Voyage To The Moon In Musica Viva's 2016 Season

Musica Viva, Australia's oldest independent professional performing arts organisation have unveiled their 2016 concert season.

Now 70 years old, Musica Viva formed with the goal of sharing the beauty and power of chamber music and moving audiences with the delights of live music. In his 2016 message, Musica Viva Artistic Director Carl Vine says the 2016 season will bring together an impressive assemblage of artists and will also feature a new co-production with Victorian Opera, 'Voyage To The Moon'.


Chamber Opera 'Voyage To The Moon' will open the season. Written and directed by Michael Gow, 'Voyage To The Moon' is the first fully theatrical musical performance in years to be performed at Musica Viva. Combining the much loved music of the classical music world's legendary names, such as Vivaldi and lesser-known 18th Century composers, the performance weaves a unique story involving insanity, love triangles and journeying to the moon.

Voyage To The Moon

Stephen Hough follows in April; renowned the world over as a brilliant pianist, he is celebrated as a leading pianist of his generation and has appeared regularly with some of the world's most famous orchestras. Stephen brings to the stage a recital programme overflowing with emotion and elegance in works by Franck, Liszt, Schubert and Hough.

Steven Hough

May will see the New York-based Enso String Quartet mark their first time in Australia with a Musica Viva debut. First formed in 1999 at Yale University, they have since won numerous awards and are consistently given high praise for their performances, leading them to being sought out by concert halls around the world. The Grammy-nominated quartet will deliver a mix of Beethoven, new and old Spanish music and other musical gems.

Enso String Quartet

July welcomes the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the Choir Of Trinity College Cambridge. Choral Director Stephen Layton has his home choir at Trinity College, Cambridge, where the voices of male and female undergraduate students audition for their place in the choir. The choir's repertoire is diverse, drawing on the tradition of British sacred music, as well as reflecting its director's expertise in modern European music.

Choir Of Trinity College Cambridge

September welcomes the return of the Jerusalem Quartet. As perhaps guessed at by their name, this award-winning quartet hail from Israel and it's been seven years since they last appeared at Musica Viva. They will perform Ross Edwards' String Quartet No.3 which is inspired by the natural environment of the composer's native Australia. As heavily reflected in its rhythms, it brings a piece of the new world among the European classics such as Beethoven.

Jerusalem Quartet

October marks Beilman & Tyson's first appearance at Musica Viva, and first time to Australia. Violinist Benjamin Beilman and pianist Andrew Tyson have been described as one of the most exciting classical music duos of the year. This programme also includes a world premiere by Australian born composer, Jane Stanley.

Benjamin Beilman and Andrew Tyson

And rounding out the season in November, the Trio Dali have received global recognition and prestigious awards, such as the chamber music award by the Philharmonic Orchestra in London, for their contribution to chamber music. For their Musica Viva performance they have selected their favourite works from artists such as Beethoven and Chausson.

Trio Dali

The Musica Viva 2016 season is set to continue its long history of presenting the very best of the world's classical music performers, and wowing audiences with outstanding pieces of music.


Musica Viva's 2016 season kicks off with 'Voyage To The Moon' in February.