Why our biggest orchestra is headed out of the city and into the suburbs
It's all part of a strategy to reach a broader audience, according to MSO chief executive and director of programming Richard Wigley. As part of that aim, the orchestra will not increase its ticket prices for the year ahead, which Wigley says is possible thanks to philanthropic support.
The former head of the BBC Philharmonic and the Ulster Orchestras, Wigley represents a new guard at the MSO, having taking the reins from Sophie Galaise, who left in the wake of the MSO's controversial decision to drop pianist Jayson Gillham from its line-up for dedicating a piece of music to the journalists slain in Gaza. Gillham is suing the MSO for wrongful dismissal and the case is scheduled for the Federal Court in December.
The MSO's plan to increase its accessibility extends into its programming choices for the coming year, which feature new commissions alongside contemporary works and evergreen favourites.
The In Your Neighbourhood program continues, which this year included a concert on the Mornington Peninsula, as well as Jams for Juniors (learning sessions for toddlers), school holiday music activities, workshops and specialist music training for young students, and performances in aged care facilities. Details will be announced next year.
There are plenty of big names and big concerts on the schedule for the next 12 months – along with some surprises.
In his fifth year as chief conductor for the MSO, Jaime Martín will – temporarily – put down his baton and return to his flautist roots, playing the instrument as part of MSO programming in Australia for the first time. 'I hope I don't regret it,' Martín joked at the media program launch.
The 2026 season will include Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, as well as a series of performances conducted by Scottish composer Sir James MacMillan. In May, Melbourne-born soprano Danielle de Niese will make her way through selections from classic musicals by Gershwin, Porter and Bernstein.
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas 'very similar'
Hollywood couple Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary this year, with Zeta-Jones crediting like-minded attitudes for their enduring partnership. "Two celebrities together make ten. It's just the way it is. There's two versions of the story and there's two make-believes. We don't listen to the crap that is written about us, that's the main thing," the 55-year-old actress told The Sunday Times. "And we respect our space, we're independent spirits. We are very similar; we were born on the same day, 25 years apart. We're not afraid to be verbal, to express ourselves. I wear everything on my sleeve and so does he, which is good." Douglas, 80, revealed earlier this year that he doesn't plan to act again as prefers to "watch my wife work" but Zeta-Jones won't be surprised if he returns to the big screen. The Welsh actress - who has son Dylan, 25, and daughter Carys, 22, with the Wall Street star - said: "Michael has definitely earned the chance to slow down. "But I never say never. He's his father's son and loves to work - let's just say, 'retirement' is a flexible concept." Zeta-Jones found fame in the British TV series The Darling Buds of May but explained that she was frustrated by the "great beauty" roles she was subsequently offered. "I always thought of myself as attractive and interesting, but never a great beauty," the Oscar-winning actress said. Zeta-Jones plays Morticia Addams in the Netflix series Wednesday and confessed that she didn't know who co-star Jenna Ortega, 22, was initially, but soon realised that she is a "phenomenon". "When we first met I didn't know who she was. It took me one moment on set to work out who she was going to be. It was very clear that she was a phenomenon," she said. "I mean, forget the show, just her as a young woman, as an actress, the way she is. She has a smart head on her shoulders." Zeta-Jones says she's at a stage of her life where "everything is a bonus". "I have had such a great and varied career. I've worked with great directors, great actors. Everything now is a bonus." Hollywood couple Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary this year, with Zeta-Jones crediting like-minded attitudes for their enduring partnership. "Two celebrities together make ten. It's just the way it is. There's two versions of the story and there's two make-believes. We don't listen to the crap that is written about us, that's the main thing," the 55-year-old actress told The Sunday Times. "And we respect our space, we're independent spirits. We are very similar; we were born on the same day, 25 years apart. We're not afraid to be verbal, to express ourselves. I wear everything on my sleeve and so does he, which is good." Douglas, 80, revealed earlier this year that he doesn't plan to act again as prefers to "watch my wife work" but Zeta-Jones won't be surprised if he returns to the big screen. The Welsh actress - who has son Dylan, 25, and daughter Carys, 22, with the Wall Street star - said: "Michael has definitely earned the chance to slow down. "But I never say never. He's his father's son and loves to work - let's just say, 'retirement' is