Perth Concert Hall

One of the major music influencers of his generation, piano pop sensation Ben Folds delivers a cavalcade of hits, like 'Landed', 'Capable of Anything', and 'Luckiest' fifteen years after his first ever orchestral concert right here in Perth.

The multi-platinum-selling artist has since released numerous collaboration records, and created music for film, TV and a Billboard chart-topping piano concerto. Folds, who currently serves as the first ever Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, just recently released his first book, a memoir entitled 'A Dream About Lightning Bugs', described as a collection of interrelated essays and anecdotes about art, life, and music. He’s also currently touring Australia on a book promotion tour.

But there is no better way to experience one of the modern world’s most distinctive singer-songwriters than with the full power of WASO!

Standout works include Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro for seven instruments, Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1, Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, and works by Grieg, Schubert, Debussy, and local composer Lachlan Skipworth. Join Andrew Nicholson (flute), Ashley Smith (clarinet), Yi-Yun Loei (harp) and Akiko Miyazawa (violin), as they usher in a new year and a new generation of Perth talent in what promises to be an unforgettable experience.

For thousands of years, music has been intrinsic to honouring country and ingraining a sense of place. Collaborating side-by-side the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Western Australian Youth Orchestra will adventure across lands and through time, from Perth’s own spectacular Derbarl Yerrigan to Finland’s Kemijoki, the majestic Black Swan to the magical colours of the Firebird. 

With world premiere performances of works delivered by outstanding Noongar musicians and performers featuring the spellbinding Della Rae Morrison and Barry McGuire sitting alongside classics from Sibelius, Copland and Stravinsky, this magical night of orchestral colour, conducted by Thaddeus Huang, will bring you a renewed love for the sand beneath your feet.

Tickets on sale now!

Program includes:
Jean Sibelius Finlandia
Aaron Copland The Tender Land – Suite
Igor Stravinsky The Firebird – Suite

Thaddeus Huang conductor
Barry McGuire & Della Rae Morrison vocals
West Australian Youth Orchestra
West Australian Symphony Orchestra

RIVER'S MOUTH: DAA
Questions remain about the social costs of the building of Fremantle Harbour on local Noongar communities. Join Viv Hansen, Richard Walley and others for a conversation about the history of the river and mouth.

THE GUTS OF THE RIVER: KORBAL
Dr. Noel Nannup discusses the ecological richness of the river and the ways it has been changed by those who settled its shores. 

UPRIVER: YIRANGINY
The environment along the river has a large impact on the health and wellbeing of our children. Colin Pettit, WA Commissioner for Children and Young People, looks at the people who live along its edges and hoe they are faring. 

THE RIVER: BILYA
The day ends with a conversation amongst women; those who serve as the umbilical cord and connect the water to community. Led by Roma Winmar an inter-generational panel of leaders tells tales of water, life and refrigeration.  

Join the award-winning WA Wind Symphony and the West Coast Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus in this gripping journey through the power of love, the tragedy of loss and ultimately, the joy of life. Featuring James Barnes’ monumental Third Symphony for wind ensemble, British composer Rebecca Dale’s Materna Requiem for orchestra and chorus (Australian Premiere), Dolly Parton’s Light of a Clear Blue Morning and conductor Samuel Parry’s My River, this concert is sure to both pull at your heartstrings and leave you feeling a sense of blissful calm and joy!

The breathtaking pianist Konstantin Shamray joins the talented WASO and Asher Fisch to take on possibly the greatest of all piano concertos, Rachmaninov’s stormy and romantic Second. The concert is opened with the shimmering atmospherics of Olivia Davies’ new work Stratus.

From stolen child and teenage alcoholic to musical icon, social activist and First Nations leader, Archie Roach’s compelling story is an extraordinary odyssey through love and heartbreak, family and community, survival and renewal – and a testament to the healing power of music.

30 years after the release of his two-time ARIA Award winning album Charcoal Lane (1990), Tell Me Why is an intimate and moving musical journey through Roach’s life. The work features seminal songs from his back catalogue, influential music from his youth and three new autobiographical songs.

Roach will be joined onstage by his five-piece band, including award-winning jazz composer and improviser Paul Grabowsky and special guest Emma Donovan.

Don’t miss this spectacular concert celebrating Roach’s eponymous memoir and latest album. 

Acclaimed worldwide for her unparalleled command of a famously tricky instrument, Sydney oboist Diana Doherty makes a rare national tour in 2021. Diana’s delicious, eyes-alight style of performance finds a joyous match with her friends, the Streeton Trio, performing with Diana and alone in masterpieces of the repertory.

