Big score for MSO at Australia 108

By Jack Alfonso

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) has played a concert at the highest altitude ever in the Southern Hemisphere.

Taking place at Southbank’s Australia 108 on March 21 at 7:30pm, the 30-minute performance was held in celebration of the official completion Melbourne’s tallest tower.

With musicians simultaneously playing across levels 70 and 71 – some 210 metres off the ground – the event was live-streamed on social media platform YouTube to the wider public free of charge and has since recorded thousands of views online.

World Class Global CEO David Ng – the developer responsible for the construction of Australia 108 – said the concert was designed to celebrate the completion of the new super-skyscraper, which maxes out at a lofty 319 metres.

Mr Ng said he hoped the performance would inspire “music lovers” and “Melbourne lovers” to use Australia 108 as an example of “what is possible”.

“The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has set the beat of the city with its world-class performances for more than 100 years,” he said. “We could not think of a more appropriate way to welcome Australia 108 to the skyline more than through a free concert for Melburnians.”

With symphonies such as Steve Reich’s City Life, Matthew Hindson’s A Symphony of Modern Objects, Mark Blitstein’s An Airborne Symphony and Paul Kelly’s From St Kilda to Kings Cross, the concert thematically developed around the skyline of a city, featuring a range of primarily up-tempo, uplifting-yet-occasionally-moody performances.

MSO managing director Sophie Galaise said the orchestra was thrilled to have partnered with Melbourne’s newest landmark and that the performance would “soar to the skies in Melbourne’s newest and most prestigious space”.

“As an orchestra, we enjoy taking our music to new and unique places to share with the world,” Ms Galaise said.

Beginning construction back in 2015, the building features two infinity edge swimming pools, lounges, meeting spaces, dining rooms, a theatre, two gyms, and a vertical sky-garden.

Prices for residences came into the housing market last year, with three-bedroom places going for around $1.9 million, while a sub-penthouse went for $5.5 million.

The skyscraper also contains a 2800 sqm space labeled the Star Club, where the MSO’s evening soiree took place.

The MSO is back on Friday, April 9, with the show Blood on the Floor, in a “jumpy, angry” mix of classical, jazz and modern expression genres •