The Australian soprano joins Daniil Trifonov, Hélène Grimaud and Dame Emma Kirkby in Melbourne Recital Centre’s 2017 series.

Australian opera star Emma Matthews will headline an all-star line-up of soloists in the Melbourne Recital Centre’s 2017 Great Performers series. Matthews – whose latest CD Agony and Ecstasy has the Limelight office abuzz – will perform arias by Bellini, Donizetti and Thomas in a rare solo recital.

“We spend a lot of time talking to artists about their programme,” said Director of Artistic Planning Marshall McGuire. “Melbourne’s audiences are experienced music listeners; they want concerts that provide a depth and breadth of artistic discovery and nuance, provided by an artist that possesses world-class skill and talent.”

The series will kick off in March with a recital by Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov in his Melbourne debut, showcasing works by Schumann, Shostakovich and Stravinsky. The series will feature three other pianists throughout the year: Hélène Grimaud, Behzod Abduraimov and Paul Lewis.

Early music champion, English soprano Dame Emma Kirkby will perform a programme of works by Dowland, Jones, Boesset and Ballard with long-time musical partner lutenist Jakob Lindberg. Dutch cellist Pieter Wispelwey will return to the series, joining Melbourne-based pianist Caroline Almonte over three nights to perform works by Beethoven, Bach and Brahms.

While a number of these performers have other engagements in Australia – Trifonov will perform with the Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras and Grimaud with the Western Australian and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, to name but a few – this series is a chance to see them in a more intimate, solo setting. As MacGuire says, the Great Performers series is “a unique conversation between artist and audience. It is the power of that connection that makes the series one of a kind.”


Season tickets to Melbourne Recital Centre’s Great Performers series are on sale now

Tickets

Get Limelight's free weekly round-up of music, arts and culture.