a flexible concept." Zeta-Jones found fame in the British TV series The Darling Buds of May but explained that she was frustrated by the "great beauty" roles she was subsequently offered. "I always thought of myself as attractive and interesting, but never a great beauty," the Oscar-winning actress said. Zeta-Jones plays Morticia Addams in the Netflix series Wednesday and confessed that she didn't know who co-star Jenna Ortega, 22, was initially, but soon realised that she is a "phenomenon". "When we first met I didn't know who she was. It took me one moment on set to work out who she was going to be. It was very clear that she was a phenomenon," she said. "I mean, forget the show, just her as a young woman, as an actress, the way she is. She has a smart head on her shoulders." Zeta-Jones says she's at a stage of her life where "everything is a bonus". "I have had such a great and varied career. I've worked with great directors, great actors. Everything now is a bonus." Hollywood couple Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary this year, with Zeta-Jones crediting like-minded attitudes for their enduring partnership. "Two celebrities together make ten. It's just the way it is. There's two versions of the story and there's two make-believes. We don't listen to the crap that is written about us, that's the main thing," the 55-year-old actress told The Sunday Times. "And we respect our space, we're independent spirits. We are very similar; we were born on the same day, 25 years apart. We're not afraid to be verbal, to express ourselves. I wear everything on my sleeve and so does he, which is good." Douglas, 80, revealed earlier this year that he doesn't plan to act again as prefers to "watch my wife work" but Zeta-Jones won't be surprised if he returns to the big screen. The Welsh actress - who has son Dylan, 25, and daughter Carys, 22, with the Wall Street star - said: "Michael has definitely earned the chance to slow down. "But I never say never. He's his father's son and loves to work - let's just say, 'retirement' is a flexible concept." Zeta-Jones found fame in the British TV series The Darling Buds of May but explained that she was frustrated by the "great beauty" roles she was subsequently offered. "I always thought of myself as attractive and interesting, but never a great beauty," the Oscar-winning actress said. Zeta-Jones plays Morticia Addams in the Netflix series Wednesday and confessed that she didn't know who co-star Jenna Ortega, 22, was initially, but soon realised that she is a "phenomenon". "When we first met I didn't know who she was. It took me one moment on set to work out who she was going to be. It was very clear that she was a phenomenon," she said. "I mean, forget the show, just her as a young woman, as an actress, the way she is. She has a smart head on her shoulders." Zeta-Jones says she's at a stage of her life where "everything is a bonus". "I have had such a great and varied career. I've worked with great directors, great actors. Everything now is a bonus."
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Oasis pay tribute to Irish roots in sell-out Dublin gig
The Gallagher brothers have paid tribute to their Irish roots during a sell-out gig in Dublin, as Oasis returned to Ireland for the first time in 16 years. Tens of thousands of fans descended on the Irish capital for the first of two sold-out gigs at the country's largest stadium. The 90s Britpop superstars performed to 80,000 people at Croke Park on Saturday and are scheduled to do the same on Sunday night. Health officials had advised revellers to wear their bucket hats, with high UV levels predicted. As the band's first gig in the country since 2009, the Dublin leg of the reunion world tour holds a special meaning for once-feuding brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher. The Mancunian brothers have often spoken about their ties to Ireland through their Irish-born parents, Peggy and Thomas. They display the image of an Irish harp as part of their comparatively understated stage decor. In a regional change to the warm-up tunes, the crowd enthusiastically joined in singing as The Auld Triangle blared over the stadium speakers before the brothers walked out, as Fuckin' In The Bushes played for their entrance. Liam also dedicated Roll With It to the people of Charlestown, County Mayo - where his mother hails from. Mid-song, he also turned to the upper tiers where she was expected to have been sitting and blew kisses as he mouthed: "I love you". Liam Gallagher told the crowd: "Oasis vibes in the area, Dublin vibes in the area." The singer, who described himself as a "Croke Park virgin" because the band had never played there, added: "This is the soberest I've ever been in Ireland." Acknowledging how fans have missed the presence of the band, Liam added: "You've been missed as well - you lunatics." Fans said Dublin was "buzzing" for the reunion, with some comparing it to Christmas in August. Sarah and Neil Charlton travelled from Southampton to see the band, after a determined search for standing tickets saw them clinching access in Dublin. Charlton said they have both been waiting a long time to see the band reunite, having seen Oasis multiple times