The beloved series is back, with free outdoor classical music concerts running throughout February.
In a massive win for music lovers and broke students everywhere, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is bringing back their legendary Sidney Myer free concerts this summer with a stacked three-night program that’ll see Chief Conductor Jaime Martín make his Bowl debut.
Kicking off on February 5, 2025, the series continues the MSO’s 60+ year tradition of serving up world-class orchestral music under the stars, absolutely gratis.
MSO Summer Series 2025
- Wed, 5 February – Journeys and Adventures
- Sat, 15 February – Jaime conducts at the Bowl: Dvořák, Gershwin and Ravel
- Sat, 22 Feb – Symphonic Showcase
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
The opening night, dubbed Journeys and Adventures, promises to be a trip through space and time with Leonard Weiss at the helm. Think Star Wars meets Swan Lake, with some William Tell thrown in for good measure – it’s basically a greatest hits of classical bangers.
But the real headline-grabber drops on February 15 when Jaime Martín steps up for his first-ever Bowl appearance.
The Chief Conductor’s bringing out the big guns with a program that screams summer vibes: Dvořák’s Third Symphony (perfect for those balmy evenings), Gershwin’s jazz-classical fusion masterpiece Rhapsody in Blue (featuring pianist Andrea Lam), and the absolute crowd-pleaser that is Ravel’s Boléro.
“These free concerts are an extraordinary gift to Melburnians and visitors to this wonderful city,” says Martín. “They are a celebration of music, community, and Melbourne’s vibrant summer spirit. Sharing the joy of live orchestral music with such a diverse audience, under the stars in this beloved venue, is truly special.”
The series wraps up on February 22 with a Symphonic Showcase that’s giving a serious platform to emerging talent. Fresh off his win at the 2024 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition, 20-year-old piano whiz Reuben Tsang will tackle Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto.
Plus, there’s two world premieres dropping from Cybec Young Composer in Residence Klearhos Murphy and the MSO’s first-ever Cybec First Nations Composer in Residence, James Henry.
For those who can’t make it IRL, the whole thing will be streaming live on MSO YouTube and ABC Classic. But let’s be real – nothing beats spreading out on the Bowl’s lawn with your mates, some snacks, and maybe a cheeky bottle of wine while a world-class orchestra does its thing.
Pro tip: Gates open at 4:30pm each night, and it’s first-in-best-dressed. Each gig runs about two hours with an interval, perfect for topping up those drinks and grabbing a bite.
For more information on the MSO summer series, head here.
