Winter begins with a suite of wonderful experiments and musical brilliance with unexpected twists and turns.
This June, Melbourne Recital Centre has an exciting, eclectic and sometimes challenging selection of performances. It begins with a powerful evening of Romantic-era piano music, showcasing bold and emotive works from the likes of Liszt and Chopin. It ends with the pure, soulful voices of an internationally acclaimed all-female a cappella ensemble, blending traditional and contemporary African music in a celebration of culture, heritage and unity.
In between those, it gets experimental.
RISING Festival kicks off in June, and with that comes beautiful, weird and wonderful arts. Immerse yourself in intoxicatingly dreamy contemporary folk music with a haunting, cinematic atmosphere. Witness a very unique fusion of dance, film and live music in a captivating reimagining of Jóhann Jóhannsson’s film, Last and First Men. Then it gets properly strange (in the best way) with an experimental, chaotic performance of percussion that’s part man, part machine and part… pigeon. In a sense.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Stephen Hough
- 2 June
- Tickets here
Experience one of the most distinctive pianists of our time as Sir Stephen Hough returns to Melbourne Recital Centre for a powerful evening of Romantic-era music. To open, Liszt’s Sonata in B minor, a once-controversial work now regarded as a cornerstone of the piano repertoire. With its bold structure, emotional depth and technical brilliance, the sonata is an ideal showcase for Hough’s technique and imagination. It concludes with Chopin’s Sonata No.3 in B minor, a masterwork known for its lyrical beauty and expressive range. From its dramatic opening to its passionate finale, this sonata reveals the full scope of Chopin’s genius. The perfect finish.
After the performance, stay for a conversation between Hough and Marshall McGuire for insight into Hough’s artistry, musical influences and the evening’s repertoire.
RISING: Jessica Pratt
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- 5-6 June
- Tickets here
Let the shadowy beauty of Californian folk mesmerise you as Jessica Pratt fills Elisabeth Murdoch Hall with song.
Armed with just a nylon-string guitar and her haunting voice, Pratt has spent over a decade crafting a singular style that blends bossa nova and psychedelic chamber pop, taking inspiration from artists like Scott Walker, Burt Bacharach and Judee Sill. Her songs are intimate and enigmatic, like drifting off into a dream.
With her latest album Here in the Pitch, Pratt expands her sound. Baritone saxophone, glockenspiel, timpani and flute swirl through her arrangements, creating an atmosphere that’s both cinematic and close. RISING presents two intimate performances, a rare opportunity to hear one of contemporary folk’s most distinctive voices.
RISING: Last and First Men
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- 7 June
- Tickets here
“Listen patiently. We who are the last men, earnestly desire to communicate with you…”
Billions of years in the future, a dying civilisation reaches out through time to share its story. Amid isolated monuments in desolate landscapes, the last remnants of humanity send us a message…
Last and First Men is a UK dance work set against the haunting visuals of Jóhann Jóhannsson’s film. Based on Olaf Stapledon’s 1930 novel, Last and First Men was Jóhannsson’s directorial debut. The black and white film pairs stark imagery with Tilda Swinton’s narration and a score co-composed with Yair Elazar Glotman, performed live for RISING. This immersive experience blends movement, sound and sci-fi into something deeply human.
RISING: Pigeons – Speak Percussion
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- 14 June
- Tickets here
Get ready for a high-stakes game of clay shooting where the musicians are the targets and the pigeons are the ammo. Pigeons is a thrilling twist on clay shooting, where three robotic trap machines relentlessly launch hundreds of fluorescent clay discs at a wall of percussion instruments as musicians dodge and scramble, creating a chaotic yet glorious soundscape.
The concept was developed by Speak Percussion’s Co-Artistic Director Eugene Ughetti, alongside a daring group of collaborators. Watch them fight to find order in the chaos.
The show does come with a warning for flashing and moving lights and loud sounds. Bring headphones if you’re sound-sensitive.
Nobuntu
- 25 June
- Tickets here
Nobuntu is an internationally acclaimed all-female a cappella quartet from Zimbabwe, acclaimed for the power of their voices and rhythms and representing the new wave of female African song. Experience their Australian debut at Melbourne Recital Centre as they blend traditional Zimbabwean songs with Afro Jazz and Gospel music. You’ll hear traditional songs and original arrangements, backed by percussion and instruments like the Mbira (thumb piano). It’s a celebration of heritage, the cultural present and a beautiful future. Immerse yourself in the purity of their sound and feel how music can become a powerful force for change.
For the full program, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Melbourne Recital Centre.
