By JESSE GRAHAM
THE sound of classical music will fill halls across the Yarra Ranges through the coming months, with the council teaming up with the Melbourne Recital Centre in a new program.
On Wednesday 22 April, the Yarra Ranges Council officially launched its new Classical Tracks program, under the banner of its yearly Culture Tracks calendar of events, at Montrose Town Hall.
In a partnership with the Melbourne Recital Centre, Classical Tracks features performers from Australia and abroad, showcasing music spanning centuries from the Renaissance through to more modern pieces.
The program will host classical ensembles at Burrinja Cultural Centre in Upwey, Healesville’s Memo Hall, Montrose Town Centre and Warburton’s Upper Yarra Arts Centre, starting on Sunday 14 June, with a performance by The Consort of Melbourne.
The Consort will perform Songs of Earth and Sky: The Italian a capella tradition at The Memo, and give a brief performance on the opening night to give attendees a taste of what is to come.
Melbourne Recital Centre’s director of Programming and Presenter Services, Kirsten Siddle, spoke at the event and said the group was excited to be curating the musical program.
“I think that this program that we’ve put together collaboratively is a feast of music by anyone’s reckoning,” she said.
“In curating the series, we really wanted to celebrate Australian stars alongside some international guests – we wanted to have a real breadth of genres and repertoire, combining repertoire you may know with, hopefully, some wonderful, revelatory experiences for you along the way.”
Yarra Ranges mayor Maria McCarthy paid tribute to the influence of classical music, and said the program was an exciting collaboration with the recital centre.
“Yarra Ranges is a place that values culture and our communities understand the profound and powerful influence that arts, culture and heritage have in shaping our lives,” she said.
“Classical music is integral for our cultural understanding, and, as with great art in other forms, the best classical music rewards concentrated and persisted attention – the more you listen to them, the more you hear and the greater the satisfaction.”
Renowned Canadian pianist Angela Cheng, world-leading guitar duo The Grigoryan Brothers and Australian duo Rebecca Chan and Kristian Chong are just some of the performances on the bill for the program, which will run until end August.
For more information on the Classical Tracks program, or the Cultural Tracks program more generally, and to book tickets, visit www.culturetracks.info or call 1300 368 333.
