30th Anniversary Concert
- November 15
- Tickets here
Join the Australian Art Orchestra as they celebrate 30 years of tremendous art and boundary-pushing performances. The concert will be an unmissable showcase of the ways that the AAO has shaped this country’s art-music landscape. There’ll be tributes to the organisation’s legacy, with a reimagination of the AAO’s debut performance, as well as premieres of new works that continue to experiment in ways that few others in this country dare. This anniversary is both a love letter to the AAO’s three decades of innovative history and a celebration of the many more decades to come.
Nat Bartsch: Forever Changed
- November 16
- Tickets here
Prepare to feel forever changed by this intimate performance of honesty and reflection. Nat Bartsch is bringing her newest album Forever Changed to the Primrose Potter Salon this November. In what is gearing up to be a heartfelt exploration of identity and motherhood, the album centres around Nat’s experience of receiving a later-in-life diagnosis of autism and ADHD. Forever Changed takes its listener on a journey as Nat explores how her neurodivergent traits have shaped her life.
Ensemble Liaison with Eleanor Lyons
- November 20
- Tickets here
Ensemble Liaison and Friends continue their program of enthralling collaborations with award-winning Australian soprano Eleanor Lyons. Performing alongside Ensemble Liaison’s captivating chamber music on the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall stage, Eleanor will deliver a show of angelic brilliance. Her virtuosic voice will blend seamlessly with Ensemble Liaison’s masterful playing. This partnership will be nothing short of a match made in heaven.
YO CiTY: Cool Out Sun
- November 22
- Tickets here
The MRC will experience an Afro-funk takeover this November with the legendary ensemble Cool Out Sun. Cool Out Sun brings together vocalist N’fa Jones’ silky voice with producer Sensible J’s infectious beats. Percussionists Nui Moon, Lamine Sonko, and friends join them in sharing their diverse African heritage. Their exciting Afro grooves will get you up and instantly on your feet with their vibrant melodies and contagious energy.
You can check out Melbourne Recital Centre’s entire program here.
, This article was made in partnership with Melbourne Recital Centre.
