Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: The Heart of the Violin – James Ehnes

Bridging old and new with one of today’s most masterful soloists.

James Ehnes leads this all-strings program bridging the old and new world with works ranging from classical to contemporary. Journey into the heart of the violin with one of today’s most masterful soloists.

GRAMMY Award-winning composer Jessie Montgomery is renowned for her socially inspired and richly layered music. In Strum, Montgomery brilliantly evokes ‘American folk idioms and the spirit of dance and movement.’ Her 2012 work Starburst uses a fast-changing shimmer of musical colour to vividly portray the formation of new stars in a galaxy.

Mozart wrote five Violin Concertos while still a teenager. His Fourth shows the young genius imprinting traditional forms with his own creative twist. The result is quintessential Mozart: playful, soulful and utterly delightful.

To round out the program, journey back to the Bohemian countryside with Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings. One of the Czech composer’s most enduringly popular works, the Serenade paints luscious scenes of dance, humour and sunshine. This uplifting and optimistic music will leave audiences humming all the way home.

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
James Ehnes Director, violin (2025 Artist in Residence)

Jessie Montgomery Strum

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Violin Concerto No.4

Jessie MontgomeryStarburst

 Antonín Dvořák Serenade for Strings

Pre-Concert Talk

Please join cellist Michelle Wood for a pre-concert talk in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall from 6.45pm – 7.05pm.