Cover Story
Melbourne’s Symphony Orchestra returns for a summer like no other. Here’s what to expect.
Harrolds catches up with Ben Northey, Principal Conductor in Residence, to revel in the renaissance of the MSO.
4 Minute Read
It’s been a brutal two years for the live music and performance industry. We all know it, and we’ve all felt its absence. To dance, sing, sit and tap your foot, or simply hear the all-encompassing sounds of music in real-time is one of life’s most beautiful luxuries. To dress up and attend an event — with your lover, your friend, your mother — in the name of sound and symphony, is a true joy. It stirs soul, nostalgia, and something inexplicable. Music, it seems, is the answer. And it’s one of the many things we’re restlessly anticipating for the summer that lies ahead.
It stirs soul, nostalgia, and something inexplicable.
With the holidays within arm’s reach now, the Harrolds community is planning opulent outfitting, and post-event dining destinations for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s spectacular return. We’re even curating an immersive window display, featuring live MSO musicians in the Harrolds Collins Street boutique.
This city has been burning for rhythm, and we’ve finally reclaimed it. Here, we have the honour of interviewing Principal Conductor in Residence Ben Northey on crescendoing performances ahead, magical nights at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, and reflection on the year that was.
What performances are taking place for the MSO’s grand return to the stage this December?
We have five concerts in the first two weeks of December this year at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. It’s actually three separate programs, and some of which are repeated. The first is Classical Hits at the Bowl, featuring a program of music we were unable to perform in 2021 due to concert cancellation. The second is a live film and orchestra performance of the James Bond movie, Skyfall. And on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 December, we have an incredible event featuring a cavalcade of Melbourne musicians and performers joining us for the Performance of a Lifetime: LIVE, celebrating the return to the stage of Melbourne’s arts and music industry.
The pandemic has inexorably changed the live music and performing arts industry. How is the MSO planning to reignite the love of live music in 2022?
By doing what we do best — performing live. We have a huge program to look forward to in 2022. We welcome our new Chief Conductor Jaime Martín and we can’t wait for our audiences to get to know him and experience his wonderful music making. Our 2022 season includes a superb mix of much loved orchestral music, popular music concerts, and works by contemporary Australian composers.
As an integral player in MSO’s story, how has your role been shaped over the past year?
I didn’t do as much conducting this year as in a normal concert year, but I enjoyed the extra musical responsibilities I was given. These included recording of live interviews (with some of our musicians), so people could get to know the person behind the instrument. I’ve also enjoyed keeping people connected with music more broadly. Through my appearances in the media, I’ve reminded people that music is a very effective therapeutic tool that can bring joy and inspiration in times of stress and anxiety.
For someone who has never seen a performance or event held by the MSO, what is your point of difference? How does the MSO appeal to all audiences, regardless of age?
A quick look at our website shows the broad range of concerts we offer for music lovers of all tastes and ages. We believe in presenting new listeners with the highest quality orchestral music, so they may develop an appreciation and passion for our artform. Our collaborations with musicians and artists from a broad range of genres open doors for audiences to experience the inspirational power of an orchestra.
The theme for Harrolds windows this year is ‘Bang, Pop, Clink’ – a look back at the hedonism of the 1920s and a prediction of joy for the 2020s. How will the MSO be bringing the bang to their holiday celebrations?
We really are finishing 2021 with a bang! Our concerts at the Sidney Myer music bowl will be the perfect way to ring in the holiday season, as we welcome the sound of live music back to the heart of our city. We also return to Hamer Hall with the perennial favourite, Handel’s Messiah conducted by Graham Abbott. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the festive season and Melbourne’s summer of music.
For Harrolds customers looking to give the gift of music this year, what are some of the best tickets to consider now?
Music is always a perfect gift! Melbourne is springing back to life and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra concerts on offer at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl will be absolutely unforgettable, with a program of concerts available if looking for a special Christmas gift.
Of course, 2022 offers a whole year of music to choose from including single concerts or subscriptions to suit everyone’s musical taste. Much more than a ticket to a concert, music is a gift that has the potential to lift spirits, unite communities, inspire individuals and bring the joys of live entertainment into someone’s life.
There’s also the option of a subscription to the MSO’s online streaming platform MSO.LIVE, which offers access to beautiful music from the MSO and guest artists any time of day or night, from The Bamboos to Beethoven, Tim Rogers to Rodgers Hammerstein.
