After an evocative presentation in 2024, the music of Jane Austen’s era is further explored in this delightfully enchanting musical event. Transporting listeners to the drawing rooms and picturesque surroundings of Pemberley, Rachael Beesley, Aura Go, and Lizzy Bennet’s Band bring to life the musical heart of Austen’s most cherished novels.
Set your heart aflutter and immerse yourself in the romantic atmosphere of Pride and Prejudice, experiencing the very melodies that may have inspired one Mr Darcy to declare, ‘My feelings will not be repressed.’ Or delight in the playful interplay between music and prose as Rachael and Aura explore a repertoire that would feel perfectly at home in Emma and Sense and Sensibility.
In this performance, Austen’s razor-sharp wit and keen observations on love and society come vividly to life through carefully chosen readings and period-perfect musical selections. From lively country dances to intimate chamber pieces, each note resonates with the spirit of Austen’s world, offering a deeper appreciation of the musical landscape that shaped her timeless stories.
Program
Dario Marianelli (b.1963)
‘Dawn’ from Pride and Prejudice
Rachel Portman (b.1960)
End titles from Emma
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Piano Sonata No.48 in C, Hob.XVI:35
I. Allegro con brio
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piano Concerto No.21 in C, K.467
II. Andante
Patrick Doyle (b.1953)
‘Willoughby’ from Sense and Sensibility
‘My Father’s Favourite’ from Sense and Sensibility
Carl Davis (1936-2023)
Opening Music from Pride and Prejudice
Niccolò Jommelli (1714-1774) Sinfonia XIV in E flat I. Allegro di molto II. Chaconne. Andante
William Boyce (1711-1779) Symphony No.2 in A, Op.2, ‘Birthday Ode’
Muzio Clementi (1752-1832) Waltz for Piano, Tambourine and Triangle in C Op.38 No.9 Presto
Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle (1760-1836) La Marseillaise March
Traditional, arr. Roy Thackray Sailor’s Hornpipe
Thomas Arne (1710-1778) Rule, Britannia!
ARTISTS: Rachael Beesley music director; Aura Go piano and narrator; Lizzy Bennet’s Band
Post-Concert Talk
Join iconic Melbourne book editor, event moderator and bookseller, Jaclyn Crupi, and writer and producer of AustenCon, Sharmini Kumar, for a discussion about Jane Austen, her literature and her legacy. This talk will take place in the Ground Floor Foyer following the concert.
This concert is supported by our Program Partner, The Langham Melbourne.
Saturday 10 May 2025 – 4:00pm
Duration: 1 hour 15 mins (no interval). Please note, running times are approximate and subject to change.
Melbourne Recital Centre, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall