A selection of performances and interviews from 3MBS guests about the what, who and when of music and the arts in Melbourne.
Genevieve Lacey is a Recorder virtuoso and ARIA Award winner. The Latvian Radio Choir is one of Europe’s most in-demand chamber choirs. Together they form a unique collaboration. Latvian Radio Choir and Genevieve Lacey will be performing on Saturday the 7th of November at 7pm at the Melbourne Recital Centre, and Genevieve Lacey speaks with Annie Martin. Tickets are available from the Music Viva website, musicaviva.com.au
Annie Martin speaks with James Shortland about James’s new album Emergence. It's an expression of honesty, music and feeling, and was released recently at Melbourne’s JazzLab. You can stream James’ single, THE BOY NEXT DOOR, on any major streaming platform.
BK Opera is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a bold choice: Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, one of the most ambitious and emotionally intense works in the operatic repertoire. But BK Opera is known for doing things a little differently. Kate Millett, founder and creative director of BK Opera, will be directing this anniversary production. She speaks with Annie Martin. Tickets are available through https://www.bkopera.com.au/
Mischa Maisky is one of the world's greatest living cellists. He’s admired for his emotional honesty, unmistakable intensity and scores of acclaimed recordings. He’s collaborated with many of the greatest conductors and music collaborators of the past and present and is performing with his pianist daughter, Lily, at Hamer Hall on Friday, 6 November. They’ve both played to enraptured audiences at New York’s Carnegie Hall, London’s Royal Festival Hall and countless leading concert halls across Europe, the Americas and Asia. 3MBS’s Doug Beecroft speaks with Mischa Maisky about his life and upcoming recital. Tickets are available through Arts Centre Melbourne
Eugene Raggio and Livia Brash speak with Annie Martin about Der Freischütz, Carl Maria von Weber's opera, which is part of German Week. Performed in German with English surtitles, it's on Friday the 23rd of October and Saturday the 24th of October at the Athenaeum Theatre in Collins Street. That was Eugene Raggio and Livia Brash speaking with Annie Martin. DER FREISCHÜTZ will be . You can see it on either Friday the 23rd of October or Saturday the 24th of October at the Athenaeum Theatre in Collins Street. Tickets are available through ticketmaster.com.au.
Internationally acclaimed Australian pianist, Sarah Grunstein trained at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Julliard School, and is returning to Melbourne to play Bach’s Goldberg Variations at the Recital Centre. Sarah Grunstein speaks with Sue Kaufmann ahead of her concert at MRC on Oct 21. For tickets and more information, go to the Melbourne Recital Centre's website.
Mitch Meyer speaks with Sue Kaufmann about the Australian premiere of Karl Jenkins’ deeply moving Cantata Memoria, written to commemorate the victims – mostly children – who lost their lives in a landslide in the Welsh mining town of Aberfan 60 years ago. Melbourne Town Hall, Sunday the 25th of October at 6 o’clock. For more information and tickets go to the Trybooking website and search for Cantata Memoria.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with violinist Satu Vänskä about a concert with her new trio In the Live at Yours series. The Satu Vänskä Trio willbe performing trios by Haydn, Ravel and Shostakovich at the Toorak Synagogue in South Yarra on Thursday the 22nd of October. For more information and tickets go to liveatyours.com.au.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with violinist Sarah Curro, who will be directing Orchestra Victoria’s next concert, called The Edge of Sleep. The program includes short works by Grieg and Tchaikovsky which lead into Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony, and flows straight into calm and meditative music by Ella Macens and Eric Whitacre. The Orchestra is performing at St Stephen's Anglican Church in Richmond on Saturday the 24th of October. For more information and tickets type in Orchestra 21: The Edge of Sleep on the Trybooking website.
Chris Howlett speaks with Sue Kaufmann about the upcoming tour by the beloved British pianist, composer and writer, Sir Stephen Hough. They discuss the recital’s varied program - which includes Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata, and Sir Stephen’s own arrangement of songs from Mary Poppins – and Classical Music Australia’s ‘pay what you can’ arrangement. Performances: Melbourne Recital Centre on Wednesday the 28th of October; and at The Capital in Bendigo on Thursday the 29th.
American pianist and composer Chad Lawson and Indian-Australian pianist and neo-classical composer Priya Singh-Kaushal are bringing an evening of original piano music to Melbourne. Across two sets, their music explores the quieter side of contemporary classical music, with its reflection, emotion and beauty. Priya Singh-Kaushal speaks with Annie Martin. Primrose Potter Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre, on Saturday the 17th of October, at 7pm. Tickets are available through Melbourne Recital Centre.com.au.
Ahead of the 2026 Herald Sun Aria finals, tenor, Josh Erdelyi-Gotz joined Nigel Simpson on Wednesday Night at the Opera for a chat about singers, singing and competitions.
Kate Pengelly is a Melbourne-based soprano and finalist in the 102nd Herald Sun Aria. Kate spoke with 3MBS's Alexie Jell ahead of the competition on Sunday, October 11th.
Pianist Paul Lewis is one of the leading musicians of his generation. Mentored by Alfred Brendel, Lewis has gained a similarly stellar reputation for his insightful performances. Sue Kaufmann speaks with Paul Lewis, who will be giving his recital, ‘Mozart Plus’ at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Tuesday the 13th of October at 7pm. For more information search for Paul Lewis or Mozart Plus on Musica Viva’s website at musicaviva.com.au or melbournerecital.com.au
Melbourne-based baritone, Hartley Trusler, is a finalist in the 2026 Herald Sun Aria and chats with Annie Martin about his journey in singing and the opportunity the Finals present.
A new recording of Schubert’s Schwanengesang has recently been released, featuring Australian soprano Anna Fraser and scholar-pianist Neal Peres Da Costa. Anna and Neal have been exploring how this music might have sounded in Schubert’s own time, drawing on historical evidence — including some remarkable early recordings made by singers trained in the 1830s and 1840s. Anna Fraser speaks with Annie Martin. Photo: Simon Hodgeson
Cathryn Williams speaks with Annie Martin about the orchestra's performance as part of the Frankston Seniors Festival. The Joy of Music will take place at The Performing Arts Centre at Frankston High School on Saturday the 17th of October. The concert starts at 2:30pm and tickets are available for only $20 at fso.org.au. Children under 15 are free.
Nick Tolhurst speaks with Sarah Goodes, about a new work from Victorian Opera, The Spare Room, based on Helen Garner’s novel of the same name. The Spare Room is on from the 7thto the 10th of October at the Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne. For more information and to book go to victorianopera.com.au Photo: Charlie Kinross
Nick Tolhurst speaks with harpist Katia Mestrovic about Trio Lyra and their forthcoming concert series Eye of the Night: 7pm, Friday 16th October Nightingale Gallery, Armadale 2pm Saturday 17 October - Queen Victoria Women Centre, QV Melbourne 3pm Sunday 18 October - The Church of Resurrection, Macedon 8pm Monday 2 November - Tempo Rubato, Brunswick For more information follow this link Eye of the Night Concert Series.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with music educator Karen Kim about a masterclass to be given by Sumi Jo at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins on Sunday the 4th of October. For more information and tickets go to Hello Music’s website at hellomusic.com.au.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Australian Chamber Choir’s Assistant Artistic Director, Elizabeth Anderson, about the Choir’s new album, ‘Encores’, which they’re launching at concerts in Geelong on the 2nd of October; in Middle Park on the 11th; and at the McClelland Sculpture Park in Langwarrin on the 18th of October. For more information and tickets go to the ‘buy tickets’ page on Australian Chamber Choir’s website or call the box office on 0452 531 750.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with saxophonist Julian Banks who will be launching the Julian Banks’ Quartet’s new album, Oxymoron on the 2nd of October, at the Cross Street Music Hall in East Brunswick. For more information and tickets jump on Julian Banks’ website at https://www.julianbanksmusic.com/. Limited tickets will be available at the door.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Nicole van Bruggen about the training program, Young Mannheim Symphonists offered by the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra. The Orchestra is running a program in Melbourne from the 29th of September till the 3rd of October and giving a concert at Camberwell Grammar School on Saturday the 3rd of October. For tickets to the upcoming concert, go to the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra's website and search for Young Mannheim Symphonists Victoria. For information about the 2027 training program and application process, go to the Young Mannheim Symphonists page on the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra website at arco.org.au/yms.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with soprano Rachelle Durkin, who'll be performing the role of the Governess in Victorian Opera’s production of The Turn of the Screw. The Turn of the Screw is playing at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda from the 29th of September to the 1st of October. For more information and tickets go to the ‘what’s on’ page on Victorian Opera’s website at victorianopera.com.au.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Rick Freeman. He's collaborating with musician Tony Gould and actor John Stanton to present ‘Life’s aches and joys’ at Tempo Rubato on Sunday the 27th of September and Sunday the 4th of October. For more information and tickets go to ‘Life’s aches and joys’ on the Trybooking website.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Dr Zara Thompson, who will be presenting a choral concert, ReminiSing with Rewire, specially designed for people living with dementia, along with their carers and families. The concert is being held at 1pm on Sunday the 20th of September at The Centre-Ivanhoe, 275 Upper Heidelberg Road. For more information and tickets go to: https://events.humanitix.com/reminising-with-rewire-10-year-anniversary-choir-concert
Sue Kaufmann speaks with harpsichordist Kris Bezuidenhout, who will be performing works by Handel and Bach with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) in Ringwood at the George Wood Performing Arts Centre on Friday the 18th of September. The first concert, at the Melbourne Recital Centre, is sold out. For more information and tickets go to the George Wood Performing Arts Centre
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Pieter Wispelwey and Piers Lane, who are collaborating in a series of three concerts at the Melbourne Recital Centre on the Tuesday the 15th, Thursday the 17th & Friday the 18th of September 7:30pm. For more information and tickets go to the Melbourne Recital Centre’s website at melbournerecital.com.au and search for ‘Pieter Wispelwey – A Trilogy through Time’.
