Orchestra Victoria: Southbank Series

In Orchestra Victoria’s Southbank Series, discover extraordinary orchestral music from the best seat in the house.

Orchestra Victoria proudly presents its 2024 Southbank Series. Led by an extraordinary lineup of conductors, each of our concerts gets you up-close-and-personal with artists in ways that only the chamber setting can.

This year, our much-loved series embarks on a new journey, evolving to showcase larger chamber orchestra works under the baton of renowned Australian and international conductors including Kynan Johns (protégé of Maestro Lorin Maazel), Fabian Russell, and the Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Australian Ballet, Jonathan Lo.

From the timeless elegance of Purcell to the revolutionary spirit of Shostakovich, each concert is carefully programmed to transport you around the world and throughout history. Highlights include the poignant melodies of Elgar's Introduction and Allegro and Stravinsky's unforgettable The Soldier's Tale.

There’s nothing quite like witnessing a chamber orchestra in concert. From the up-close experience of musicians’ nuanced communication to the thrill of history’s most impressive repertoire, Orchestra Victoria’s Southbank Series is an experience not to be missed. 

Tickets to the 2024 Southbank Series are available both as series packages and individual events. Whether you're seeking a memorable night out or your very first live orchestral experience, our Southbank Series offers you an intimate insight into a concert experience with access to the exceptional talent of Orchestra Victoria’s artistic family.

Join us for the 2024 Southbank Series and experience the power and beauty of orchestral music from the best seat in the house. In 2024, we bring the music to you.

CONCERT 1 | SATURDAY 29TH JUNE, 7:30PM

The Soldier's Tale

Join us for an evening of orchestral mastery as Orchestra Victoria presents the debut concert of our 2024 Southbank Series, conducted by the acclaimed Kynan Johns, protégé of Maestro Lorin Maazel.

Experience the artistic brilliance of Orchestra Victoria's musicians as they bring to life two iconic works by Russian composer and conductor, Igor Stravinsky. In this special concert, we delve into Stravinsky’s powerful musical storytelling and narrative-rich works that have captivated audiences for generations.

Stravinsky's Pulcinella Suite, a delightful reinterpretation of 18th-century melodies, transports audiences to a world of whimsy and charm. This work is flanked by the dramatic journey of The Soldier’s Tale, a piece that weaves tales of deals with the devil, featuring a mesmerising blend of the chamber orchestra’s full palette: clarinet, bassoon, cornet, trombone, percussion and strings.

Led by Maestro Kynan Johns, this concert presents a unique opportunity to explore the narrative potency inherent in chamber orchestra repertoire. As two of history’s most significant compositions come to life onstage, be transported through a rich tapestry of emotions and musical stories, intricately woven into the fabric of each movement.

Program:

• Igor Stravinsky – Pulcinella Suite 
• Igor Stravinsky – The Soldier’s Tale

CONCERT 2 | THURSDAY 22ND AUGUST, 7:30PM

From Darkness to Light

Join the musicians of Orchestra Victoria as they unveil From Darkness to Light, the second in the 2024 Southbank Series concerts.

Under the direction of Jonathan Lo, Music Director and Chief Conductor of Tthe Australian Ballet, this special concert pitches an exhilarating journey through the spectrum of human experience - from the depths of sorrow to the heights of unbridled joy.

Purcell’s solemn yet unmistakably astute Funeral Music for Queen Mary was originally performed at the funeral of Queen Mary II in 1694. The work, reimagined here in two movements by Maestro Lo, pays homage to the grandeur of British royal traditions and the music that accompanies them.

Painting pictures of the Welsh countryside and the distant, wholehearted singing of its folk tunes, Elgar's Introduction and Allegro is celebrated throughout history for both itsit’s creative complexity and exuberance.

The evening culminates in Beethoven’s iconicSymphony No.7 in A. Completed during a tumultuous period in Beethoven’s life, the work stands as a testament to human resilience. Regarded by many as Beethoven’s grandest expression, its peak spells the ultimate in both triumph and despair.

Program includes:

• Henry Purcell - March & Canzona from Funeral Music for Queen Mary
• Edward Elgar - Introduction and Allegro, op. 47 
• Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 7 in A Major
  
  
  

CONCERT 3 | SATURDAY 23RD NOVEMBER, 7:30PM

Dedications

Join the musicians of Orchestra Victoria for Dedications, the third and final concert in the 2024 Southbank Series. Performed at Hanson Dyer Hall under the direction of Fabian Russell, this concert explores the profound emotional landscapes of early 20th-century Russian composers, offering an intimate and powerful orchestral experience from the best seat in the house.

Schnittke’s Concerto Grosso No. 1 is a fascinating pastiche that transforms Baroque, modern, and popular elements into a unified whole. This extraordinary work, featuring two of Orchestra Victoria’s esteemed violinists, Yi Wang (Deputy Concertmaster) and Erica Kennedy (Associate Principal First Violin), is a brilliant display of virtuosity and wit, marked by Schnittke’s trademark sense of invention. From a tense, introspective prelude to a frenzied mid-work toccata, the work cycles back to its initial themes creating a profound and fitting sense of closure to both the work and this season.

Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony, originally his Fourth String Quartet, is a deeply personal and emotional work that embodies the composer’s anti-war response to the political oppression of his time. This piece, orchestrated by Rudolf Barshai with the blessing of Shostakovich, transforms the intimate quartet into a multi-textured orchestral experience. It serves as a poignant reminder of how, even in the face of adversity, the human spirit finds a way to endure.

Program:

• Alfred Schnittke - Concerto grosso No.1 (Soloists: Yi Wang and Erica Kennedy)
• Dmitri Shostakovich arr. Barshai - Chamber Symphony, op. 83a

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Ticket Prices:

Listed prices are exclusive of booking fees.

Adult: $59 

Concession: $49

Under 18: $19

Box Office/Front of House opening hours:

The Foyer and Box Office will be open from one hour prior to each performance.

Accessibility information:

Click on the accessibility button at the top of this page for detailed information on accessibility in the venue, and accessible transport options, including parking information. Please note any requirements that you and your guests may have when prompted and checkout.

About the venue:

Hanson Dyer Hall is a concert space located on Level 3 of The University of Melbourne's Ian Potter Southbank Centre, on 43 Sturt Street Southbank. Ushers will be stationed on both the ground floor and level 3 to assist with way-finding to the hall.

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FAQ:

Am I eligible for a concession ticket?

Concession tickets are available to holders of the following proof-of-concession cards provided that the card is valid at the time of purchase: Australian Government issued Seniors Card, Pension Card or Healthcare Card, State Government issued Seniors Card, or Public Transport Victoria Concession Card.

You may be asked to provide proof of concession to venue staff when attending performances.

Does Orchestra Victoria support the National Companion Card Scheme?

Yes, Orchestra Victoria supports the National Companion Card scheme. For more information about the Companion Card, visit www.companioncard.gov.au. To book tickets using your Companion Card, please phone Orchestra Victoria on (03) 9694 3600.

Is there someone I can speak to about my or a family member's specific access requirements?

Yes, please phone Orchestra Victoria reception on (03) 9694 3600 or email us at orchinfo@orchestravictoria.com.au to discuss your access needs.

What are the seating arrangements at the performance?

Audience seating for this performance is general admission.