Melbourne Recital Centre

Each new quarterly program for the Melbourne Recital Centre is full of highlights, but the July–September one is special. This is the last to be presented by outgoing CEO Mary Vallentine, who during her six years at the helm has transformed MRC into an essential venue for music lovers of all kinds. Highlights include the great Robyn Archer's 'The Other American Songbook' on July 22 and 23 (with ABR regular Michael Morley at the piano) and an ANAM Gala Concert with Simone Young conducting and Lisa Gasteen performing Wagner's Rückert Lieder. Gasteen – one of the world's leading Strauss and Wagner sopranos of the 1990s and 2000s – returns on 2 September for a performance of Das Lied von der Erde with Bradley Daley (tenor) and Philip Mayers (piano).