Chamber music for oboe quartet is relatively rare, so this is a unique opportunity to experience this appealing combination in two works. The first is by Martinu, a genial, airy piece, deceptively well-crafted, hinting at his habit of composing while out for a walk. The second is a world premiere by Western Australia’s Lachlan Skipworth, described by The Australian as possessing a ‘rare gift as a melodist’. His new Oboe Quartet is a musical portrait of the couple in whose memory it was commissioned. It reflects their shared love of Bach, their hobbies, and characters, in its vibrant colours, interlaced lines and lively textures. Anne and Alan Blanckensee are part of Musica Viva’s history and it is a joy to bring this work to the stage.

Helicopters cut through the mist in Platoon and Gene Kelly steams up your glasses in An American in Paris – we begin and end with music that defined two iconic Hollywood blockbusters. Kurt Weill’s Symphony No.2 is an absolute gem, embracing both wry satire of relentless energy and the sound of his popular Broadway works. WASO’s own trumpet superstar Brent Grapes will dazzle you with Henri Tomasi’s virtuosic Trumpet Concerto, which traverses an enthralling musical landscape from Hollywood noir, to French impressionism and jazz.

One of the world’s most successful Broadway writing teams with two of the brightest shining stars in music theatre today will be performing at Perth Concert Hall, backed by WASO. The crowd will find themselves sing along to all the hits including ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’ from The Sound of Music and ‘Shall We Dance?’ from The King and I, plus ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ from South Pacific, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from Carousel, and much more!

The Performing Arts Perspectives is an important educational event on the annual calendar of Year 11 and 12 Performing Arts students.

The event provides benchmarks of excellence in Dance, Drama and Music for students and teachers from the Public, Independent and Catholic education sector.

The assortment of performers for inclusion in the programme are carefully made to reflect both the most skillful performances and the breadth of work covered in each subject discipline. The highest scoring students are invited to audition and from these, exceptional performers are chosen by a panel made up of representatives from the relevant professional arts area and education sector.

In their second co-production, St George's Cathedral and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) will present an Easter concert never performed before in Perth. Duruflé's Requiem and Bach's Easter Oratorio will come together to create "a sonic picture of the joy of Easter", in the words of Joseph Nolan, St George's Concert Series Artistic Director. The concert tells the Easter story through the exquisite sounds of two extraordinary composers. Beginning with the solemn serenity of Duruflé's Requiem, the second half brings the jubilance of the resurrection through Bach's Oratorio. Featuring Soprano Sara Macliver, Mezzo Fiona Campbell, Tenor Paul McMahon and Baritone James Clayton with St George's Cathedral Consort.

Ben Elton exploded onto the comedy scene over 30 years ago, hosting Channel 4’s groundbreaking Saturday Live. Since then Elton has achieved huge success as a stand-up comic, author, playwright, actor and director. He's written television shows such as The Young Ones, Blackadder 2, Blackadder The Third, Blackadder Goes Forth, The Thin Blue Line and many more, as well writing and directing two feature films. He has published 16 best-selling novels, three smash hit West End plays and the global phenomenon We Will Rock You based on the music of British rock legends, Queen.

A serial award winner, he has won three BAFTAs, two Laurence Olivier Awards, The Royal Television Society Writer’s Award, The Golden Dagger UK Crime Writer of the Year Award, The Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and the Eurovision Golden Rose D’Or Lifetime Achievement Award.

See Ben Elton at the Perth Concert Hall in April next year as he returns to Australia after 14 years.

As a 15-year-old student nearing the end of his first year at the Vienna Conservatory, Gustav Mahler composed one movement of a piano quartet, a work that always gives the impression that something bigger is struggling to emerge. Following Mahler’s own tradition of enlarging certain chamber pieces, this program includes an orchestration of the quartet, made by the outstanding violinist Harry Ward: an ANAM alumnus and a Musica Viva FutureMaker.

Alfred Schnittke was keenly aware of his Soviet/German musical heritage, even as he stomped on it in heavy boots. Yet his piano concerto is a touching affirmation of his artistic roots, and his affection for Tchaikovsky makes the two Russians good bedfellows, the elder’s Serenade here prefaced by Estonian composer Mihkel Kerem’s Lamento, a work of searing beauty.

ANAM’s ensemble of wonderful young string players is directed with equal verve by the terrific Sophie Rowell, one of Australia’s most admired instrumentalists. They are joined onstage by Adelaide’s brilliant, Russian-trained Konstantin Shamray.

The good times are back with the Apia Good Times Tour 2021 hitting the road! It's a night of non-stop hits with eight legendary acts playing all their classics. You don't want to miss this one. The Apia Good Times Tour 2021 is coming to a venue near you from May through until June. Let the good times roll!