It’s time to get festive at Arts Centre Melbourne
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and Arts Centre Melbourne is ready to ignite the festive cheer throughout the month of December.
Kicking the season off is one for the adults! Back by popular demand and now in its fourth incarnation, Paul Kelly’s annual Making Gravy concert returns to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Friday 9 December. The night will celebrate songs from Kelly’s four decade-long, critically acclaimed career including, of course, his 1996 classic ‘How To Make Gravy’, a song that has taken on new meaning recently for all those families and friends who were separated at Christmas.
Sir Andrew Davis’ new orchestration of the festive favourite Messiah will be performed for only the second time in Australia at Hamer Hall from 10 – 11 December. The oratorio contains the famous “Hallelujah!” chorus which has been quoted in popular culture since its creation and is commonly performed around Christmas. Rather than follow a specific biblical narrative, the text of Messiah is taken from various passages in the Old and New Testament. The vibrant arias and recitatives bring colour and urgency to the subject matter, with Handel utilising visceral word-painting throughout.
The annual Christmas Melodies concert at Hamer Hall on Monday 12 December will follow. Join host Gorgi Coghlan for a warm festive sing-a-long with music theatre stars Thomas McGuane (Hans, FROZEN) and Sarah Krndija (Margaret, 9 to 5 The Musical) as well as the Pasefika Vitoria Choir led by music director Rita Seumanutafa-Palala and The Salvation Army Band led by musical director Ken Waterworth. Allocation is currently exhausted. Please continue to check the event page as more tickets may become available.
Conducted by Nicholas Buc and complete with a choir, experience the beloved comedy classic Home Alone from 14 – 15 December at Hamer Hall. Renowned composer John Williams’ charming and delightful score is performed live to picture by the MSO for this John Hughes family-favourite.
Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert is a classic and will screen on Friday 16 December at Hamer Hall. See The Muppets perform the classic Charles Dickens holiday tale with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Gonzo, as Dickens, narrates the story with the help of Rizzo the Rat plus Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig and Robin the Frog as Tiny Tim feature as well.
Following sell-out performances in 2018, The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet is delighted to once again present one of Tchaikovsky’s most famous compositions and popular Christmas ballets, The Nutcracker from 20 – 22 December at Hamer Hall. With choreography by former Principal Artist of The Australian Ballet, Christine Walsh, this well-loved, traditional Christmas ballet will be performed by 65 dancers of The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet, featuring international guest artists and 60 musicians of the ACB Orchestra conducted by renowned conductor Peter Bandy.
To round out the festive season, the beloved Australian tradition, Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight brings some of Australia’s most loved performers to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl stage from 23 – 24 December. This year marks the 85th anniversary of the iconic Christmas Eve celebration with a wonderful history of supporting children who are blind or have low vision.
For more information click HERE