before their extended hiatus. "It's just so nostalgic - all the songs and all the music from when we were growing up," Charlton said. "When we first started seeing each other, we went to a gig and so it's always been a part of our lives together." The highly anticipated 41-date run has already seen the band play Cardiff, Manchester, London and Edinburgh. They are also headed to the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Japan. The Gallagher brothers have paid tribute to their Irish roots during a sell-out gig in Dublin, as Oasis returned to Ireland for the first time in 16 years. Tens of thousands of fans descended on the Irish capital for the first of two sold-out gigs at the country's largest stadium. The 90s Britpop superstars performed to 80,000 people at Croke Park on Saturday and are scheduled to do the same on Sunday night. Health officials had advised revellers to wear their bucket hats, with high UV levels predicted. As the band's first gig in the country since 2009, the Dublin leg of the reunion world tour holds a special meaning for once-feuding brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher. The Mancunian brothers have often spoken about their ties to Ireland through their Irish-born parents, Peggy and Thomas. They display the image of an Irish harp as part of their comparatively understated stage decor. In a regional change to the warm-up tunes, the crowd enthusiastically joined in singing as The Auld Triangle blared over the stadium speakers before the brothers walked out, as Fuckin' In The Bushes played for their entrance. Liam also dedicated Roll With It to the people of Charlestown, County Mayo - where his mother hails from. Mid-song, he also turned to the upper tiers where she was expected to have been sitting and blew kisses as he mouthed: "I love you". Liam Gallagher told the crowd: "Oasis vibes in the area, Dublin vibes in the area." The singer, who described himself as a "Croke Park virgin" because the band had never played there, added: "This is the soberest I've ever been in Ireland." Acknowledging how fans have missed the presence of the band, Liam added: "You've been missed as well - you lunatics." Fans said Dublin was "buzzing" for the reunion, with some comparing it to Christmas in August. Sarah and Neil Charlton travelled from Southampton to see the band, after a determined search for standing tickets saw them clinching access in Dublin. Charlton said they have both been waiting a long time to see the band reunite, having seen Oasis multiple times before their extended hiatus. "It's just so nostalgic - all the songs and all the music from when we were growing up," Charlton said. "When we first started seeing each other, we went to a gig and so it's always been a part of our lives together." The highly anticipated 41-date run has already seen the band play Cardiff, Manchester, London and Edinburgh. They are also headed to the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Japan. The Gallagher brothers have paid tribute to their Irish roots during a sell-out gig in Dublin, as Oasis returned to Ireland for the first time in 16 years. Tens of thousands of fans descended on the Irish capital for the first of two sold-out gigs at the country's largest stadium. The 90s Britpop superstars performed to 80,000 people at Croke Park on Saturday and are scheduled to do the same on Sunday night. Health officials had advised revellers to wear their bucket hats, with high UV levels predicted. As the band's first gig in the country since 2009, the Dublin leg of the reunion world tour holds a special meaning for once-feuding brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher. The Mancunian brothers have often spoken about their ties to Ireland through their Irish-born parents, Peggy and Thomas. They display the image of an Irish harp as part of their comparatively understated stage decor. In a regional change to the warm-up tunes, the crowd enthusiastically joined in singing as The Auld Triangle blared over the stadium speakers before the brothers walked out, as Fuckin' In The Bushes played for their entrance. Liam also dedicated Roll With It to the people of Charlestown, County Mayo - where his mother hails from. Mid-song, he also turned to the upper tiers where she was expected to have been sitting and blew kisses as he mouthed: "I love you". Liam Gallagher told the crowd: "Oasis vibes in the area, Dublin vibes in the area." The singer, who described himself as a "Croke Park virgin" because the band had never played there, added: "This is the soberest I've ever been in Ireland." Acknowledging how fans have missed the presence of the band, Liam added: "You've been missed as well - you lunatics." Fans said Dublin was "buzzing" for the reunion, with some comparing it to Christmas in August. Sarah and Neil Charlton travelled from Southampton to see the band, after a determined search for standing tickets saw them clinching access in Dublin. Charlton said they have both been waiting a long time to see the band reunite, having seen Oasis multiple times before their extended hiatus. "It's just so nostalgic - all the songs and all the music from when we were growing up," Charlton said. "When we first started seeing each other, we