The University of Melbourne

Philharmonic Orchestra Concert

This semester, our Philharmonic orchestra will perform Beethoven’s first symphony and Mendelssohn’s Hebrides overture.

Although the architecture of Beethoven’s first foray into symphonic writing is purely classical, the way that Beethoven presents elements are quite unorthodox and decades ahead of their time. For example, in the opening bars, the listener is taken on an extreme modulating journey – transitioning from one key to another, leaving the ear searching for the home key. And in the last movement, the (now familiar) main theme is presented note by note – in an almost comedic way – before launching it into the final vivace.

In 1829, Mendelssohn went on an extensive tour of Europe, lasting for nearly 4 years. He visited nearly every major country and city and his first stop was London. The second was Scotland, where the young Felix sailed to Staffa, off the west coast, where he visited the cathedral-like Fingal’s Cave. The overture is descriptive and more akin to a tone poem than an overture – one can feel the waves at the opening and hear the tourists shouting to hear the cave’s echoes. Mendelssohn was extremely seasick on this journey and, although he took a few musical notes during the visit, it was a year before he began writing the piece that we know today.

Program

Felix Mendelssohn
The Hebrides, Op. 26

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21

ACCESSIBILITY

Melba Hall is wheelchair accessible via a side entrance. To read more about access services available at our venues, please visit: https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/access-our-events

Later this year, Australians will vote in a referendum to decide whether to amend the Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The amendment would create a ‘Voice’ with authority to make ‘representations’ to the Parliament or Executive government on ‘matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’. Much of the debate so far has focused on what role, if any, courts might play if the referendum is passed and a Voice is established. In practice, however, the regular operation of the Voice will depend primarily on its interaction with Parliament and the executive branch of government. As the Solicitor-General noted in the advice released on 21 April, the new constitutional provision is designed as an ‘enhancement’ of the Australian system of representative and responsible government.

This second Conversation in the series organised by the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies at Melbourne Law School will explain and explore the roles that the institutions of Parliament and government might and could play in relation to the Voice. Like other events in the series, its aim is to draw on legal and other professional expertise to inform Australians about the proposal on which all of us will vote towards the end of the year. This Conversation will tackle the issues raised by the interaction between the Voice, government and Parliament in a way that is grounded in an understanding of how government and Parliament work. It will focus on each of the Houses of Parliament, the Ministers and Cabinet, and the public service. For this purpose, we will be joined by four participants with significant experience in or in dealing with Parliament and executive government. The event will be held both in person and online, on Tuesday 2 May at 5.30 pm.