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Prepare to use your imagination in weird and wonderful ways. When French composer Maurice Ravel wrote his ethereal Pavane pour une infante défunte, he’d been dreaming of the long-lost melodies that may once have inspired a young Spanish princess to dance. Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring shares a French connection as it premiered shortly after in a Parisian theatre, but the story of this ballet music is much darker. It culminates with the raw and frenetic rhythms of a sacrificial dance, sounding wild enough to send audiences into an uproar at the first performance.The musical tales on this program are centred around Are there any questions? – an Australian composition from our 2026 Composer in Residence Joe Chindamo. It takes its name from the final line of Margaret Atwood’s chilling dystopic novel The Handmaid’s Tale. Hear Chindamo’s piece for the first time on this narrative-fuelled program. It’s music to leave you thinking deeply about the world you live in – and the worlds that live inside you.
Featuring
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Benjamin Northey conductor
Jessica Aszodi mezzo-soprano
MSO Chorus
Warren Trevelyan-Jones chorus director
Program
Ravel Pavane pour une infante défunte
Joe Chindamo^ Are there any questions?*
Stravinsky The Rite of Spring
^2026 Composer in Residence
*World Premiere of an MSO Commission
Enhance your experience:
Want to learn more about the music being performed? Arrive early for an informative and entertaining pre-concert talk.
21 March at 6:45pm
Hamer Hall Stalls Foyer
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall, St Kilda Road level, Southbank, VIC, Australia, Victoria 3006, Ngv International, 130-200 St Kilda Rd, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia, Melbourne
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