Melbourne Recital Centre is taking visitors on a journey to mysterious lands and unknown places this March.
This month’s programming is a trip. Music echoes from the deep American South to the Nordic peninsula, from the French countryside to the pulsating nightclubs of Cuba and from the Arabian desert to right here in our own backyard. Tickets are cheaper than airfare, and there’ll be no jetlag either.
While this month’s calendar may be particularly culturally diverse, Recital Centre’s passion for bringing some of the world’s best music to Melbourne is one of the things that makes it so special. Add on top of that its premium acoustics and architectural marvels, and you’ve got a recipe for an evening you won’t soon forget.
Grab your passport, because here’s what’s on this month.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
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- 3 March
- Tickets here
World-renowned French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet graces the stage with the kind of elegance that is hard to ignore. Performing the iconic composer Claude Debussy’s complete set of 24 Preludes, Thibaudet will turn the classical masterworks into something deeply personal and cinematic. He’ll finish the night with a 20-minute discussion in the foyer.
Åkervinda – Spellbound
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- 4 March
- Tickets here
Swedish vocal quartet Åkervinda weave ancient folk traditions into shimmering modern harmonies in Spellbound. Their voices intertwine with breathtaking precision, creating a sound that feels both earthy and otherworldly. Close your eyes, and you might just find yourself wandering through Scandinavian forests.
Roberto Fonseca – La Gran Diversión
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- 5 March
- Tickets here
Cuban jazz powerhouse Roberto Fonseca returns to the Melbourne Recital Centre for the first time in over a decade with La Gran Diversión, a show bursting with rhythm, colour and pure piano flair. The Grammy nominee has been a prominent figure in the Cuban scene for 20 years, rising to fame with performances at the iconic Buena Vista Social Club. His current show blends golden era Afro-Cuban grooves with big-band sparkle and modern jazz charm.
Annie & The Caldwells
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- 10 March
- Tickets here
Mississippi gospel royalty Annie & The Caldwells bring a full-hearted, soul-shaking celebration of faith, funk and family harmonies. With their brand new album Can’t Lose My (Soul) in tow, the band will unleash emotionally charged, dynamic and moving music headed up by their mother, the one and only Ms Annie Caldwell.
Ritual & Rebellion
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- 11 March
- Tickets here
This bold program dives headfirst into music that challenges tradition while honouring it. Featuring Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek and Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou, Ritual & Rebellion explores the tension between structure and freedom in the most thrilling way possible. Mesmerising, spiritual and unlike anything else out there, this rich and diverse concert will captivate all in attendance.
Claire Edwardes
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- 18 March
- Tickets here
Musical dynamo Claire Edwardes launches her new album Dual Attractor with a program that’s bold, kinetic and wildly inventive. From delicate textures to thunderous rhythms, she proves that percussion is anything but background noise. It’ll be a performance that’s equal parts precision, passion and pure sonic adventure.
Clare Bowditch – What Was Left Reimagined
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- 20 March
- Tickets here
Clare Bowditch (of The Feeding Set) revisits her beloved, ARIA award-winning album What Was Left with a fresh perspective and a reimagined sonic palette. Fans can expect intimate storytelling, lush arrangements and gorgeous songwriting that has stood the test of time as she performs the record in its entirety.
Five Pathways to Love
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- 27 March
- Tickets here
Five Pathways to Love is a sweeping Sufi musical meditation featuring sounds from Pakistan, the Arab world, Andalusia, Iran and Turkey. 40 artists will take to the stage, including Ustaad Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad Qawwals and Tarab Ensemble. This one-night-only show is sure to be a spine-tingling experience, so don’t miss your chance for tickets.
T3HO
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- 27 March
- Tickets here
Finish trio T3HO bring boundary-pushing chamber vibes to Recital Centre with a program that fuses classical chops and contemporary edge. Their chemistry is electric, their arrangements sharp, and their energy refreshingly fearless. Here, they’ll be flipping the Nordic Folk Music tradition on its head for all to hear.
Natalie Haas & Brittany Haas
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- 28 March
- Tickets here
Sisters Natalie and Brittany Haas close out the month with fiery fiddle-and-cello interplay that’s equal parts Celtic tradition and contemporary flair. Their onstage rapport is effortless, their musicianship razor-sharp, and their energy completely infectious. Coming together at Recital Centre, they’ll dish out chambergrass music turned up to the max.
For more information on Melbourne Recital Centre, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Melbourne Recital Centre.
