Fraternity and frivolity: from Bizet to Elgar in Melbourne

By Nicholas Young, 31 July 2017

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Reviewed at Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne on 28 July 2017

Bizet, Carmen Suite no. 1

Saint-Saëns, Piano Concerto no. 2 in G minor, Op.22

Elgar, Sospiri for string orchestra and harp, Op.70

Elgar, Enigma Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra, Op.36

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Benjamin Northey, Conductor

Kristian Chong, Piano

Protests disrupt the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's Proms appearance

Dominic Lowe, 29th August

Despite the disruption, the musicians of the MSO under Chief Conductor Jaime Martín continue their interesting programme of Sutherland, Dvořák and Tchaikovsky.

***11

From Elgar to didgeridoo: the Melbourne Symphony play the Elphi

Mengguang Huang, 28th August

Under Jaime Martín, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra showcase Indigenous music through William Barton’s didgeridoo alongside Elgar and Mussorgsky, creating a visually and sonically vivid, if uneven, evening.

***11

Sir Andrew Davis leads Elgar’s Gerontius in Melbourne

Patricia Maunder, 8th March

The double choir triumphs in the MSO’s massive, mostly successful attack on an English choral masterpiece all too rarely performed in Australia.

***11

Soloists and orchestra shine in MSO Opening Gala

Nicholas Young, 3rd March

A celebration of composer, soloist and orchestral excellence in an eclectic, if slightly eccentric, gala opening program to launch the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's 2018 season.

****1

Bartók and Shostakovich with power and precision in Melbourne

Nicholas Young, 10th August

Pitch-perfect Bartók by Ibragimova and a boldly expansive reading of Shostakovich's Fifth by Hrůša made for an insightful evening's reflection on musical early modernity.

****1

A meeting of masterly musical minds

Nicholas Young, 15th July

Egarr, Bezuidenhout and the MSO are the perfect match in this celebration of Mozart's wit and genius, delivering historically grounded and exhilarating interpretations of treasured favourites.

****1

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Nicholas Young

Nicholas Young is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg, and is currently undertaking doctoral studies at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. He has concertised as pianist throughout Australia, New Zealand and Europe, winning major prizes in numerous national and international competitions, and performed concerti with the West Australian, Queensland, Adelaide and Willoughby Symphony Orchestras. Outside of performance, Nicholas has a keen interest in musicological research, especially 20th- and 21st-century piano repertoire and its composers, and alongside academic writing has prepared notes for various concert programs and CDs.