The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) will make its highly anticipated return to London’s renowned BBC Proms this August. The performance, led by Chief Conductor Jaime Martín, will take place at the iconic Royal Albert Hall.
This marks the MSO’s second appearance at the BBC Proms, following its debut in 2014. The invitation to perform at such a prestigious event is a significant achievement for the orchestra, which has not toured Europe in over a decade. “It’s an incredible opportunity for the MSO to perform at Royal Albert Hall for such a revered musical event,” said Martín.
The Proms program will feature Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, performed by Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvili, along with Dvořák’s Symphony No. 6 and “Haunted Hills,” a 1950 orchestral piece by pioneering Australian composer Margaret Sutherland.
The MSO’s European tour will begin on 22 August at the Edinburgh International Festival with the world premiere of Treaty, a new commission by Yorta Yorta composer Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, featuring Kalkadunga yidaki master William Barton. The program also includes Elgar’s In the South and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.
After Edinburgh, the orchestra will perform at Spain’s Santander International Festival on 24 August, a venue close to Martín’s heart, as he previously served as its artistic director. The tour will continue with stops in Italy at the Südtirol Festival in Merano on 26 August, followed by a performance at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie on 28 August, before concluding at the BBC Proms on 29 August.
Martín emphasized that the tour is an opportunity to showcase not only Australia’s orchestral talent but also its rich cultural heritage. “We are proud to present works by two of Australia’s most significant composers – Sutherland and Cheetham Fraillon – on some of the world’s greatest stages,” he said.
MSO Chair Edgar Myer also highlighted the importance of the tour, calling it “a powerful platform for cultural diplomacy.” He added, “Performing on some of the world’s great stages promotes the cultural identity of our city, showcasing the best of Australian arts to a global audience.”
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