Season Opening Gala

‘Rarely has a Melbourne audience responded so warmly to a violinist; people knew they had just heard the greatest virtuoso of our day’ – Peter Rose, Editor Australian Book Review.

This sentiment was echoed around the foyers of Hamer Hall after a full house witnessed the great Maxim Vengerov perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto under the baton of Benjamin Northey at our Season Opening Gala. Vengerov conducted Scheherazade in the second half of the program, which included a spectacular performance by our Associate Concertmaster, Sophie Rowell, in the violin solos of this great work.

If you missed this stunning opening gala, Foxtel Arts will broadcast this performance on Friday 12 May (time TBC). Broadcast information can be found here.

Andrew Dudgeon and Friends, image credit: Daniel Aulsebrook

Bejamin Northey, Sophie Rowell & Maxim Vengerov, image credit: Daniel Aulsebrook

Maxim Vengerov & Sophie Galaise, image credit: Daniel Aulsebrook

Mairi Nicolson (centre), Ben Northey (right) & friend, image credit: Daniel Aulsebrook

Carmel Morfuni (left) & friends, image credit: Daniel Aulsebrook