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Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to Perform ABC Classic 100 Concert in June as Network Marks 50th Anniversary

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Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to Perform Public-Voted Concert for ABC Classic 50th Anniversary

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) will perform the annual ABC Classic 100 in Concert on Saturday, June 27, featuring music selected entirely by public vote. This event coincides with the ABC Classic radio network celebrating its 50th anniversary year, reflecting on its long history of broadcasting and community engagement.

Concert Details: What You Need to Know

When & Where: Saturday, June 27, at 7:30 PM at Hamer Hall in Melbourne.

The Program: The repertoire is determined by the results of the public ABC Classic 100 countdown. Voting for the 2025 list opens on May 4, with the final rankings revealed in early June.

How to Experience It: The event will be broadcast live on ABC TV, ABC iview, and ABC Classic radio. Tickets are currently on sale.

MSO Chief Conductor Benjamin Northey, who has led the concert since its 2023 launch, stated that his team monitors early voting trends to aid in logistical planning, such as booking soloists, before the final program is confirmed.

The concert will once again be co-hosted by ABC Classic Breakfast presenter Megan Burslem and ABC News presenter Jeremy Fernandez, a pairing that began in 2024.

A 50-Year Legacy: ABC Classic's History and Impact

ABC Classic is observing its 50th anniversary throughout 2026, having begun broadcasting as ABC FM in 1976. Presenters have highlighted the station's role in providing broad access to classical music, especially for listeners in regional areas, and in fostering community connections.

Key Milestones and Initiatives:

  • The 'Swoon' compilation series, launched in the late 1990s, sold over 500,000 albums, making it the highest-selling classical compilation series in Australian music history.
  • During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, ABC Classic launched a national virtual Classic Choir. First Nations composer Deborah Cheetham Fraillon composed a piece for the project, and 1,500 people submitted video performances.
  • Presenter Marian Arnold, a 34-year veteran of the network, received extensive listener correspondence for programs like 'Love in the Afternoon,' which featured music tied to personal stories.
  • In the past year alone, ABC Classic broadcast works by 1,138 female composers.

In Their Own Words: Voices on the Concert and the Network

Megan Burslem (Co-host): "It's a really magical thing to see the music that the public has voted for come to life in a concert hall." She described the event as a complex production involving multiple soloists and camera work, confirming the number one voted piece is always included.

Jeremy Fernandez (Co-host): "The concert celebrates the full spectrum of what classical music is and how it makes us feel." He listed a personal appreciation for piano, strings, French horn, choral music, and large orchestra sounds.

Benjamin Northey (Conductor): "Public voting for the program creates a real sense of shared ownership between the audience and the orchestra." He described past concert audiences as "quite loud" and noted a high "level of enthusiasm and engagement."

  • Russell Torrance (ABC Classic Presenter): Has emphasized the discovery of Australian classical music as a vibrant tradition through his work.
  • Vanessa Hughes (ABC Classic Content Editor): Stated that the network's programming reinforces that classical music is "diverse, inclusive, and belongs to everyone."