Sophia Hans and Mitchell Casey from Waterfall Baroque speak in the studio with Annie Martin. Schubert and Saint-Saëns: On the River will be performed on Friday the 25th of September at 7pm at St John’s Anglican Church in East Malvern. For tickets and more information, see: https://events.humanitix.com/schubert-and-saint-seans-on-the-river
Frances Cameron speaks with Annie Martin about her upcoming concert An Evening at the Piano on Friday the 18th of September at Tempo Rubato in Brunswick. The concert begins at 8.00pm, with the bar open from 7.00pm. Tickets are $30, with concession tickets $22. For tickets and further information, visit the Tempo Rubato website at: https://www.temporubato.com.au/tempo-concerts/frances-cameron-an-evening-at-the-piano
David Field speaks with Annie Martin about the Melbourne Welsh Male Choir Contest and Concert to be held at Federation Estate in Ringwood on the 12th September at 12.30pm, and the Final, which will be held at Carey Baptist Grammar School on the 3rd October. Tickets for both of these events are available from Trybooking or via melbournewelshchoir.com.au.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Sarah Clark, a manager with the Melbourne Youth Orchestras (MYO), about the Orchestras’ Big Busk, at the Queen Victoria Markets on Saturday the 19th of September from 8 am till 4 pm. Hundreds of young musicians will be playing, with large ensembles on the main stage and smaller groups scattered around the stalls. To learn more about the MYO Big Busk, go to: https://myo.org.au/the-myo-big-busk-2026/ If you would like to make a donation to one of the ensembles, go to: https://www.mycause.com.au/events/myobigbusk
Sue Kaufmann speaks with vocalist Ben Hjorth, who will be performing in the Alchemy Consort’s next concert, called ‘Out of the Deep’ at the Castlemaine Gaol on Saturday the 12th of September, and at the Old Melbourne Gaol on Tuesday September the 15th. For tickets and more information about the program: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1630538 To learn more about Alchemy Consort: https://alchemyconsort.com/
Sue Kaufmann speaks with artist, Elspeth Noxon, who will be exhibiting 200 works at Main Ridge Community Hall, 441 Main Creek Road, in Main Ridge, from 1pm to 4pm on Sunday the 13th of September. John Noble and students from his string quartet program, ITET will be playing there. Entry is free; and visitors are welcome to make an offer for a work they’d like to take home, with all proceeds going John Noble’s string quartet music program, ITET. For more information send an email to elspethnoxonart@gmail.com.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Daniel Brinsmead, who will be conducting the Australian Children’s Choir for its 50th anniversary concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre on 5 September. For more information and tickets go to: https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/whats-on/current-productions/australian-childrens-choir-50th-anniversary
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Katia Mestrovic, who will giving a series of solo harp recitals in and around Melbourne over the next two months. The first Melbourne concert is taking place on the 5th of September at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre. For more information and tickets for all these events go to the Aus Harp Fest website at: ausharpfestsoloseries.carrd.co
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Katia Beaugeais, whose first piano concerto is having its Melbourne premiere at the Melbourne Youth Orchestra’s next concert, Time Unbound, at the Melbourne Recital Centre this Sunday, the 30th of August. For more information and tickets go to the Melbourne Recital Centre’s website.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with the Jussen brothers, who will be giving a duo recital at the Melbourne Recital Centre on the 24th of August, and performing with the MSO on the 10th and 12th of September. For information and tickets to their recital at the Melbourne Recital Centre, search for Lucas and Arthur Jussen on the Recital Centre’s website. For details and tickets to their concert with the MSO, Jussen Brothers play Poulenc, search for Jussen Brothers on the MSO’s website.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with founding director of The Crossing Machine, Marianne Rothschild, about their debut album, “The Juliet Letters by Elvis Costello and The Brodsky Quartet”. The Juliet Letters is available on Bandcamp, with the full album selling for $13.99. To find out more about the album or make a purchase, go to https://thecrossingmachine1.bandcamp.com/album/the-juliet-letters-by-elvis-costello-and-the-brodsky-quartet