went to a gig and so it's always been a part of our lives together." The highly anticipated 41-date run has already seen the band play Cardiff, Manchester, London and Edinburgh. They are also headed to the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Japan. The Gallagher brothers have paid tribute to their Irish roots during a sell-out gig in Dublin, as Oasis returned to Ireland for the first time in 16 years. Tens of thousands of fans descended on the Irish capital for the first of two sold-out gigs at the country's largest stadium. The 90s Britpop superstars performed to 80,000 people at Croke Park on Saturday and are scheduled to do the same on Sunday night. Health officials had advised revellers to wear their bucket hats, with high UV levels predicted. As the band's first gig in the country since 2009, the Dublin leg of the reunion world tour holds a special meaning for once-feuding brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher. The Mancunian brothers have often spoken about their ties to Ireland through their Irish-born parents, Peggy and Thomas. They display the image of an Irish harp as part of their comparatively understated stage decor. In a regional change to the warm-up tunes, the crowd enthusiastically joined in singing as The Auld Triangle blared over the stadium speakers before the brothers walked out, as Fuckin' In The Bushes played for their entrance. Liam also dedicated Roll With It to the people of Charlestown, County Mayo - where his mother hails from. Mid-song, he also turned to the upper tiers where she was expected to have been sitting and blew kisses as he mouthed: "I love you". Liam Gallagher told the crowd: "Oasis vibes in the area, Dublin vibes in the area." The singer, who described himself as a "Croke Park virgin" because the band had never played there, added: "This is the soberest I've ever been in Ireland." Acknowledging how fans have missed the presence of the band, Liam added: "You've been missed as well - you lunatics." Fans said Dublin was "buzzing" for the reunion, with some comparing it to Christmas in August. Sarah and Neil Charlton travelled from Southampton to see the band, after a determined search for standing tickets saw them clinching access in Dublin. Charlton said they have both been waiting a long time to see the band reunite, having seen Oasis multiple times before their extended hiatus. "It's just so nostalgic - all the songs and all the music from when we were growing up," Charlton said. "When we first started seeing each other, we went to a gig and so it's always been a part of our lives together." The highly anticipated 41-date run has already seen the band play Cardiff, Manchester, London and Edinburgh. They are also headed to the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Japan.
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
Catherine Zeta-Jones and husband Michael Douglas 'are very similar'
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas "are very similar". The Hollywood couple will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary later this year and Catherine believes that their like-minded attitudes have enabled their marriage to stay strong. The 55-year-old actress told The Sunday Times: "Two celebrities together make ten. It's just the way it is. There's two versions of the story and there's two make-believes. We don't listen to the crap that is written about us, that's the main thing. "And we respect our space, we're independent spirits. We are very similar; we were born on the same day, 25 years apart. We're not afraid to be verbal, to express ourselves. I wear everything on my sleeve and so does he, which is good." Douglas, 80, revealed earlier this year that he didn't plan to act again as prefers to "watch my wife work" but Catherine wouldn't be surprised if her husband, the son of late Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas, returns to the big screen. The Welsh actress - who has son Dylan, 25, and daughter Carys, 22, with the Wall Street star - said: "Michael has definitely earned the chance to slow down. "But I never say never. He's his father's son and loves to work - let's just say, 'retirement' is a flexible concept." Catherine found fame in the British TV series The Darling Buds of May but explained that she was frustrated by the "great beauty" roles she was subsequently offered. The Oscar-winning actress said: "I don't consider myself a great beauty. "I always thought of myself as attractive and interesting, but never a great beauty." Zeta-Jones plays Morticia Addams in the Netflix series Wednesday and confessed that she didn't know who co-star Jenna Ortega, 22, was initially, but soon realised that she is a "phenomenon". The Chicago star said: "When we first met I didn't know who she was. It took me one moment on set to work out who she was going to be. It was very clear that she was a phenomenon. "I mean, forget the show, just her as a young woman, as an actress, the way she is. She has a smart head on her shoulders." Catherine added that she is at a stage of her life where "everything is a bonus". She said: "I have had such a great and varied career. I've worked with great directors, great actors. Everything now is a bonus."
