Could the waltz from Serenade for Strings be the most charming piece of music ever written? Decide for yourself when you hear the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra perform Tchaikovsky’s music inside Melbourne Recital Centre. This concert is dedicated entirely to the luscious sounds of the string orchestra. Tchaikovsky’s yearningly romantic music is paired with Mozart’s sprightly Divertimento, which will leave you feeling uplifted. With Grieg’s Holberg Suite, you’ll be swept into the momentum of Norwegian music inspired by dances.

But the standout work on the program comes from our own backyard. Ella Macens is a composer whose music you may have heard broadcast on ABC Classic FM or performed live in concert. We are presenting her profoundly expressive and emotionally resonant work The Lake. For a program honouring string music through the eras, there are few better choices than Natalie Chee to take the dual roles of director and violin soloist.