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Lyle Chan and Alex Raineri about their new album, ‘Untitled: Solo Piano’, just released on the Decca label. To get more information about the album and purchase the music go to Lyle Chan’s website at: https://lylechan.lnk.to/UntitledSoloPiano
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Carlos del Cueto, who will be conducting Stonnington Symphony’s next concert, ‘Sea, Myth & Memory’ on the 30th of August at the Malvern Town Hall. For more information and tickets go to the Humanitix website and search for ‘sea myth and memory’: https://events.humanitix.com/sea-myth-and-memory
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Zoe Knighton ahead of the Flinders Quartet’s next concert series, called “New Light”. They’ll be performing at the Montsalvat Barn Gallery, St John’s Southgate and the Primrose Potter Salon from the 6th to the 9th of September. For more information and tickets for all these concerts go to: https://www.flindersquartet.com/whats-on
Doug Beecroft speaks with Australian soprano Helena Dix, who stars in Melbourne Opera’s Il Trovatore which opens at the Athenaeum Theatre next weekend. You can see Il Trovatore at: · 2:30, Sunday, 23 August; · 7:30, Wednesday, 26 August; · 7:30, Friday, 28 August; or · 2:30, Sunday, 30 August. Tickets are available through the Melbourne Opera website.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with Ian MacDonald, who will be conducting the Maroondah Symphony Orchestra in their ‘Romance and Rhapsody’ concert on the 30th of August at Yarra Valley Grammar’s Performing Arts Centre in Ringwood. For more information and tickets, go to https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1597766
Sue Kaufmann speaks with violist Benjamin Roskams, who will be playing in Ensemble Q’s next concert, ‘Ensemble Q plays Bartok and Brahms’, on the 22nd of August in the Primrose Potter Salon. For more information and tickets go to the link: https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/whats-on/current-productions/ensemble-q-play-bartok-and-brahms
Sue Kaufmann speaks with pianist Kenji Fujimura from Trio Anima Mundi about their upcoming concert, ‘The Muse’, where they’ll be playing French trios written during the ‘golden’ years before the first world war. The Trio’s performing The Muse at The Geelong College on the 15th of August, and at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in East Melbourne on the 16th. For more information go to the Trio’s website at trioanimamundi.com. You can get tickets on Humanitix or try your luck at the door.
Sue Kaufmann speaks with harpist Marshall McGuire, who will be performing with beloved recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey in a concert entitled ‘Bowers’ on Sunday the 16th of August at the Peninsula Music Centre in Mornington. For more information and tickets go to the Peninsula Music Society’s website
Nicholas Dinopoulos speaks in the studio with Annie Martin. Performances of London Calling will be on Friday the 14th of August at Geelong, on Saturday the 15th of August at Daylesford, and on Sunday the 16th of August in Brunswick. To purchase tickets, use the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1566237 Image credit: Albert Comper
Peter Bandy speaks with Wilma Smith, Chair of the jury for the Championship Finals of Musica Viva’s Strike a Chord Competition. The finals concert will be held at the Melbourne Recital Centre at 2pm on August the 29th and livestreamed on 3MBS Melbourne. For tickets or more information, go to the Melbourne Recital Centre website, or visit the Musica Viva Australia Strike a Chord webpage.
Scots' Church Associate Organist, Jennifer Chou, speaks with Annie Martin about the Scots' Church Organ Series taking place in August and September. The first recital is on Saturday 15th August at Scots Church in Russell Street. Details of this and all subsequent performances can be found on the website: ScotsChurch.com/music-event. Admission to all recitals is free, and everyone is warmly welcome.
